PIPP of a Heating Plan for Ohio

The PIPP Plus heating plan begins in Ohio this fall.  In it, people who are within 150% of the poverty level, who are served by state regulated utilities, can be charged a flat percentage of their monthly income (6% if gas is their primary heat source; 10% if electricity) year round.  The bonus is that if they keep current with their payments--full, on-time payments each month--they will be given a credit for the money they owed the utility from the past.  I tell people that there is rarely money to pay old debts, but in this case, you can in fact help erase your old debts.  Contact your local Community Action Agency, or call (800) 282-0880 between 7 a.m. and 5 p.m. for more information.

If you are in another state, see this energy assistance page to find a good program for you.  Many states, like Ohio, have several programs to help people in energy need.  Here's a page with links to the disconnect policies of each of the states, telling you under what circumstances power companies in states are forbidden to shut off power.

Heating Assistance for Ohio and Every Other State

It’s officially summer for a little bit more, but in a couple of weeks, the days will be shorter than the nights. Heat (and how to pay for it), will come back into focus. In Ohio, a variety of programs are in play and are easy to find at the state's website, the most prominent one being HEAP, a one-time payment to help low-income residents of the state. By “low income,” they mean less than 200% of the poverty level for your household, or about $44,100 for a household of four people. It's also important to note that if you have had a sudden loss of income and can't qualify under your annual income, you may qualify for the last 3 months.

There are other plans, too, like the Patriot Plan to help the families of some military families on active duty. This prevents shut-offs and helps work out a repayment plan when they come back to civilian life.
Obviously, Ohio is not the only state with such programs. To see all the states’ programs, go to this website, with links for low-income energy plans for each state and links to applications for help. And, if worse comes to worst, there’s a link to the official shutoff policies in each state, along with emergency numbers and links to complaint forms. The secret is to not let the situation go that far. At the liheap website, you can see the office in charge of energy for each state. Contact them or you utility first to see if they can direct you to a suitable plan