Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel - Your Residential Utility Consumer Advocate

Need Assistance? Assistance may be available for Ohioans who need help paying their utility bills.

Utility Assistance

Consumer Utility Assistance

The Office of the Ohio Consumers' Counsel (OCC) offers fact sheets about assistance programs and disconnection protections for utility services. Listed here are consumer assistance programs provided by a variety of organizations, including utilities. Some programs provide a one-time credit toward a utility bill while others may help reduce monthly bills, establish a payment plan, or weatherize the home to make it more energy efficient. As some assistance may be based on household income, it helps to check income eligibility before applying.

Assistance Programs

These programs have income-based requirements and you can apply through your local Energy Assistance Provider or Community Action Agency:

A man holds envelopes of over due bills
Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP)

A benefit directly applied once per heating season to the main heat source or bulk fuel bill.

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A couple wearing winter coats inside
HEAP Winter Crisis Program (WCP)

Maintain or restore service, establish new or transfer service, help with a PIPP default or first PIPP payment.

Available Nov.–March

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HEAP Summer Crisis Program (SCP)

Assists with electric utility bills, central air conditioning repairs, an air conditioning unit and/or fan purchases.

Available July–Sept.

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A couple looks at bills and a calculator together
Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP Plus)

A year-round extended payment plan to pay electric and/or natural gas bills based on a percentage of household income.

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Home Weatherization Assistance Program (HWAP)

Assists income-eligible Ohioans to improve their home’s energy efficiency and reduce energy costs.

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  • Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) is a benefit directly applied once per heating season to the main heat source (electric, natural gas) or bulk fuel bill (fuel oil, propane, wood, coal). Consumers must be income eligible.
  • HEAP Winter Crisis Program (WCP) assists income-eligible Ohioans: maintain or restore service; establish new or transfer service; with a PIPP default; or first PIPP payment. WCP is available Nov.–March annually.
  • HEAP Summer Crisis Program (SCP) assists income-eligible Ohioans with electric utility bills, central air conditioning repairs, an air conditioning unit and/or fan purchases. SCP is available from July–Sept. annually.
  • Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP Plus) is a year-round extended payment plan allowing eligible customers to pay electric and/or natural gas bills based on a percentage of household income, so service is more affordable. Debt can be forgiven with on-time and in-full payments.
  • Home Weatherization Assistance Program (HWAP) assists income-eligible Ohioans to improve their home’s energy efficiency and reduce energy costs.

These programs do not need to go through your local Energy Assistance Provider or Community Action Agency, unless otherwise indicated:

A senior woman looks at a bill with a look of shock
Special Reconnect Order (SRO)

Assistance for utility customers (regardless of income) to reconnect or avoid service disconnection.

Available mid-Oct. to mid-April

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30-Day Medical Certificate

Helps consumers avoid disconnection or reconnect service if someone in the home has a medical condition.

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Utility-Provided Assistance Programs

Helps utility customers with payment assistance for electric, natural gas and/or water bills.

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Consumer Assistance for Military Families

Provides service members and their families with special utility service protections and assistance.

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Telephone Lifeline Programs in Ohio

Can provide income-eligible consumers a discount on telephone service.

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  • Special Reconnect Order (SRO) is available mid-Oct. to mid-April for investor-owned electric and natural gas utility customers (regardless of income) to reconnect or avoid service disconnection.
  • 30-Day Medical Certificate helps consumers avoid disconnection or reconnect service with investor-owned utilities if someone in the home has a medical condition making it “especially dangerous” to be without electric, natural gas or water.
  • Utility-Provided Assistance Programs helps utility customers with payment assistance for electric, natural gas and/or water bills.
  • Consumer Assistance for Military Families may provide service members and their families special utility service protections and assistance.
  • Telephone Lifeline Programs can provide income-eligible consumers a discount on telephone service.
Need Help with Your Utility Bills? Payment Plans are Available

Do you need more time to pay the full bill or need an extended payment arrangement? If so, contact your utility company to ask for an individualized payment plan. If you can’t arrange a personalized plan, electric and natural gas utilities regulated by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio are required to offer you a payment plan.

Can You Benefit from a Utility Third-Party Notification?

Sometimes a consumer may not have paid his or her utility bill for electric, gas, or water service. In this situation, the utility’s Third-Party Notification program serves as a safety net for consumers whose utility service could be disconnected.
 

Additional Resources

Consumers are encouraged to contact their local Energy Assistance Provider or Community Action Agency (see www.energyhelp.ohio.gov), Department of Job and Family Services, and municipal and county governments about the availability of assistance programs.

AEP Ohio

High Efficiency for Low-income Program (HELP)

This program provides free in-home energy assessments and energy-efficient upgrades (like insulation, appliance replacement, and smart thermostats) to eligible low-income customers, helping to reduce long-term energy consumption and bills. Consumers with income up to 300% federal poverty income level are eligible for assistance. For more information and how to apply, visit https://www.aepohio.com/savings/home/energy/high-efficiency-low-income/

Aqua Aid Ohio

Aqua Aid is for Aqua Ohio customers who have fallen behind on their bills. Funds are limited. Please call 1-877-987-2782 to inquire if funds are available.

Consumer Financial Protection Bureau

Rental Assistance Finder

The Rental Assistance Finder allows renters to find information on rental assistance in their area and apply for assistance. For more information visit https://www.consumerfinance.gov/. In Ohio, emergency rental assistance programs are administered by local Energy Assistance Providers or Community Action Agencies.

Dynegy Energy Aid

This pilot program is an electricity bill payment assistance program for Ohio Dynegy Energy supply customers who are in crisis. Consumers may be eligible to receive funds directly applied to their utility bill for services that are past due, under threat of disconnection, or already disconnected. Disconnection notices are not necessary. Funds are available on a first come, first serve basis to eligible applicants while funding is available. For more information and how to apply, visit https://www.dollarenergy.org/program/dynegy-energy-aid/.

Partnering Dynegy utility companies:

  • Columbus Southern
  • Ohio Power
  • AES Ohio
  • Duke Energy
  • Illuminating Company
  • Ohio Edison
  • Toledo Edison

NOTE: This bill payment assistance program is only available for Dynegy Energy supply customers. Consumers should check their electric bill to determine if Dynegy Energy is already listed as their supplier—which could be through their local government aggregation program. Switching to an energy marketer can be risky. Consumers need to do careful research before choosing an energy supplier. Use OCC’s “How to Make Wise Energy Choices” and “Energy Choice: Know Your Rights” fact sheets if considering switching suppliers.

Ohio Housing Finance Agency

Save the Dream Ohio

Utility Assistance Plus provides eligible Ohio homeowners with financial assistance to pay delinquent utility bills, property taxes, and other housing costs not included in the mortgage payment. This program is administered through local Energy Assistance Providers or Community Action Agencies.

More information on both programs is available at https://savethedream.ohiohome.org/.

Ohio Utility Assistance Program

This is a temporary program administered by Dollar Energy Fund to provide payment assistance for eligible customers of select utility companies (see below). Consumers may be eligible to receive funds directly applied to their utility bill for services that are past due, under threat of disconnection, or already disconnected. Funds are available from Oct. 1, 2024, through Sept. 30, 2025, until exhausted. For more information and how to apply, visit https://www.dollarenergy.org/program/ohio-utility-assistance-program/.

Partnering utility companies:

  • AEP
  • Columbia Gas
  • Duke Energy
  • Enbridge Energy
United Way

211 connects you to expert, caring help. Every call is completely confidential. Call 211 from any phone or go online to www.211.org.