The Ohio Department of Development and Lancaster Fairfield County Community Action Agency continue to help eligible Ohioans stay cool during the hot summer months. The Home Energy Assistance Summer Crisis Program provides eligible Ohioans with assistance with paying an electric bill, assistance with air conditioners/fans, and/or assistance with paying for central air conditioning repairs. The program runs from July 1 through September 30.
To enroll in the program, clients must schedule a phone appointment with Lancaster Fairfield Community Action Agency. Appointments can be made by calling 740-777-9055.
Clients should bring copies of the following documents to the agency prior to their telephone appointment:
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Copies of their most recent energy bills.
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A list of all family members and proof of income for the past 30 days or 12 months for each family member.
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Proof of U.S. citizenship or legal residency for all family members.
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Proof of disability (if applicable).
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Documentation from a physician stating that cooling assistance is needed for the health of a family member (if no family member is over 60 years old or if there is no notice of electricity disconnection).
Last year, more than 640 families in Fairfield County received assistance through the Home Energy Assistance Summer Crisis Program.
The Summer Crisis Program provides assistance to low-income households with an elderly household member (age 60 or older), households that can provide a doctor’s note stating they need cooling support for their health, and households that have received a disconnection notice, have been disconnected, or are trying to get new service on their electric bill.
Qualifying households can receive up to $500 if they are customers of a regulated utility, or $800 if they are customers of unregulated utilities such as electric cooperatives. The assistance will be applied to their electric bill and/or to purchase an air conditioning unit, fans, and central air conditioning repairs. Ohioans must have a gross income of 175% or less of the federal poverty line to qualify for assistance. For a family of four, the annual income must be $54,600 or less.
Ohio residents who participate in the Percentage of Income Payment Plan Plus (PIPP) program and who meet the above criteria may also be eligible for assistance with their standard PIPP payment, first PIPP payment, central air conditioning repairs, or may receive an air conditioner and/or fan.
For more information about the features of the Summer Crisis Program and what it takes to apply, contact Lancaster Fairfield Community Action at 740-653-4146. To connect with your local Energy Assistance provider, visit www.energyhelp.ohio.gov or call (800) 282-0880.
The Ohio Department of Development empowers communities to succeed by investing in Ohio’s people, places and businesses. Learn more about our work at development.ohio.gov.
This article originally appeared in the Lancaster Eagle-Gazette: What you need to know: Help available for summer energy bills
