Mounting electric or gas bills or shut-off notices can be scary, especially during the winter. Cuyahoga County has a few programs that offer utility assistance, but navigating them can be frustrating. They often have different income rules, and the applications can require you to submit multiple documents.
There are different programs for summer and winter, but, for the most part, these programs help you stay connected to your heat source. In the summer, the program switches to electricity only to help folks stay cool. This guide focuses on winter options.
The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) and the Percent of Income Payment Plan (PIPP) offer help to households that meet strict income requirements. HEAP is one-time financial support while PIPP can provide longer-term support. Both programs are government-funded.
Locally, CHN Housing Partners and Step Forward run utility assistance programs with the support of government funding. In general, HEAP is focused on the highest need households with active disconnections or disconnection notices. HEAP runs crisis programs during the winter and summer when utility bills typically spike.
Check out some tips below on how to get help paying your heat bill, whether it’s gas or electric.
Time to visit your doctor? If a utility disconnection would present a life-threatening emergency, you can ask your doctor to fill out a “medical certificate.” Medical certificates can help prevent disconnection for up to 30 days.
HEAP Winter Crisis
HEAP’s Winter Crisis program starts annually on Nov. 1 and ends on March 31. The money can only be used to pay whichever utility provides a heat source. For example, if you have gas heat, you cannot receive assistance with your electric bill.
Households must have received a shut-off notice or be in disconnection to qualify. CHN offers its programs only in certain ZIP codes, while Step Forward offers its programs countywide.
CHN Housing Partners
CHN Housing Partners limits assistance to households in these ZIP codes: 44102, 44106, 44108, 44109, 44110, 44113, 44117, 44119, 44120, 44123, 44125, 44132, 44135 and 44137.
How to schedule: Call 216-600-8101 ext. 3 between Monday and Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. or request an appointment online. If your utilities have been shut off or you’ve received a 24-48-hour notice, dial ext. 2 instead.
For more information, visit CHN Housing Partner’s website.
Step Forward
Step Forward does not limit its service range to specific ZIP codes. If you meet the income requirements and your utilities are shut off or at risk of being shut off, you can contact Step Forward to make an appointment.
How to schedule: Call 216-480-4327 ext. 4. The automated system is available 24 hours a day. You can also make an appointment online.
For more information, visit Step Forward’s website.
Percentage of Income Payment Plan
The Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP) allows eligible households to pay between 5% and 10% of their total income toward their energy bill. If you do not have an income, your utility payment will be around $10 per month.
Households that pay on time and in full may have some of the debt credited back to their utility account. Customers must receive electricity from private utilities, such as FirstEnergy’s Illuminating Company or Enbridge (formerly Dominion), not public utilities such as Cleveland Public Power.
How to apply: The easiest way to apply is online, but you can also submit your application in the mail.
If you are dropped from the program, you will get billed for the full balance of what you would have owed. You can be dropped if you:
- Don’t report a change in income–like making more money.
- Forget to verify your income at least once a year.
- Miss payments and don’t catch up by your “anniversary date,” which is when you enrolled in the program. (Hint: This date is printed on your bill.)
Cleveland Public Power is exempt but voluntarily follows these rules:
- Customers facing a disconnection may be eligible for a 72-hour delay if they have a medical certificate on file.
- Once during the winter heating season, customers with overdue bills can be reconnected if they pay $175 plus a reconnection fee that can’t be more than $36 per occurrence.
- 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.
How to apply: The easiest way to apply is online, but you can also submit your application in the mail.
When all else fails, call your utility company directly
If you don’t meet HEAP or PIPP’s strict income requirements, you might have other options.
Ohio requires most utility companies to offer a Special Reconnection Order from mid-October to April 15. This order allows customers who have been disconnected or are being threatened with disconnection to pay $175 to establish, maintain or restore their service, regardless of income.
