Program served over 500 homes

Summer Crisis Program begins July 1

Lifeline’s HEAP Winter Crisis Program, which began on Nov. 1 and ran through March 31, once again served a high number of low-income households with emergency utility assistance.

Throughout the five months of the “Winter Crisis Season,” staff members completed applications for 678 households from nearly every community in Lake County, the community action agency confirmed.

Of those 678 applications, 504 were approved for assistance with gas, electric or purchase of fuel oil.

Over $130,000 in federal funds was expended over the course of the season, significantly less than last year’s winter, likely due to the novel coronavirus moratoriums on utility disconnections offered by many local utility vendors.

“It was definitely a different kind of season,” said Lifeline Executive Director Carrie Dotson. “This was our first winter season where no walk-in assistance was offered and our in-take appointments were primarily over the phone. It was a quieter season, for sure.”

“We’re glad things opened up enough that clients could come to our office to drop documents off.”

— Lifeline Executive Director Carrie Dotson

Dotson added agency staff was glad to help their neighbors in need, especially during such a difficult time for everyone, and that the work, overall, has been a challenge.

“It’s tough to properly screen applicants and collect required documents through an online or overthe-phone in-take appointment, and so many of our clients lack the technology needed to make those options work well,” she said. “We’re glad things opened up enough that clients could come to our office to drop documents off.”

The Winter Crisis Program assists low-income households that have been disconnected or have a pending disconnection notice, need to establish new service, need to pay to transfer service, have 25 percent or less of bulk fuel supply remaining, or have a household member who was diagnosed with COVID-19 in 2020 to help stay warm this winter.

While the Winter Crisis Program has ended for the season, Ohioans also have the option of enrolling in a longer-term plan, PIPP Plus, which allows them to pay a percentage of their income rather than high bills they cannot afford.

Under PIPP Plus, customers pay 6 percent of their monthly income or $10 a month, whichever is greater, to both electric and gas utilities. Customers in all-electric homes pay 10 percent or $10, whichever is greater. This stays the same for 12 months and income is then rechecked.

The key to this program is keeping up with on-time payments, said Marina Rivera, energy programs manager at Lifeline.

“For each on-time and full monthly payment, PIPP Plus customers see a credit on their bills for their current balances and a credit toward their accumulated arrearage,” she said, adding the plan serves to help customers eliminate old utility debt and avoid new utility debt.

To be eligible for PIPP Plus, customers must have a household income at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty line and be a customer of a regulated gas or electric company. Any adult household member reporting zero income will be asked to provide tax documentation as verification.

The program is administered by the Ohio Development Services Agency and the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio.

Lifeline will also be accepting and processing HEAP Applications for the one-time heating credit through June 1. The HEAP Summer Crisis Program is scheduled to begin July 1.

Customers having a difficult time paying gas and electric bills should contact our Lifeline, Rivera said.

“We can see if they’re eligible for PIPP and CEI fuel funds,” she added. “If we’re not able to help through one of the various HEAP programs, we will always direct our customers to call the 2-1-1 hotline to see what other programs are out there to assist.”

For more information, contact Lifeline’s Energy Assistance Office at 440350-9160 or visit www. lclifeline.org.

Lifeline’s office relocated last June and is now located at One Victoria Place, Suite 265A in Painesville.

Additional information can also be found at www.energyhelp.ohio.gov or by calling 800-282-0880.