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Help paying your utility bill in Ohio
Falling behind on an electric or gas bill happens to a lot of households — that's exactly why these programs exist, and using them is what they're for. This page lists every one, in the order most people should try them. No sign-up is needed to use anything here.
Every program below was checked against its official source on July 2026.
Do these three things first
- Call your utility before the due date. Every regulated Ohio utility must offer extended payment plans — ask for the one-third winter plan, one-sixth plan, or one-ninth plan by name, or for budget billing. Calling early keeps every option open; disconnection is the expensive path for everyone.
- Dial 2-1-1.Free, confidential, 24/7, and statewide across all 88 counties. A real person will point you to every program you qualify for, including local funds this page can't list.
- Apply for HEAP.It's the big one — a yearly credit on your heating bill. Call 1-800-282-0880 or apply through your county's Energy Assistance Provider (find yours below).
Statewide programs
These are run by the State of Ohio (the Department of Job & Family Services took them over from the Department of Development in April 2026 — same programs, same phone number, so don't be confused if an older website names the other agency). Income limits are based on federal poverty guidelines and change every year, so we link the official tables instead of printing numbers that go stale.
HEAP — Home Energy Assistance Program
A once-a-year credit applied to your heating bill for income-eligible households (the limit is set as a percentage of federal poverty guidelines — check the current table at the link). Renters and homeowners both qualify.
How to apply
- Easiest: call 1-800-282-0880 to be connected to your local provider, or book an appointment with your county's Energy Assistance Provider (list below).
- Online: create an OHID account at ohid.ohio.gov, then add the “Energy Assistance Portal” app (computer only — the portal doesn't work on phones).
- Have handy: proof of income for the last 30 days, recent utility bills, and Social Security numbers and birthdates for everyone in the home.
Processing can take up to 12 weeks — apply before you're in crisis if you can. If you are in crisis, use the Winter or Summer Crisis Program below instead; those move fast.
📞 1-800-282-0880 (statewide energy assistance line)Official HEAP page ↗
HEAP Winter Crisis Program
Winter: Nov 1 – Mar 31Fast emergency help for income-eligible households that are disconnected, facing disconnection, need to start service, or have less than a quarter tank of bulk fuel (propane/oil).
How to apply
- Contact your county's Energy Assistance Provider for an appointment — the crisis benefit is completed face-to-face (you can start the paperwork online first).
- Once per heating season. Pairs with the Winter Reconnect Order below: use the $175 reconnect while your crisis appointment is pending.
HEAP Summer Crisis Program
Summer: Jul 1 – Sep 30Cooling help for income-eligible households with a member who is 60 or older, has a doctor-documented medical need for air conditioning, or has an electric disconnect notice. Helps with the electric bill and can repair or provide an air conditioner or fan.
How to apply
- Same as Winter Crisis: appointment with your county's Energy Assistance Provider.
PIPP Plus — Percentage of Income Payment Plan
Instead of the full bill, income-eligible households pay a set percentage of their monthly income (currently 5% to the gas utility and 5% to the electric utility — 10% if you heat with electric), minimum $10 a month. The state covers the rest, and every on-time payment also erases part of any old balance — 24 on-time payments wipe it completely.
How to apply
- Enroll year-round through the same channels as HEAP: 1-800-282-0880, your county provider, or the online OHID portal.
- Re-verify your income each year to stay enrolled.
Honest note from us:while you're on PIPP, Ohio's rules keep you on your utility's regulated supply — you can't (and shouldn't) enroll with a competitive supplier, so rate-shopping tools like MeterMiser aren't for PIPP households. That's by design: the plan already fixes what you pay. If a door-to-door salesperson tells a PIPP household otherwise, they're wrong.
Winter Reconnect Order
Winter: ~mid-Oct – Apr 15EVERY customer of a PUCO-regulated electric or gas utility — no income limit. Once per winter season, you can pay $175 (instead of your full balance) to stop a disconnection, get reconnected, or start new service. If you're already disconnected, the reconnection fee is capped at $36.
How to apply
- Call your utility, say you want to use the Winter Reconnect Order, and pay the $175.
- It works once per season, and a new order is issued each fall — the exact start date shifts a little year to year.
- If money is tight, pair it with a Winter Crisis appointment (above) — the crisis benefit can cover the $175.
HWAP — Free home weatherization
Free energy-efficiency work — insulation, air sealing, furnace repair or replacement — for income-eligible households, after a free home energy inspection. If your home received HEAP, SSI, or TANF in the last year, you're automatically income-eligible. It lowers every future bill rather than paying one.
How to apply
- Apply through your county's provider or the OHID portal, same as HEAP.
- Priority goes to households with someone 60+, a person with disabilities, children, or unusually high energy use.
Your utility's own emergency fund
Every Ohio utility runs a charity hardship fund — one-time emergency grants, mostly administered by the Salvation Army, for households that don't qualify for the state programs or have exhausted them. Grant amounts and rules change each program year, so use the link for current details. Most of these pages also list the utility's payment plans.
| Utility | Emergency fund | Run by | Phone |
|---|---|---|---|
| AEP Ohio | Neighbor to Neighbor ↗ | Dollar Energy Fund | 800-672-2231 |
| AES Ohio | Gift of Power ↗ | The Salvation Army | 800-433-8500 |
| Duke Energy Ohio | HeatShare · Share the Light Fund ↗ | Salvation Army / Duke Energy Foundation | 800-544-6900 |
| Ohio Edison | Project REACH ↗ | The Salvation Army | 800-633-4766 |
| The Illuminating Company | CO-OP ↗ | Cleveland Salvation Army | 800-589-3101 |
| Toledo Edison | Neighbors Helping Neighbors ↗ | Toledo Salvation Army | 800-447-3333 |
| Columbia Gas of Ohio | HeatShare ↗ | The Salvation Army | 800-344-4077 |
| Enbridge Gas Ohio | Heat Care Program ↗ | The Salvation Army | 800-362-7557 |
| CenterPoint Energy Ohio | Customer Assistance Fund ↗ | The Salvation Army (Dayton) | 800-227-1376 |
Local help in your county
HEAP, the crisis programs, PIPP, and weatherization are all handled in person by your county's Energy Assistance Provider — usually your local Community Action Agency. Cities and townships often have extra funds of their own; your agency and 2-1-1 will know them.
Find your county's Energy Assistance Provider
The official statewide map of every county's provider — where you book HEAP, crisis, PIPP, and weatherization appointments.
How to apply
- Open the map, pick your county, and call for an appointment — or just call the statewide line and they'll route you.
Ohio 211
A free, confidential, 24/7 helpline covering all 88 Ohio counties. Navigators connect you to utility assistance plus food, housing, and medical help — including small local funds no list can keep up with.
How to apply
- Dial 2-1-1 from any phone, or search online.
Once things are steadier: most Ohio households can lower the bill itself by checking the supplier rate they're on — our free bill-reading guides show you how in five minutes. (On PIPP? Skip it — your rate is already handled, see the note above.)
Program rules, income tables, and grant amounts change every program year — the official links above always have the current numbers, and we last verified every name, phone number, and link on this page in July 2026. If something here looks out of date, tell us and we'll fix it. This page is general information, not legal or financial advice, and MeterMiser isn't affiliated with any program listed.