Cleveland, September 2024: As Step Forward’s Summer Cooling program prepares to close for the season, the Home Energy Assistance Program is urging Cuyahoga County residents to take proactive steps to manage their energy costs and avoid seasonal crises by applying for Percentage of Income Payment Plan Plus (PIPP).
PIPP is an energy assistance intervention program designed to help eligible households maintain gas and electric services by paying the utility company a percentage of their household income. The program provides customers with a consistent affordable payment amount year-round. Additionally, when clients make 24 consecutive on-time, full payments, they receive credits to their utility accounts for the outstanding balances.
“PIPP puts energy affordability back into the reach of households struggling to pay high utility bills,” said Jacqueline Boehnlein, Vice President of Community Services at Step Forward. “We have changed how we serve clients and are promoting PIPP enrollment and education, knowing PIPP is so much more than a budget plan, it’s a way to stop seasonal crisis for families.”
Eligible residents must be at or below 175% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines and a customer of the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio. Once enrolled in PIPP+, clients must re-verify their eligibility every year.
First-time PIPP applicants can submit an Energy Assistance Programs (EAP) application and required documentation online at energyhelp.ohio.gov. New applicants need to create a user account and complete the Energy Assistance Programs Application online.
Applicants can also apply by mail, mailing their signed, completed application and required documents to Energy Assistance Programs, P.O. Box 1240, Columbus, Ohio 43216. Unsigned applications are ineligible for processing.
Current PIPP clients must reverify their income every year to stay enrolled in the program. To reverify, clients need to resubmit an Energy Assistance Programs application along with the required documentation either online at energyhelp.ohio.gov or by mailing their reverification application to Energy Assistance Programs, P.O. Box 1240, Columbus, Ohio 43216.
Clients applying and reverifying for PIPP must select “yes” in the checkbox option to enroll or reverify.