'Winter Crisis Program' Available For Summit County Residents

STOW, OH -- Given last night's winter weather advisory for much of Northeast Ohio, combined with wildcard winter predictions, Ohio's Winter Crisis Program could be a vital backup for individuals and families facing utility shutoff notices. The Winter Crisis Program helps income-eligible Ohioans who are facing utility service disconnection, whose utilities have been disconnected or those who have less than a 25 percent supply of bulk fuel in their tank maintain their utility service. The program began Nov. 1, 2017 and ends March 31, 2018. Winter Crisis is a component of the federally-funded Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP.) And, according to HEAP rules, each county has its own program provider Web site, and each household applies for the program through its county-specific site. The Summit County Winter Crisis Program provider is Akron/Summit Community Action, Inc., for instance. A full list of Ohio county program providers Web sites is here.

According to the state of Ohio's Web site, last year, more than 130,000 Ohio households were served by the Winter Crisis Program. Ohio households, serviced by a PUCO-regulated utility, must sign up for the Percentage of Income Payment Plan Plus (PIPP Plus) or another payment plan in order to receive emergency benefits.

For more information, call HEAP toll-free at (800) 282-0880 during regular business hours (7:30 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.) Monday through Friday. For the hearing-impaired with a telecommunication device for the deaf (TTD), call toll-free number (800) 686-1557.