Bill help · Ohio

How to get help paying your electric bill in Ohio

If there's a shutoff date on your notice — or you're just dreading the next bill in this heat — you're in the right place, and you have more options than most people realize. You usually don't need the money today to stop a disconnection. Asking for help is something millions of households do every summer; it's a process, not a confession.

Facing a shutoff this week? Do this first.

Apply for the Summer Crisis Program at energyhelp.ohio.gov or call 1-800-282-0880. The application itself triggers a 30-day hold, and it can put up to $500 on your bill plus an AC unit.

Before you call, have your account number, the shutoff notice, and a rough sense of your household income ready. When you hang up, you should have three things: a confirmation number, the new amount due, and the new date. If you don't, ask for all three before you go.

Your summer shutoff protection in Ohio

Ohio has no heat-based shutoff ban — but it has something better in summer: the Summer Crisis Program, which pays your electric bill and can buy you an air conditioner.

There's no temperature moratorium. Protection in summer comes from applying for help: completing a HEAP/Summer Crisis/PIPP application forces a 30-day disconnection hold.

Source: PUCO — Summer Crisis Program. Rules and thresholds can change — confirm the current rule before relying on it.

A medical certificate delays a shutoff 30 days and can be used up to three times a year.

Assistance programs in Ohio

HEAP + Summer Crisis Program

Run by Ohio Dept. of Job and Family Services (moved from Dept. of Development in April 2026).

Summer Crisis is OPEN July 1–Sept 30. It pays up to $500 (regulated utilities) toward your bill and can buy or repair a window AC unit or fan.

Apply at energyhelp.ohio.gov or your local agency → · 1-800-282-0880

  • PIPP Plus caps your monthly electric bill at 5% of household income (10% if you heat with electricity) — you pay the percentage, not the usage. It's the single most powerful tool in Ohio and runs year-round.
  • Stay current on PIPP and on-time payments earn credits that erase your old arrears — 24 on-time payments can clear the past-due balance entirely.

Your utility's own programs

Which help you get depends on who your electric company is, not just your state. Find yours below — these programs are often the biggest, most durable relief, because they lower the bill going forward, not just once.

Step by step, when a shutoff is looming

  1. 1

    Read your notice for the real deadline

    Find the shutoff date and the exact amount needed to avoid termination — it's often less than your full balance.

  2. 2

    Call your utility before that date

    Even with no money in hand. Ask for a payment plan and whether enrolling in assistance or a payment plan pauses the shutoff.

  3. 3

    Apply for assistance

    Apply for HEAP + Summer Crisis Program (1-800-282-0880) and ask your utility about its own program. A pending application can hold off a disconnection.

  4. 4

    Use a medical certificate if anyone is vulnerable

    A medical certificate delays a shutoff 30 days and can be used up to three times a year.

  5. 5

    Escalate if the rules are broken

    If your utility won't follow the rules, contact PUCO (consumer complaints) / Office of the Consumers' Counsel at 1-800-686-7826.

If your utility won't play by the rules

Your state regulator can halt an improper disconnection. They enforce the notice periods, the summer rules, and the medical-certificate protections — and a complaint can stop a shutoff while it's reviewed.

PUCO (consumer complaints) / Office of the Consumers' Counsel → · 1-800-686-7826

How often does this actually happen in Ohio?

More than most people think — which is exactly why these protections exist. In 2024, federal data shows Ohio utilities cut power to households for nonpayment at very different rates. AEP Ohio disconnected about 12.9 per 100 customers — the highest of the Ohio utilities we track. You're not an outlier for needing help; you're one of many.

See how every utility ranks on disconnections →

If the main programs are tapped out

When government funds run dry or you're just over the income line, these are the backstops:

One warning, because this audience gets targeted: your real utility will never demand a gift card, and a genuine shutoff never happens in the next hour over the phone. If someone says that, it's a scam — hang up and call the number printed on your bill. More on utility scams →

The honest read on Ohio

  • Ohio is one of the better-protected states in a heat wave — not because of a moratorium, but because the Summer Crisis Program is open right now and actually buys cooling.
  • If your bills swing wildly, PIPP Plus is the long-term fix: a hard 5%-of-income cap means the August bill can't blow up on you again.
  • Check your bill before anything else — many Ohio towns auto-enrolled you with a third-party supplier through aggregation, which can be part of why the bill is high.

Common questions

Can my electricity be shut off in summer in Ohio?
Ohio has no summer or heat-based shutoff ban, so yes — your power can legally be disconnected for nonpayment during a heat wave. A medical certificate delays a shutoff 30 days and can be used up to three times a year. That medical certificate is your strongest summer protection, alongside enrolling in an assistance program (an application itself can pause a shutoff).
What's the fastest way to stop a shutoff in Ohio this week?
Apply for the Summer Crisis Program at energyhelp.ohio.gov or call 1-800-282-0880. The application itself triggers a 30-day hold, and it can put up to $500 on your bill plus an AC unit.
How do I apply for help paying my electric bill in Ohio?
Start with HEAP + Summer Crisis Program, run by Ohio Dept. of Job and Family Services (moved from Dept. of Development in April 2026). Summer Crisis is OPEN July 1–Sept 30. It pays up to $500 (regulated utilities) toward your bill and can buy or repair a window AC unit or fan. You can apply online or by phone (1-800-282-0880). Also ask your own utility about its assistance program — that's often the bigger, longer-term help.
Does applying for assistance stop a disconnection in Ohio?
Often, yes. In many cases, having a pending assistance application or an accepted payment plan postpones a shutoff — you don't always have to wait for the money to land. Say so explicitly when you call your utility, and get a confirmation number.

Last reviewed June 18, 2026. Program names, income limits, dollar amounts, and dates change every year — and funds run out mid-season. We verify each link against the official source, but always confirm the current details with the agency or your utility before you rely on them. This is general consumer information, not legal or financial advice.

RateWatchdog is independent. We take no supplier commissions, we don't profit from which program you choose, and we'll always point you to the official, free source — including when it isn't us. See all states →