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If you need multiple copies for an organization or group, please contact a member of our outreach team.
Utility-provided Assistance Programs (Fuel Funds)
*Disclaimer: This information is provided as a guide to resources. Customers should be advised that all funds listed are subject to availability. Funds may run out before the end of the program term. Please contact the fund administrators for fund availability.
Consumers can receive help paying their electric or natural gas bills from their utility company. These payment programs are known as fuel funds, and they offer utility assistance for qualifying consumers.
Fuel funds are supported by customer donations, matching funds from the utility or the utility’s shareholders. In order to receive fuel funds, customers must meet specific eligibility requirements. Income-eligibility guidelines vary from program to program. The chart below has the current federal poverty guidelines.
To apply for these fuel fund programs, contact your utility, the non-profit organization or the local community action agency running the program. Be prepared to verify your income to apply. Please note that these funds are subject to availability, and funds may run out before the end of the program term.
Some programs also require disconnection status, which is when a customer has either received a disconnection notice or has already been disconnected from their utility service.
Before applying for fuel funds, apply for HEAP and all other utility assistance programs offered by the Ohio Department of Development (ODOD). The utility assistance application is available at their website, www.development.ohio.gov, or at your community action agency office.
Information on additional sources of utility bill-payment assistance is available at www.occ.ohio.gov/help
ELECTRIC
American Electric Power (Ohio Power, Columbus Southern Power)
Ohio Neighbor-to-Neighbor Program
- Contact: AEP at 1-800-672-2231 or www.aepohio.com/community/caring/neighbor-to-neighbor; or Dollar Energy Fund Inc. at 1-800-683-7036 or www.dollarenergy.org.
- Benefit: Grants vary based on need, and customers may receive only one grant per year. Maximum is $350.
- Eligibility: At or below 300 percent of the federal poverty guidelines.
- Availability: October 1, 2021 through September 30, 2022.
AES Ohio (formerly Dayton Power & Light)
Gift of Power
- Contact: The Dayton Salvation Army at (937) 528-5145or AES Ohio at 1-800- 433-8500.
- Benefit: Based on need and disconnection notice (does not necessarily follow poverty guidelines).
- Eligibility: Customers with a disconnection notice or a past due account balance. Availability: Winter heating season. www.aes-ohio.com/gift-power.
- Availability: January through April or when funds are exhausted.
FirstEnergy (Cleveland Illuminating Company, Ohio Edison, Toledo Edison)
Ohio Fuel Fund
- Contact: ODOD at 1-800-848-1300 or your local Community Action Agency. Find your local agency by calling 614- 224-8500 or at https://oacaa.org/. You can also contact First Energy at:
- 1-800- 589-3101 (Cleveland Illuminating Co.);
- 1-800-633-4766, (Ohio Edison);
- 1-800- 447-3333, (Toledo Edison).
- Benefit: Up to $250.
- Eligibility: Household earnings at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty guidelines.
- Availability: March 1 and remains available until the funds are exhausted. Apply early in the year to ensure funds are available.
Community Outreach Opportunity Program (COOP) (Cleveland Electric Illuminating, Project REACH (Ohio Edison), and Neighbors Helping Neighbors (Toledo Edison)
- Contact:
- Community Outreach Opportunities Program (Cleveland Electric Illuminating Customers) – Salvation Army at 216-861-8185
- Project REACH (Ohio Edison Customers) – Contact the local Salvation Army at one of the following locations www.firstenergycorp.com/content/dam/customer/get-help/files/asst-progra…
- Neighbors Helping Neighbors (Toledo Edison Customer) – Salvation Army at 419-241-3549
- Benefit: Fund assists residential customers who need temporary assistance or an emergency hardship.
NATURAL GAS
Columbia Gas of Ohio
Columbia Fuel Fund
- Contact: Columbia at 1-800-344-4077 or your Community Action Agency. Find your local agency by calling 614-224-8500 or at www.oacaa.org.
- Benefit: Up to $250 per heating season.
- Eligibility: Household earnings at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty guidelines.
- Available: January through December or until funds are exhausted.
HeatShare
- Contact: Columbia at 1-800-344-4077 or your local Salvation Army at 1-800-725-2769.
- Benefit: Up to $250 once per year.
- Eligibility: Household earnings at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. A consumer must have a disconnection notice or reconnecting service.
- Available: Mid-January to Mid-April or until funds are exhausted.
Dominion East Ohio
EnergyShare
- Contact: Your local Salvation Army at 1-800-725-2769 or Dominion at 1-800-362-7557.
- Benefit: Up to $500 for non-PIPP customers and $300 for PIPP customers.
- Eligibility: Household earnings at or below 300 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. Applicants must have a disconnection notice or currently disconnected, and utilized the Winter Crisis Program.
- Available: For heating assistance December 1 through May 31, or until funds run out.
Duke Energy Ohio
Share the Light
- Contact: Your local Salvation Army at 1-800-725-2769 or Duke at 1-800-544-6900 Share the Light hotline: 513-762-5636.
- Benefit: One-time assistance payment of $400.
- Eligibility: Based on need (does not necessarily follow poverty guidelines). Disconnection status required. PIPP Plus customers are not eligible unless funds are available after March 31st.
- Available: Mid-January until funds are exhausted.
2022 Income Guidelines |
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Size of household* |
Total Gross Annual Household Income |
|||||
|
135% |
150% |
175% |
200% |
250% |
300% | |
|
1 |
$18,347 |
$20,385 |
$23,783 |
$27,180 |
$33,975 |
$40,770 |
|
2 |
$24,719 |
$27,465 |
$32,043 |
$36,620 |
$45,775 |
$54,930 |
|
3 |
$31,091 |
$34,545 |
$40,303 |
$46,060 |
$57,575 |
$69,090 |
|
4 |
$37,463 |
$41,625 |
$48,563 |
$55,500 |
$69,375 |
$83,250 |
|
5 |
$43,835 |
$48,705 |
$56,823 |
$64,940 |
$81,175 |
$97,410 |
|
6 |
$50,207 |
$55,785 |
$65,083 |
$74,380 |
$92,975 |
$111,570 |
|
7 |
$56,579 |
$62,865 |
$73,343 |
$83,820 |
$104,775 |
$125,730 |
|
8 |
$62,951 |
$69,945 |
$81,603 |
$93,260 |
$116,575 |
$139,890 |
|
* For families/households with more than 8 persons, please contact your local community action agency. |
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