Grants to help pay electric bill

$500 will be given for extreme hardship

By Rick Armon
Beacon Journal staff writer

Published on Wednesday, Aug 26, 2009

Low- and moderate-income residents can get a break on their electric bills — as much as $500 in some cases — under the new Ohio Fuel Fund Grant Program.

The initiative will provide financial assistance to about 42,000 FirstEnergy Corp. electrical customers in northern and central Ohio over the next three years.

FirstEnergy set aside $8.5 million to fund the program following two state agreements over rate-related cases.

''We recognize that there's a big need out there,'' said Ryan Lippe, a spokesman with the Ohio Consumers' Counsel. ''We're trying to bridge the gap for the working poor who might not be eligible for existing programs.''

The Ohio Consumers' Counsel estimates that one in 10 families has had natural gas or electricity cut off within the last year.

Customers of FirstEnergy's utility companies — Ohio Edison, Cleveland Electric Illuminating and Toledo Edison — may qualify for the program. FirstEnergy has about 926,000 customers in Ohio, with more than 200,000 in Summit County, state leaders said.

Summit County residents will benefit from a big chunk of the funding.

The Summit County Department of Community and Economic Development and Love INC of Greater Akron will oversee handing out $1.2 million in the form of billing credits. Both will take applications and determine whether residents are eligible.

The Ohio Consumers' Counsel is still finalizing deals with the Medina County Department of Job and Family Services, Portage County Sal
vation Army, Stark County Department of Job and Family Services and Salvation Army in Stark County. No group has been identified yet to oversee Wayne County, officials said.

The maximum grant allowed per family in most cases is $300. But $500 will be given out in cases of extreme hardship. Credits may be used only for electrical usage and cannot exceed the amount due on the bill.

To qualify, residents must have an active account; a pattern of ''good faith'' payments; applied for the Home Energy Assistance Program or Emergency HEAP; and a total household income at or below 200 percent of federal poverty guidelines.

For example, the qualifying income level for a family of four is $44,100.

The Summit County Department of Community and Economic Development is accepting applications in person. The office is on the second floor of the Ohio Building, 175 S. Main St., Akron. To schedule an appointment or for details, call 330-643-8527.

Proof of identification, household income and an electric bill must be presented during the application process.

Love INC of Greater Akron did not return a call seeking comment.