HEAP Summer Crisis Program starts July 1
Thursday, June 11, 2020
Beginning July 1, the Ohio Development Services Agency and Council on Aging and its partner agencies throughout southwestern Ohio will help income-eligible Ohioans maintain their utility service through the Home Energy Assistance Summer Crisis Program. The program helps eligible Ohioans pay an electric bill, purchase an air conditioning unit or fan, or pay for central air conditioning repairs. This year, the program will run from July 1 until September 30, 2020.
“This year, we’ve extended the length of the program and expanded eligibility requirements so we can help more Ohioans during this health crisis,” Lydia Mihalik, director of the Ohio Development Services Agency said. “We’re working with Council on Aging and its partner agencies every day to help Ohioans in need.”
The Summer Crisis Program assists low-income households with an older household member (60 years or older), or households that can provide physician documentation that cooling assistance is needed for a household member's health. Examples of conditions can include lung disease, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, asthma, etc. This year, households that were diagnosed with COVID-19 in 2020, have a disconnect notice, have been shut off, or are trying to establish new service on their electric bill are also eligible for assistance.
Eligible households can receive up to $500 if they are a customer of a regulated utility, or $800 if they are a customer of unregulated utilities such as electric cooperatives and municipal utilities. The assistance is applied to their utility bill, or to purchase an air conditioning unit or fan, or pay for central air conditioning repairs. Ohioans must have a gross income at or below 175% of the federal poverty guidelines to qualify for assistance. For a family of four the annual income must be at or below $45,850.00.
How to apply
In order to apply for HEAP Summer Crisis, you must schedule a phone appointment. Those who wish to apply should call one of the numbers below, depending on where they live:
- Butler County:
- Clermont County:
- Clinton County:
- Hamilton County:
- Warren County:
For more information about the features of the Summer Crisis Program locally and what is needed to apply, contact COA at (513) 721-1025 or (800) 252-0155. Additional information can also be found at www.energyhelp.ohio.gov or by calling (800) 282-0880.
Also new this year, Ohioans enrolled in the Percentage of Income Payment Plan Plus Program (PIPP) who meet the above criteria may be eligible for assistance towards their default PIPP payment, first PIPP payment, central air conditioning repairs, or may receive an air conditioning unit and/or fan.
