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Summer electric bill help available

State provides up to $175 for low-income families whose health depends on cool air.

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By Bridgette Outten, Staff Writer 7:08 PM Saturday, July 4, 2009

SPRINGFIELD — A state program designed to help low-income families stay cool in summer weather heats up has begun.

Electric bill payment assistance of up to $175 is available for some low-income households through the Ohio’s Home Energy Assistance Program, according to officials.

The program began July 1 and will run through Aug. 31.

The HEAP Summer Crisis Program is administered by the Ohio Department of Development’s Community Development Division to provide assistance to low-income households with an elderly member (60 years or older), or households that can provide physician documentation that cooling assistance is needed for a household member’s health.

The state’s budget crisis has not affected the program’s funding, said Eileen Turner, DOD spokeswoman.

Turner said the winter HEAP — which assists families with heating their homes — did not have an increase in the number of households that it has served over its clients last year.

“We have about the same number as last year,” Turner said. “We served 390,000 families in Ohio in the winter program and 27,000 in the summer HEAP last year.”

Of the 27,000 served last summer, 312 households were in the Springfield area, Turner said.

“This program is a critical resource for our residents who need the most assistance staying cool in the hot temperatures,” she said.

For more information, call the HEAP hot line at (800) 282-0880 or visit www.odod.state.oh.us/cdd/ocs/locate.htm. The hearing impaired may dial (800) 686-1557 for assistance.

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