June 23, 2017 – The Ohio Development Services Agency and local Community Action Agencies will help income-eligible Ohioans stay cool during the hot summer months. The Home Energy Assistance Summer Crisis Program provides income-eligible customers with electric bill assistance or assistance paying for central air conditioning repairs. The crisis program runs from July 1 through August 31.
“July and August can be two extremely hot months in Ohio, and that can take a toll on older Ohioans and Ohioans with breathing conditions,” said David Goodman, director of the Ohio Development Services Agency.
The Summer Crisis Program assists low-income households with an older household member (60 years or older), or households that can provide physical documentation that cooling assistance is needed for a household member’s health. Conditions include lung disease, Chronic-Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, or asthma.
Benefits range from $300 for customers of a regulated utility and $500 for customers of unregulated utilities such as electric cooperatives and municipal utilities. The benefits are applied to their utility bill or applied to central air conditioning repair costs.
To qualify for the assistance, customers must have a gross income of at or below 175 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. Annual income for a family of four must be at or below $43,050.
Ohioans who are enrolled in the Percentage of Income Payment Plan Plus Program (PIPP Plus) are not eligible for bill payment assistance through the program, but are encouraged to work with their local Community Action Agency to identify other opportunities for assistance.
