By: PRNewswire |
Ohio Edison, The Illuminating Company and Toledo Edison, FirstEnergy’s (NYSE: FE)Ohio utilities, remind customers having difficulty paying their utility bills that they may be eligible for special financial assistance programs.
In Ohio, customer assistance programs include:
- Percentage of Income Payment Plan Plus (PIPP Plus)
The Percentage of Income Payment Plan Plus (PIPP Plus) is an extended payment arrangement that allows Ohio customers meeting program guidelines to pay a percentage of their income or $10.00 per month, whichever is greater, instead of their usual electricity bill. Eligible customers must have a household income at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty level. For more information, call (800) 282-0880.
- Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP)
HEAP is a federally funded grant program administered by the State of Ohio Department of Development through a network of local community action agencies. HEAP provides customers help with paying winter heating bills, and occasionally summer cooling bills. For more information, call (800) 633-4766 (Ohio Edison and Toledo Edison customers); or (800) 589-3101 (Illuminating Company customers).
- Salvation Army Emergency Hardship Programs
The Salvation Army organizations across the Ohio utility territories offer emergency assistance programs for those who have suffered a recent financial hardship and need temporary help to pay their electricity bill. Program funding is provided by FirstEnergy’s Ohioemployees and customers. The distribution of funds is administered by Salvation Army agencies located throughout Ohio. Contact your local Salvation Army agency to learn more.
- Emergency Assistance
Additional help in paying utility bills may also be available to low-income residents through local county departments of human services, community action agencies, soldier’s relief commissions or veteran’s services offices. Listings for these resources can be found in the blue pages at the front of your local telephone directory, or you can call your county government or visit them online to learn more.
Ohio residential customers of FirstEnergy’s utilities looking for a convenient way to manage their electric bills also can sign up for the FirstEnergy Installment Plan, which allows customers to make consistent monthly payments to avoid the impact of seasonal highs and lows in their electricity bills. To apply or learn more about programs to help keep electricity bills affordable, visit www.firstenergycorp.comor call Ohio Edison customer service at (800) 633-4766; The Illuminating Company customer service at (800) 589-3101; and Toledo Edison customer service at (800) 447-3333.
