The Ohio Department of Development and Lifeline want to remind Ohioans that assistance is available to help with their home energy bills. The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) helps Ohioans at or below 175% of the federal poverty guidelines pay their heating bills. Ohioans who are threatened with disconnection, have been disconnected from their utility service, transferring services, establishing new services, have a PIPP default with a disconnection notice at or below 25% fuel, may also be eligible for the HEAP Winter Crisis Program, which starts on November 1, 2022.

Ohioans can visit energyhelp.ohio.gov to apply online, download a copy of the application, or find contact information for a local Energy Assistance Provider. Individuals will need to have copies of the following documents to include with their application:

  • Most recent utility bills
  • A list of all household members (including birth dates and Social Security numbers)
  • Proof of income for the past 30 days for all household members (12 months for certain income types)
  • Proof of U.S. citizenship or legal residency for all household members
  • Proof of disability (if applicable)

For more information about the Winter Crisis Program locally and what is needed to apply, contact Lifeline’s Energy Assistance Office at 440-350-9160 or visit our website at www.lclifeline.org. Lifeline’s office re-located in June 2022 and is now located at 8 N. State Street, Suite 300 in Painesville. Additional information can also be found at www.energyhelp.ohio.gov or by calling (800) 282-0880.

No walk-in sessions will be held. Same day appointments will be added daily for customers who are disconnected. Please call 440-350-9160 if you meet these guidelines for same day appointments. The office will be closed on Tuesday, November 8 in observance of Election Day and Friday, November 11 in observance of Veteran’s Day and on Thursday and Friday, November 24 and 25 for Thanksgiving.

More than 550 households in Lake County were assisted through the Home Energy Assistance Winter Crisis Program from November 1, 2021, to March 31, 2022.