Emergency Assistance

The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) is a federally-funded program managed by the Ohio Department of Development (ODOD). It is designed to help income-eligible consumers with winter heating costs.

The purpose of this service is to provide emergency financial assistance to prevent homelessness, and/or establish permanent housing for residents of Columbus and Franklin County. This program is for customers that have past due rental/mortgage costs, or first month's rent due for a new home/apartment.

The Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP Plus) is a payment arrangement to help eligible electric and natural gas customers pay their utility bills. Instead of paying for the actual amount of electric or natural gas used, PIPP Plus customers pay a percentage of their income. They are billed six percent of the household's monthly income for electric and/or natural gas service. All-electric PIPP Plus customers are billed ten percent of their monthly income. The minimum PIPP Plus payment is $10.

The new Prevention, Retention and Contingency (PRC) Emergency Rental Assistance Program has the flexibility to cover up to 100% of delinquent rent costs to get your family caught up with your landlord. PRC Emergency Rental Assistance can also combine with Franklin County's PRC and PRC Plus programs to help cover cost of up to three additional months of rent in advance for families who have been impacted by the COVID-19 pandemic as well as help with utilities.