Utility assistance available for qualifying customers

The Percentage of Income Payment Plan Plus is a special program for low-income customers of regulated utilities such as AEP, Dominion East Ohio Gas and Columbia Gas.

HARCATUS is looking for PIPP Plus customers who have dropped off the program and cannot keep up with the monthly charges or are facing disconnection of service.

Although PIPP Plus makes monthly payment more affordable on a year-round basis, many people have failed to follow program regulations.

When a PIPP Plus household pays the monthly PIPP Plus payment on time and in full, some of their old debt and the rest of that month's bill go away in the form of a credit on their utility account. When they miss payments or fail to reverify their income as instructed, they quickly end up owing thousands of dollars that are impossible to repay.

Natural gas: $10 or six percent of gross monthly household income each month, whichever is greater.

Electric: $10 or six percent of gross monthly household income each month, whichever is greater.

All-electric homes: $10 or 10 percent of gross monthly household income each month, whichever is greater.

Participants must reverify income at least once a year and report any change in household income to the local community action agency.

One does not need an appointment to apply, reverify PIPP or to ask questions about getting back on the program. Customers must complete and sign a Home Energy Assistance Program application, which is available at local libraries, post offices, senior centers, Department of Jobs & Family Services offices and at the HARCATUS Family Support Centers.

The application must list all household members with proof of Social Security numbers and birth dates.

Applicants must provide proof of income (copies of pay stubs, bank statements or recent official documents), copies of the most recent energy bills (gas, electric, propane, fuel oil, etc.) and proof of U.S. citizenship/legal residency for all household members.

For more information call HARCATUS Family Support Centers at 330-343-8770, 740-922-3600, 330-627-4101 or 740-942-8886.