Press Release from PUCO - 10/11/2011:
The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) reminds residential electric and natural gas customers that the annual winter heating season reconnect program begins on Oct. 17, 2011. The winter reconnect program allows residential customers who have had their home heating service disconnected or have received a disconnection notice an opportunity to pay to have their home heating service restored or maintained.
Residential customers must pay $175 or the amount owed, whichever is less, plus a reconnection fee of no more than $36 to restore or maintain service with their regulated natural gas or electric company. The winter reconnect order may be used one time during the winter heating season from Oct. 17, 2011 through April 13, 2012.
There is no income eligibility requirement to participate, but the plan requires customers to sign up for a payment plan to pay any remaining past-due balance on their utility bill. Eligible customers may apply payments from the Emergency Home Energy Assistance Program toward the $175 amount. If a utility’s reconnection fee is greater than $36, the utility may bill the balance of the reconnection charge to the customer the following month.
Income-eligible customers who are interested in re-enrolling or maintaining participation in the Percentage of Income Payment Plan Plus (PIPP Plus) program must make an additional payment of no more than $50 per utility if they owe more than $175 in PIPP Plus default. Any remaining balance will be added to the customer’s arrearage.
The winter reconnect program also applies to customers seeking to establish new service. Customers requesting new natural gas or electric service who have no outstanding balance with the utility may establish new service by paying $175, rather than paying the required security deposit. Customers who use the winter reconnect program to establish new service may have the remaining balance of the required security deposit added to their next month’s bill.
Income-eligible customers who are interested in re-enrolling or maintaining participation in the Percentage of Income Payment Plan Plus (PIPP Plus) program must make an additional payment of no more than $50 per utility if they owe more than $175 in PIPP Plus default. Any remaining balance will be added to the customer’s arrearage.
The winter reconnect program also applies to customers seeking to establish new service. Customers requesting new natural gas or electric service who have no outstanding balance with the utility may establish new service by paying $175, rather than paying the required security deposit. Customers who use the winter reconnect program to establish new service may have the remaining balance of the required security deposit added to their next month’s bill.
The winter reconnect program is only available to customers of the PUCO-regulated electric and natural gas utilities that serve approximately six million residential customers across Ohio. The Commission urges rural electric cooperatives and municipally owned utilities that are not regulated by the PUCO to adopt similar programs.
There are several other state and federal programs available to assist those who qualify. The PUCO suggests that customers explore all options including PIPP Plus, the Home Energy Assistance Program and the Home Weatherization Assistance Program. More information about these programs and additional ways to save on home heating bills this winter is available at Ohio’s Winter Heating Resource website, www.winterheat.ohio.gov. Visitors to this site will also find information about budget billing, energy choice and energy conservation.
Utility customers who have questions about the PUCO winter heating season reconnect program may contact the PUCO at (800) 686-7826 or visit the PUCO website at www.PUCO.ohio.gov.
There are several other state and federal programs available to assist those who qualify. The PUCO suggests that customers explore all options including PIPP Plus, the Home Energy Assistance Program and the Home Weatherization Assistance Program. More information about these programs and additional ways to save on home heating bills this winter is available at Ohio’s Winter Heating Resource website, www.winterheat.ohio.gov. Visitors to this site will also find information about budget billing, energy choice and energy conservation.
Utility customers who have questions about the PUCO winter heating season reconnect program may contact the PUCO at (800) 686-7826 or visit the PUCO website at www.PUCO.ohio.gov.
