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What is the Percentage of Income Payment Plan Plus (PIPP Plus)? 

The fore-runner of PIPP Plus had been in effect for more than 20 years. It was (as is PIPP Plus) an extended payment arrangement that requires regulated gas and electric companies to accept payments based on a percentage of the household income. Both programs are authorized as a part of the Universal Service Fund program enabled by Substitute Senate Bill 3, which also directs the Office of Community Services to administer the PIPP for electricity customers. In response to input for advocates of consumers, businesses, and low-income advocates, the program was changed to provide greater stewardship of monies, operate more efficiently with other programs, and better serve the citizens of Ohio needing the programs support.

Under PIPP Plus, if you heat with gas, you pay 6 percent of your monthly household income to your gas company and 6 percent to your electric company. If you heat with electricity, you pay 10 percent of your monthly household income. The Community Action Agency or utility company will inform you of your PIPP Plus installment. Once you are enrolled in the program, you must pay your installment every month in full and on time.

PIPP Plus Eligibility Requirements:

To be eligible for the PIPP Plus program, a customer must receive his or her primary or secondary heat source from a company regulated by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO), must have a total household income which is at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty level, and must apply for all energy assistance programs for which he or she is eligible.

 

PIPP Plus Enrollment:

Enrollment may be done by requesting an application by mail (click here) or by making an appointment with your local energy assistance provider.  Click here to locate your local energy assistance provider.

 

PIPP Plus Re-verification Requirements:

The Office of Community Services (OCS) is responsible for re-verifying incomes of the Percentage of Income Payment Program Plus clients for regulated utilities. All PIPP Plus customers must re-verify their incomes annually. Re-verification may be done by requesting an application by mail (click here) or by making an appointment with your local energy assistance provider. Click here to locate your local energy assistance provider.

 

Graduate PIPP Plus:

PIPP Plus customers who are either income ineligible or choose to leave PIPP Plus but still owe a balance on utility bill and are in good standing with their utilities may enroll in Graduate PIPP Plus through the utility.  Customers have 12 months on Graduate PIPP Plus to retire their arrearage(s).

Electric utility customers will pay either:

  •         A transition amount of the average of the PIPP Plus amount and the budget amount
  •         The current bill
  •         The budget amount

Gas utility customers will pay the average of the PIPP Plus installment and the budget billing amount. 

For every full, on-time payment the customer makes they shall receive an arrearage credit equal to 1/12 of the arrearage plus the accruing arrearage (if any).

 

Post PIPP Plus:

Former electric utility PIPP Plus customers who are no longer a customer of the utility but still have a balance with the utility will be offered the opportunity to enroll in Post PIPP Plus. Customers will have 12 months to earn arrearage credits by making payments to their former utility. For every payment of 1/60 of the arrearage, the customer earns an arrearage credit equal to 1/12 of the arrearage.

For Additional Information:

Call HEAP toll-free at (800) 282-0880 during regular business hours (7:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m. Monday through Friday). For hearing-impaired with a telecommunication device for the deaf (TTD), call toll-free number (800) 686-1557 or in Franklin County, call (614) 752-8808. The FAX number is (614) 728-6832.