Project REACH

Project REACH is sponsored by Ohio Edison (Administered by The Salvation Army). Project REACH is an emergency hardship fund designed to help residential customers who have suffered a recent financial hardship and need temporary help in paying their electric bill.

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It is taking longer than expected for this page to load. Please try refreshing the page. Struggling to Pay Your Electric Bill?

We Can Help. There are many reasons you or someone you know may need help with home energy costs. We understand and can offer a variety of programs to help you budget your monthly payments, pay winter heating bills, catch up on past-due payments, or avoid service disconnection.

See what programs are available in your area and learn about what type of assistance could be available based on your location, household size and income. Percentage of Income Payment Plan Plus (PIPP Plus) The Percentage of Income Payment Plan Plus program – PIPP Plus – is Ohio’s income-based payment program that helps low-income households maintain gas and electric service.

PIPP Plus allows you to pay a percentage of your household income instead of the actual amount of your bill. Consistent Bills: Monthly payments based on a percentage of household income.

Bill Credit: Monthly bill credit to pay the difference between the consumption charges and the PIPP payment Forgiveness Credit: Forgiveness credit for preprogram debt Customers enrolled in this program must pay a percentage of their household income - the PIPP Plus Amount - every month of the year.

Customers who do not heat their homes with electricity will be required to pay five (5) percent of their gross monthly household income each month or $10 (whichever is more). Customers who heat their homes with electricity will be required to pay 10 percent of their gross monthly household income each month or $10 (whichever is more).

Customers who are no longer eligible for PIPP Plus because of their household income may participate in the PIPP Arrearage Crediting (PAC) plan. PAC helps customers pay off the amount in arrears that was deferred while enrolled in PIPP Plus. Eligible customers have a household income at or below 175% of the federal poverty level.

Call the Ohio Department of Development (ODOD) at: 1-800-282-0880 or Visit: Apply for Ohio Energy Assistance Programs | Development * A copy of your most recent utility bills A list of all household members: Proof of income for the last 30 days for each member (12 months preferred) Proof of citizenship or legal residency for all household members Percentage of Income Payment Plan Plus (PIPP Plus) HEAP is a federally funded grant program administered by Ohio Department of Development (ODOD) through a network of energy assistance providers.

HEAP provides customers help with paying winter heating bills, and occasionally summer cooling bills.

The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP Winter Crisis Program) helps income eligible Ohioans that are threatened with disconnection, have been disconnected, need to establish new service, need to pay to transfer service, have PIPP default, need to pay first PIPP, or have 25% (or less) supply of bulk fuel in their tank maintain their utility services.

For more information please visit: Ohio Department of Development's Website * Winter Crisis: November through April Summer Crisis: July through September Cash Grants: Customers can receive cash grants for home heating bills and emergencies. HEAP: Helps with home energy bills. Winter Crisis: Helps with threats of disconnection.

Summer Crisis: Provides cooling assistance during the summer months. Annual grant or emergency payment Call the Ohio Department of Development (ODOD) at: 1-800-282-0880 or Visit: www. energyhelp.

ohio. gov * A copy of your most recent utility bills A list of all household members: Proof of income for the last 30 days for each member (12 months preferred) Proof of citizenship or legal residency for all household members Ohio Partners for Affordable Energy (OPAE) Fuel Fund OPAE Fuel Fund provides financial assistance to eligible low- to moderate-income customers to help pay their electric bills.

Customers must be at or below 200% of federal poverty guidelines and must apply for the HEAP or HEAP Crisis program, if available. Customer may apply for OPAE Fuel Fund, HEAP and HEAP Crisis at their local HEAP provider.

Provides financial assistance to eligible low- to moderate income customers to help pay their electric bills Opens March 1st and remains open until funds are exhausted Cash Grants: Customers can receive cash grants for home heating bills and emergencies.

Must have a gross (before tax) household income at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines Active residential account must be in the name of an adult resident withing the household Must first apply for HEAP or E-HEAP when open and if eligible Annual grant or emergency payment Call the Ohio Department of Development (ODOD) at: 1-800-282-0880 or Visit: Ohio Department of Development's Website * A copy of your most recent utility bills A list of all household members: Proof of income for the last 30 days for each member (12 months preferred) Proof of citizenship or legal residency for all household members Ohio Partners for Affordable Energy (OPAE) Fuel Fund Project REACH is an emergency hardship fund designed to help residential customers who have suffered a recent financial hardship and need temporary help in paying their electric bill.

Program funding is provided by Ohio Edison customers and company employees. The distribution of funds is administered by the Salvation Army located throughout the Ohio Edison service territory. List of Salvation Army REACH Agencies Project REACH Contribution Form This nationwide resource and information helpline will identify programs in your area that may assist you or someone you know with utility bills.

Open year-round and requirements may vary based on program referrals. Text your ZIP Code to 898211 View All Assistance Programs If you are at least 60 years old or receive a Social Security or pension check, or if you receive disability assistance, we can extend your payment due date. In order to be eligible for this option, your account must be current and remain current or the option may be removed from your account.

Contact: Ohio Edison - Email or call 800-633-4766 If conditions make it difficult to pay your electric bill on time, we can arrange affordable installments to be paid with your monthly bill. Payment arrangements help maintain your electric service while you make payments more suited to your financial situation.

Contact Ohio Edison via Email or call 800-633-4766 Select a third party (a friend, relative, clergy, or social service agency) to be notified, along with yourself, if your electric service is about to be disconnected. The third party is not obligated to pay overdue bills but can remind you of pending disconnection and help you make payment arrangements.

Contact: Ohio Edison - Email or call 800-633-4766 Military Deferred Payment Program This program is designed to assist customers who are having financial difficulties because their family members have been called to active military duty. Customers participating in the program may elect to defer paying either all or a part of their monthly electric bill.

When the family member in the military service returns home, the account will be reviewed to determine payment arrangements for the balance owed. Customers who have switched to an alternative generation supplier may defer the charges paid to their supplier only if that supplier offers a deferred payment program. If your supplier does not offer a deferred payment program, the supplier charges must be paid each month.

Contact: Ohio Edison - Email or call 800-633-4766 This is offered only during the winter months for a residential customer to pay the entire past-due balance or $175, whichever is less. If the customer has defaulted on an extended payment plan this is the option to pay the catch-up balance or $175, whichever is less. The $175 Winter Option is offered to a customer one time only during the winter season.

Contact us at 1-800-633-4766 for more information. The Critical Care Program identifies customers who use certain electrically operated life sustaining medical equipment in their home. The program helps customers - for whom a service interruption could be immediately life threatening or would make operation of necessary medical or life supporting equipment impossible or impractical - prepare for planned and unplanned power outages.

Please call us if someone in your home uses this type of medical equipment.

Contact: Ohio Edison - Email or call 800-633-4766 Customers with severe health problems may have a licensed physician, physician assistant, clinical nurse specialist, certified nurse practitioner, certified nurse-midwife, or local board of health physician certify in writing that they, or a member of their household, are seriously ill or have been diagnosed with a medical condition which requires the continuation of service to treat the medical condition.

The medical certification will postpone the termination of electric service for 30 days. The customer is still responsible for the past-due amount and will be given the opportunity to pay the balance in monthly installments. If you or a member of your household have a qualifying medical condition, we have made it easier for your medical professional to submit the medical certificates to us by automating the forms online.

Complete the 30-Day Medical Certificate Form . Please email us or call our Customer Care Center at 800-633-4766 for details on the information your medical professional will need to complete on the medical form.

Ohio Assistance Programs Chart Summary (English) Ohio Assistance Programs Chart Summary (Spanish) Billing and Payment Options Customer Rights & Obligations Brochure Ohio Public Utility Commission * *By clicking this link you are leaving the FirstEnergy website and entering a website maintained by a third party. They are entirely responsible for the content of their website. Last Modified: August 28, 2026