Athens County residents will receive much-needed help with heating costs this winter through the Home Energy Assistance Program.
The program gives one month of free heating to eligible applicants and is administered by the Ohio Department of Development's Community Development Division.
There are a lot of people that need heating assistance in the winter months. With gas prices going up
they need as much assistance as possible. It's a very important program and we encourage all those who qualify to take advantage of it said Mike Hogan, department spokesman.
Last year, 2,697 households in Athens County benefited from the program. David Hartinger, 36, of Athens, has been using the program for 15 years.
(The program is) beneficial for people unable to afford the high cost of winter heating
Hartinger said.
Last winter, which went from November to March, 53,816 people in Ohio had their heat disconnected, said Tonja Goins, Public Utilities Commission of Ohio spokeswoman.
Many people think there is a law that prevents utility companies from disconnecting their heat during the winter, especially if they have small children, said Ryan Lippe, Ohio Consumers' Council spokesman.
There is no law that prevents utility companies from doing that
and it's important that we dispel that myth
Lippe said. The important thing to remember is that our first priority is to keep their heat on.
In addition to the Heat Energy Assistance Program, other programs are available to help people who cannot make their payments, such as Ohio Winter Reconnect Program, Percentage of Income Payment Plan and Emergency Home Energy Assistance Program.
Many people do not know their options when they cannot pay their bills. The worst thing someone could do that was facing disconnection, is to not pay his or her bill, said Shana Gerber, Public Utilities Commission of Ohio spokeswoman.
Applications for the Heat Energy Assistance Program will be accepted through March 31, 2004, and are available at www.odod.state.oh.us/cdd/ocs. For more information, call the toll-free hotline at 1-800-282-0880.
BOB: Eligibility for assistance
Size of Household Total Gross Household Income
1 up to $13,470
2 up to $18,180
3 up to $22,890
4 up to $27,600
5 up to $32,310
6 up to $37,020
7 up to $41,730
8 up to $46,440
Source: Public Utilities Commission of Ohio
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Megan Cotten
