Utility-Provided Assistance Programs (Fuel Funds)

Consumers can receive help paying their electric or natural gas bills from their utility company. These payment programs are known as fuel funds and may be available for qualifying consumers.

Fuel funds are often supported by customer donations, matching funds from the utility or the utility’s shareholders. 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, or the non-profit organization or local community action agency (CAA) running the program. Be prepared to verify your income to apply.

*Please Note: This information is provided as a guide to resources and is subject to program changes and availability. Funds may run out before the end of a program’s term. Please contact the fund administrators or your utility for fund availability.

Some programs do not provide benefits unless the consumer is in 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, consumers should apply for HEAP and other utility assistance programs offered by the Ohio Department of Development (ODOD). The utility assistance application is available at www.energyhelp.ohio.gov or at your local CAA. Locate your CAA at www.oacaa.org or call 1-800-282-0880.

Information on additional sources of utility bill-payment assistance is available at www.occ.ohio.gov/utilityassistance.

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/N2N; or Dollar Energy Fund Inc. at 1-800-683-7036 or www.dollarenergy.org/n2n.
Benefit: Grants vary based on need. Customers may receive one grant per year of up to $500.
Eligibility: At or below 300 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. Must have an outstanding balance of at least $50, be behind on payments 30 days or more, and have paid at least $75 on their account in the past 90 days.
Availability: Oct. 1, 2022 through Sept. 26, 2023.

AES Ohio (formerly Dayton Power & Light)

Gift of Power
Contact: The Dayton Salvation Army at 937-528-5120 or AES Ohio at 1-800-433-8500 or www.aes-ohio.com/gift-power.
Benefit: Based on need (does not necessarily follow poverty guidelines).
Eligibility: Customers with a disconnection notice or a past due account balance.
Availability: Winter heating season Jan. 17 through April 14, 2023 or until funds are exhausted.

FirstEnergy (The Illuminating Company, Ohio Edison, Toledo Edison)

Each FirstEnergy company has a separate website that can be found at https://firstenergycorp.com/about/utilities.html.

Ohio Fuel Fund Grant Program—The Illuminating Company only
Contact: CHN Housing Partners or Step Forward Today at 216-350-8008 or The Illuminating Co. at 1-800-589-3101.
Benefit: Up to $300.
Eligibility: At or below 200 percent of the federal poverty guidelines and has made a good-faith payment within last 90 days.
Availability: Open year-round.

OPAE Fuel Fund
Contact: Your local community action agency at 1-800-282-0880 or www.oacaa.org.
Benefit: Up to $250.
Eligibility: At or below 200 percent of the federal poverty guidelines.
Availability: Open March 1 and remains available until all funds are exhausted. Apply early in the year to ensure fund availability.

Emergency Hardship Funds
These funds assist residential customers who need temporary assistance or have an emergency hardship and vary by company: The Illuminating Co.—Community Outreach Opportunity Program (COOP), Ohio Edison—Project REACH, and Toledo Edison—Neighbors Helping Neighbors.
Contact: The Illuminating Co. Customers – the local Salvation Army at 1-800-725-2769; Ohio Edison Customers –
the local Salvation Army: www.firstenergycorp.com/content/dam/customer/get-help/files/asst-progra…; Toledo Edison Customers – the Salvation Army at 419-241-3549
Benefit: Up to $200.
Eligibility: At or below 200 percent of the federal poverty guidelines.
Availability: Open year-round.

NATURAL GAS

Columbia Gas of Ohio

Columbia Fuel Fund
Contact: Your local community action agency at 1-800-282-0880 or at www.oacaa.org. Or contact Columbia at 1-800-344-4077 or www.columbiagasohio.com.
Benefit: Up to $250 per heating season.
Eligibility: Household earnings at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. Consumers do not need to be disconnected or have a disconnection status.
Available: January through December or until funds are exhausted.

HeatShare
Contact: Your local Salvation Army at 1-800-725-2769 or Columbia at 1-800-344-4077 or www.columbiagasohio.com.
Benefit: Up to $250 once per year.
Eligibility: Household earnings at or below 175 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. A consumer must have a disconnection notice or be reconnecting service.
Available: Once in a rolling 12-month period.

Dominion East Ohio

EnergyShare
Contact: Your local Salvation Army at 1-800-725-2769 or Dominion at 1-800-362-7557 or www.dominionenergy.com/ohio/billing/billing-options-and-assistance/ener….
Benefit: Up to $300.
Eligibility: Household earnings at or below 300 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. Applicants must have a disconnection notice or be currently disconnected and have used the Winter Crisis Program. Seniors, age 60 or older, do not need a disconnection notice.
Available: For heating assistance Dec. 1 through May 31, or until funds run out.

Duke Energy Ohio

Share the Light
Contact: Share the Light hotline: 513-762-5636. Apply online at www.duke-energy.com/home/billing/special-assistance/share-the-light or Duke at 1-800-544-6900.
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 31.
Available: Mid-January until funds are exhausted.