Receiving a shut-off notice or struggling to pay your gas bill can be scary and overwhelming – especially during winter months. Luckily, several programs available to Akron and Summit County residents offer some form of financial assistance to help with gas bills. 

Navigating these programs is no easy task. From meeting strict eligibility requirements to providing loads of personal and financial documents, accessing utility assistance can be both frustrating and confusing. 

This guide will break down the gas bill assistance programs available to Akron and Summit County residents, including program qualifications and how to apply. 

Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP)

What is it? The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) assists Ohioans who need help managing and paying their home energy bills. The program, which is federally funded and administered by the Ohio Department of Development, provides a one-time payment for gas or electric bills from public utilities.

Who qualifies for the program? To qualify for HEAP, you must be at or below 175% of the federal poverty guidelines. The program is open to both renters and homeowners. To see if you qualify, check out the Ohio Public Utilities Commission (PUCO) website, which provides a breakdown of income levels and household sizes. 

When applying, you must report your total gross (pre-tax) household income for the last 30 days — though the last 12 months is preferred. Wage and salary income earned by any dependent minors is exempt from household income. So, for instance, a 16-year-old’s wages from a fast-food restaurant would not need to be included.

How to apply: If you meet the eligibility requirements and want to apply for HEAP assistance, you can do so by completing an online application here. However, the online application must be completed on a computer, as it’s not currently accessible on mobile devices such as smartphones or tablets. If you don’t have access to a computer, you can use one at any Akron-Summit County library branch.

You can also apply in-person or over the phone by making an appointment with your local energy assistance provider, during which you’ll complete an Energy Assistance application. You can find your local energy assistance provider here. For example, Summit County residents should contact Akron Summit Community Action.

You can also mail your application and required documents to:

Energy Assistance Programs
P.O. Box 1240
Columbus, OH 43216

To mail an application, you can download and print a form from here in either English or Spanish. You can also find applications at your local energy assistance provider, local libraries, county departments of Job and Family Services and Area Agencies on Aging.

There is a 12-week processing time for both online and mailed applications. To avoid delays, make sure you sign the application.  

What documents do you need? To apply for HEAP, you must complete an application for the program and provide several documents, including:

  • Proof of income for each household member. This includes Supplemental Security Income, Social Security Disability Income, Social Security, pension, alimony, self-employment wages and unemployment.
  • Copies of your most recent utility bills.
  • A list of all current household members, including their birth dates and Social Security numbers. You’ll also need proof of legal residency/U.S. citizenship for each household member. Acceptable proof includes a copy of a Social Security card, birth certificate, U.S. passport, naturalization paper or certificate of citizenship, permanent visa or an insurance ID card. 

HEAP Winter Crisis Program

What is it? HEAP also has two season-specific utility assistance programs: one for winter and one for summer. The Winter Crisis Program is primarily for heating assistance, while the Summer Crisis Program is for cooling assistance, helping eligible Ohioans manage electric utility bills and central air conditioning unit repairs and purchases. 

The Winter Crisis Program is specifically for eligible Ohioans who are at risk of being disconnected from fuel service, have been disconnected, need to establish new service, need to pay to transfer their service, have Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP) default, need to pay PIPP, or have a bulk fuel supply of 25% or less in their tank to maintain utility service. 

The Winter Crisis Program is done for this year; it typically restarts in November.

Who qualifies for the program? Eligible Ohioans include those who have a household income at or below 175% of the federal poverty line. Along with the income requirements, you must also be facing disconnection, have been disconnected, need to establish new service or pay to transfer service or have less than 25% of your bulk fuel supply in your home fuel tank. 

To check if your household income qualifies, you can review the November 2024 to March 2025 income levels on the Ohio Department of Development’s website.

How to apply: To apply for the Winter Crisis Program, you can start your application online by using a computer, not a mobile device such as a smartphone or tablet. You will need to make an appointment with your local energy assistance provider to finish the application. 

You can start your online application here. To schedule an appointment, check for your local energy assistance provider on the Ohio Department of Development’s website.

You can also apply via mail by sending your application and required documents to:

Energy Assistance Programs
P.O. Box 1240
Columbus, OH 43216

To mail an application, you can download and print one from here in either English or Spanish. You can also find applications at your local energy assistance provider, local libraries, county departments of Job and Family Services and Area Agencies on Aging.

There is a 12-week processing time for both online and mailed applications. To avoid delays in the application process, make sure you sign the application.  

What documents do you need? Along with a completed application, you must submit  copies of the following documents: 

  • Most recent utility bills.
  • A list of all current household members, including their birth dates and Social Security numbers. You’ll also need proof of legal residency/U.S. citizenship for each household member. Acceptable proof of this includes a Social Security card, birth certificate, U.S. passport, naturalization paper or certificate of citizenship, permanent visa or insurance ID card. 
  • Proof of income for each household member over age 18 from at least the past 30 days. This includes Supplemental Security Income, Social Security Disability Income, Social Security, pension, alimony, self-employment wages and unemployment.
  • Proof of disability if applicable.

Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP)

What is it? The Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP or PIPP Plus) helps eligible Ohioans manage their monthly utility bills year-round. Payment assistance is provided based on a percentage of your household income and is available to customers of regulated gas and electric companies in the state. You can find a list of regulated utility companies on the Ohio Public Utility Commission website.

With PIPP, your monthly payment will be $10 or 5% of your gross monthly household income each month, whichever is greater. What’s more, when a PIPP household pays their monthly payment on time and in full, some of their old utility bill debt and the rest of that month’s bill will be forgiven in the form of a credit on their utility account.

Who qualifies for the program? To qualify for PIPP, households must have a gross yearly income at or below 175% of the federal poverty line. For a breakdown of household income qualifications for 2024-2025, check the Public Utility Commission of Ohio (PUCO) website. 

How to apply: Like most energy assistance programs, you can apply online by accessing the application here via a computer. You can also apply by contacting and setting up an appointment with your local energy assistance provider. Applications for PIPP are open year-round.

You can also apply via mail by sending your application and required documents to:

Energy Assistance Programs
P.O. Box 1240
Columbus, OH 43216

Local organizations such as Community Action Akron Summit will work to enroll and re-verify both gas and electric utility customers in PIPP.

What documents do you need? Like most energy assistance programs, when applying, you’ll also need to provide:

  • A valid photo ID. 
  • A list of all household members. 
  • Copies of your most recent utility bills.
  • Proof of income for the past 30 days for all household members over the age of 18. Some forms of income may require 12 months of proof, so be sure to check with your local energy assistance provider before your appointment or to submit the application. 

Acceptable forms of income proof and household member identification for PIPP are the same as for energy assistance programs such as HEAP. 

Special Reconnect Order

What is it? Special Reconnect Orders allow customers who have fallen behind on payments, are disconnected from natural gas or electric utilities, or are threatened with disconnection to pay a maximum fee of $175 and — if applicable — a reconnection fee of no more than $36 to have their utility service reconnected or maintained. These orders are issued by PUCO on an annual basis.

A Special Reconnect Order can be used once during the winter heating season, typically from mid-October to April 15.

Who qualifies for the program? Anyone who receives service from a regulated utility company qualifies for a Special Reconnect Order, regardless of household income. If you have multiple residential accounts, you can only use the Special Reconnect Order at your primary residence.

All regulated gas companies in the state must comply with the Special Reconnect Order and can guide applicants through the process and answer any questions. For a full list of regulated utility companies in the state, check the PUCO website, where you can search by utility, industry or company name.

How to apply: There isn’t an application process required for a Special Reconnect Order as other energy assistance programs call for. All you have to do is contact your utility company and mention the Special Reconnect Order. 

Enbridge’s EnergyShare Program

What is it? Enbridge Gas Ohio’s EnergyShare Program (formerly Dominion East Ohio Gas) is a fuel assistance program meant to be used as a last resort for individuals and families who are struggling to pay their gas bills. Funds for the EnergyShare program come from tax-deductible donations from customers, stockholders, employees, EnergyShare partners and Enbridge itself. Area nonprofit health and human services agencies such as the Salvation Army then distribute the funds.

To donate, Enbridge customers can add a donation amount of $1, $2, $6, $12, $18 or $36 to their bill. Or they can mail a check for any amount, made payable to EnergyShare, to:

EnergyShare
The Salvation Army
P.O. Box 5847
Cleveland, OH 44101

Who qualifies for the program? To qualify for EnergyShare, you must be an Enbridge customer, have received a termination notice and have already exhausted all state and federal gas utility assistance programs. 

If you’re age 60 or older, you can apply for EnergyShare without having a termination notice.

If you’re not an Enbridge customer, you may be eligible for utility assistance through your utility provider. The PUCO website provides a list of other utility companies that offer energy assistance or HeatShare programs.

How to apply: To apply, contact your local Salvation Army. You can use the Salvation Army’s location search tool. If you’re applying for a utility company assistance program besides Enbridge’s EnergyShare program, you can find eligibility requirements and application instructions on the PUCO’s website, though most applications are handled through the Salvation Army.

Medical certificates

What are they? PUCO-regulated utility companies can’t disconnect you from utility services like gas under certain conditions, such as you or another household member having a medical condition that could make it dangerous to go without utility services. 

Medical certificates can be used to prevent disconnection or reconnect service if you’ve been disconnected for less than 21 days. The certificate is good for 30 days and can be used up to three times in 12 months.

Medical certificates postpone disconnection, but customers are still required to pay for their utility services during that time. This means you’ll have to enter a payment plan like PIPP or contact your utility company to establish a payment plan.

Who qualifies? To qualify, you must be a customer of a PUCO-regulated utility company. To determine whether your company offers medical certificates, check the list of regulated companies here. 

There are no income requirements associated with medical certificates. In terms of what medical conditions qualify, that is solely up to a medical professional.

How to apply: The application form can be downloaded from the PUCO website. The form must be completed and returned to the utility company by a licensed physician, physician’s assistant, clinical nurse specialist, certified nurse practitioner, certified nurse-midwife or local board of health physician. 

If the utility company receives a completed form before 3:30 p.m., service will be restored the same day. If the form is received after 3:30 p.m., service will be restored as early as possible the next business day. If it’s submitted after 3:30 p.m. on a day that doesn’t have a business day after it (such as Friday), the utility company will work to restore service by the end of the day.

Where else can you find help?

There are several ways to get assistance to pay for utilities and prevent disconnection. Along with state and federal programs and assistance from local organizations and utility companies, there are other avenues to explore, including:

Kristine Gill is a freelance writer based in Willoughby with experience covering real estate, crime, higher education and health. She majored in newspaper journalism and creative writing at Kent State and runs a fiction workshop for local writers. She spent a decade living in Florida, working first as a reporter for the Naples Daily News. She later worked as a media relations specialist for the Collier County Sheriff's Office.