Ohio heating bill aid opens Nov. 1 for struggling households

Mason and Deerfield Township residents behind on heating bills can apply for state assistance starting Sunday, Nov. 1.

Ohio's Home Energy Assistance Winter Crisis Program provides one-time help with heating costs to income-eligible households. The program runs through March 31, 2027, according to the Dayton Daily News.

Last year, the program helped more than 73,000 Ohio households and distributed $25.5 million in benefits.

Who qualifies

The program covers households facing utility disconnection, those already disconnected, people who need to establish new service and those who must pay to transfer service. Households with 25% or less of bulk fuel in their tanks also qualify.

Total household income must be at or below 175% of the federal poverty level. For a family of four, that ceiling is $57,750.

Matt Damschroder, director of the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, told the Dayton Daily News the program is available for families facing a shutoff or running low on fuel.

How to apply

Residents can start an application online at energyhelp.ohio.gov. They must then schedule an appointment with a local energy assistance provider to finish it. Appointments may be in person or by phone, depending on the agency.

Applicants should bring copies of these documents:

Most recent energy bills
A list of all household members and proof of income for the last 30 days
Proof of U.S. citizenship or legal residency for all household members
Birth dates and Social Security numbers for all household members
Proof of disability, if applicable

The Ohio Consumers' Counsel lists the full documentation requirements on its website.

Local resources

In Warren County, the local provider for the Winter Crisis Program is Warren County Community Services Inc. A Warren County utilities assistance guide lists the agency at 570 North State Route 741, Lebanon. Residents should call 1-888-747-1042 to schedule an appointment and confirm the office location before visiting.

That same guide lists F.A.I.T.H. Ministries, located at Mason United Methodist Church at 6315 S. Mason-Montgomery Road, as a local resource for Mason and Deerfield Township residents with a disconnection notice. The guide lists walk-in hours on Thursdays from 1 to 3 p.m. and a phone number of 513-459-8509. Residents should call ahead to confirm current availability.

PUCO special reconnect order

Separately, the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) issued a special reconnect order in late September. The order caps what customers of PUCO-regulated utilities must pay to reconnect or maintain electric and natural gas service at $175, plus a reconnection charge of no more than $36. Any reconnection balance above $36 may appear on the next monthly bill. That order covers Oct. 12 through April 16, 2027.