There is a price to pay for escaping scorching temperatures such as the heat wave Greater Cleveland just experienced – high electric bills.
For those struggling to keep up with cooling costs, the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) Summer Crisis Program may offer help. The program provides one-time assistance with electric utility bills, central air conditioning repairs and purchasing an air conditioning unit and/or fan(s).
The HEAP Summer Crisis Program is available to households making no more than the Federal Poverty Guidelines (FPG). For a family of four, that comes to $56,262.50. See chart below for other family size guidelines.
In addition to meeting income guidelines, a household member must meet at least one of these conditions:
- Be at least 60 years old
- Be able to provide documentation from a doctor that cooling assistance is needed for the person’s health.
- Households that have received a disconnect notice, had their utilities shut off or are trying to establish new electric service may be eligible for assistance.
- Households enrolled in the Percentage of Income Payment Plan Plus (PIPP+) Program are eligible for summer HEAP assistance toward their default PIPP payment and first PIPP payment. The HEAP assistance may also be used toward central air conditioning repairs or for purchasing an air conditioner and/or fan(s).
The Summer Crisis Program is an important resource for community members ensuring they remain connected to their utilities during the hottest months of the year, and we are glad to continue to administer this program for the state of Ohio.”
John Miller, CHN Housing Partners’ chief operating officer
How do I apply for the HEAP Summer Crisis Program?
Applications for the HEAP Summer Crisis Program will be accepted from July 1 through Sept. 30. People may apply for this government-funded program through two local nonprofits, CHN Housing Partners and Step Forward.
“The Summer Crisis Program is an important resource for community members ensuring they remain connected to their utilities during the hottest months of the year, and we are glad to continue to administer this program for the state of Ohio,” John Miller, CHN Housing Partners’, chief operating officer, wrote in an email to Signal Cleveland.
Households can receive one air conditioner every three program years and up to two fans. CHN Housing Partners highlighted a difference between this program and the Winter Crisis Program. In the Summer Crisis Program, utility companies are not required to delay disconnection once a customer makes an appointment to get assistance through the program.
CHN Housing Partners only offers utility assistance programs to residents in the following ZIP codes: 44102, 44106, 44108, 44109, 44110, 44113, 44117, 44119, 44120, 44123, 44125, 44132, 44135 and 44137. For more information, click on the nonprofit’s website at this link or call (216) 600-8108.
Find out more about Step Forward’s utility assistance programs by clicking on the nonprofit’s website at this link. To make an appointment, either call (216) 480-HEAP (4327) or schedule online here.
These are among the documents people will need to apply:
- Proof of income for each household member. Income includes: Supplemental Security Income (SSI), Social Security Disability Income (SSDI), Social Security, pension, alimony, wages, self-employment earnings, unemployment insurance benefits, etc.
- Copies of your most recent utility bills.
- A list of all household members, including Social Security numbers and birth dates
- Proof of U.S. citizenship/legal residency for all household members. Documents that are accepted to prove U.S. citizenship/legal residency include: a Social Security card, birth certificate, U.S. passport, naturalization papers/certification of citizenship, permanent VISA, or INS ID Card.
Applicants applying online will need a scanned copy or photo for proof of income, recent utility bills and proof of citizenship to upload with their application.
FirstEnergy and Cleveland Public Power offer payment options
If you don’t qualify for utility assistance programs and your bill gets too high, utility companies often have payment options that could help you.
“FirstEnergy understands there are many reasons customers may need help with home energy costs,” spokeswoman Hannah Catlett wrote in an email to Signal Cleveland. “We’re here to help and can offer customers a variety of programs to help customers get back on track.“
These include searching for outside payment assistance programs at this link. (HEAP and PIPP Plus are among them.) The Equal Payment Plan, in which customers are billed one-twelfth of the annual estimated usage each month, may also make things more manageable for some customers.
Cleveland Public Power also offers options that could benefit customers struggling to pay utility bills:
- Customers facing disconnection may be eligible for a 72-hour delay if they have a medical certificate on file.
- Customers who want to start a new service can choose to be charged $175 for a security deposit. Any amount higher than that can go on the next bill.
- Customers who are eligible for HEAP can use that program to pay the $175.
