FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Date: January 7, 2008

Energy Assistance Programs Provide Help with Energy Costs

The Council for Older Adults now has applications available for a variety of energy assistance programs offered by the Ohio Department of Development (ODOD). These programs help low-income residents pay their utility bills and improve the heating efficiency of their homes and include:

• Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) assistance usually consists of a credit on the heating bill account each year.
  
• HEAP Emergency Crisis Program (E-HEAP) assists households whose source of energy has been disconnected or are threatened with disconnection or who have less than a ten-day supply of bulk fuel.
  
• Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP) is a special payment plan that requires eligible customers to pay a portion of their household income each month to maintain utility service.
  
• Home Weatherization Assistance Program (HWAP) assistance comes in the form of reducing the energy use by providing insulation, air leakage reduction, heating system repairs, health and safety inspections and testing as well as other services.

Applications are available at the Council office, 800 Cheshire Road, Delaware. Each of the programs has income and age or disability guidelines and in some cases, other restrictions may apply. For more information, call Council for Older Adults at 740-363-6677 or 1-800-994-2255.