The Illuminating Company

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.

 

  • Payment Assistance Programs
    Ohio Department of Development

    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.

    Pay as Low as 5-10% of Income or $10 Per Month

    Ohio Department of Development

    Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP)

    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.

    Annual Grant or Emergency Payment

    Ohio Department of Development

    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.

    Grants and Assistance

    Salvation Army Logo

    Community Outreach Opportunity Program (CO-OP)

    CO-OP 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 bills. Program funding is provided by The Illuminating Company customers and company employees. The distribution of funds is administered by the Cleveland Salvation Army.

    Temporary Payment Assistance

    CHN Housing Partners Logo and Step Forward Logo

    Ohio Fuel Grant Program

    The Ohio Fuel Fund Grant Program is designed to assist residential customers with the payment of their electric bill to maintain their service, or to assist in establishing service for new electric service applicants who have an unpaid bill from a previous residence. This program support is provided through FirstEnergy corporate funds. Applicants for grant assistance must meet certain household income and other program qualification requirements. Approved grants are applied directly to utility bills.

    Grant Assistance

    Ohio 211 Logo

    Ohio 211 Help Hotline

    This nationwide resource and information helpline will identify programs in your area that may assist you or someone you know with utility bills.

    Program Availability

  • Special Arrangements

    Extended Due Date

    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: Illuminating Company - Email or call 1-800-589-3101

    Payment Arrangements

    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.

    To Apply: 

    Third-Party Notification

    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: Illuminating Company - Email or call 1-800-589-3101

    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: Illuminating Company - Email or call 1-800-589-3101

    $175 Winter Option

    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 1-800-589-3101 for more information.
  • Medical Needs Assistance

    Critical Care Program

    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: Illuminating Company - Email or call 1-800-589-3101

    Medical Certification

    Customers with severe health problems may have a licensed physician certify in writing that a termination of electric service would be especially dangerous. The medical certification will postpone the termination of electric service for 30 days. The certification is designed to provide the customer with additional time to pay their past-due balance. The customer is still responsible for the past-due amount and will be given the opportunity to pay the balance in monthly installments.

    Contact:

    If you or a member of your household have a qualifying medical condition, we have made it easier for your doctor to submit the medical certificates to us by automating the forms online. Please email us or call Customer Service at 800-589-3101 for details on the information your doctor will need to complete the medical form.

  • Additional Information

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