With winter still gripping Ohio, many households are struggling with high energy bills. Several programs are available to help residents with investor-owned utilities keep their gas and electricity on, and to reconnect service if it has been disconnected.

“Each winter, households in Ohio can face difficult decisions regarding which bills to pay,” said Jenifer French, chair of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio. “Programs such as HeatShare, administered by the Salvation Army, are vital to ensuring that Ohio’s most vulnerable can heat their homes.”

HeatShare, available to Columbia Gas of Ohio customers, helps pay bills or reconnect service. Households at or below 300% of the federal poverty guidelines are eligible. For the 2024-2025 winter heating season, that’s up to $46,950 for a one-person household, and up to $145,950 for a seven-person household. (For households with more than seven members, contact a local Energy Assistance Provider.) HeatShare can be used in conjunction with the PUCO’s Winter Reconnect Order.

“Our partnership with Columbia Gas of Ohio has made a real difference for Ohioans by providing critical utility assistance,” said Major Tricia Brennan, area coordinator for The Salvation Army in Central Ohio. “With the increased funding and eligibility doubled, we can keep more households safe and warm during the winter season.”

Most natural gas utilities in Ohio offer similar assistance. Residents facing difficulty paying utility bills should contact their utility company first, then their local Salvation Army for information on applicable programs.

The PUCO’s Winter Reconnect Order allows households to pay up to $175 to restore or maintain service if it has been disconnected or threatened with disconnection.

Other programs are also available. The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), a federally funded program administered by the Ohio Department of Development, helps low-income Ohioans with heating costs. HEAP provides a one-time payment for most PUCO-regulated utility customers.

The Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP Plus) helps make monthly payments more affordable year-round. When a PIPP Plus household pays its monthly payment on time and in full, some of their old debt and the rest of that month's bill are credited to their account.

For HEAP and PIPP Plus, households must be at or below 175% of the federal poverty guidelines. For the current heating season, that’s up to $26,355 for a one-person household, and up to $82,845 for a seven-person household. (For households with more than seven members, contact a local Energy Assistance Provider.)

More information on utility assistance programs can be found on the PUCO’s website.