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Programs

Energy Assistance

Help paying your heating and cooling bills via HEAP, PIPP, and crisis programs. Clinton County Community Action Program walks you through it.

Apply / Get Started937-382-1234
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Clinton County Community Action Program offers four ways to help with your energy costs. You may qualify for more than one. Not sure where to start? Call 937-382-1234 and ask for Becky Boris, HEAP Coordinator.

The four programs

Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP)

HEAP helps you pay your winter heating bill. It is federally funded. It runs July 1, 2026, to May 31, 2027. If your household income is at or below 175% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines (FPG), the program pays a benefit straight to your main heating account.

Winter Crisis Program (WCP)

WCP runs November 1 to March 31 each year. It provides a benefit once per heating season to your main heating and/or electric accounts. You may qualify if your income is at or below 175% of the FPG and any of these is true:

  • You are disconnected, or you have a pending disconnection notice
  • You need to establish new service
  • You need to pay to transfer service
  • You have 25% (or less) of bulk fuel remaining in the tank
  • You have less than a 10-day supply of wood

Summer Crisis Program (SCP)

SCP runs July 1 to September 30. It provides a benefit once per cooling season to your electric bill, and/or for the purchase of fans and air conditioners. You may qualify if your income is at or below 175% of the FPG and any of these is true:

  • A household member is over the age of 60
  • A household member has a documented medical condition
  • You have a disconnect notice, have been shut off, or are trying to establish new electric service
  • You require air conditioning

Percentage of Income Payment Plan Plus (PIPP)

PIPP runs yearly. It lets you pay your energy bill each month based on a percentage of your income. To qualify, you must receive residential electric or gas service from a company regulated by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO), and your total household income must be at or below 175% of the FPG.

Am I eligible?

HEAP, PIPP, and the crisis programs use 175% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. Check the tables below. You can qualify using either your income from the past 30 days or the past 12 months.

A household applying for HEAP must report total gross household income for the past 12 months for all members, except wage or salary income earned by dependent minors under 18 years old. Both homeowners and renters are eligible for assistance.

Income guidelines

Households of 1–7 use 175% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. Households of 8–12 use 60% of the State Median Income — a different standard.

175% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines (HEAP, PIPP, Summer Crisis, Winter Crisis) — program year July 1, 2026, to May 31, 2027
People in household12-month income limit30-day income limit
1$27,930$2,295.62
2$37,870$3,112.60
3$47,810$3,929.59
4$57,750$4,746.58
5$67,690$5,563.56
6$77,630$6,380.55
7$87,570$7,197.53
60% of the State Median Income (households of 8–12) — program year July 1, 2026, to May 31, 2027
People in household12-month income limit30-day income limit
8$94,881$7,798.44
9$96,946$7,968.16
10$99,010$8,137.81
11$101,069$8,307.04
12$103,132$8,476.60

What to bring

  • Proof of citizenship for each person in your household
  • Proof of income (the past 30 days, or the past 12 months)
  • Your most recent utility bills
  • Disability verification, if it applies to you
  • A shutoff or disconnection notice, if you have one

How to apply

There is a single state form — the Energy Assistance Programs Application (JFS 00330). It covers HEAP, PIPP, the Home Weatherization Assistance Program (HWAP), and the Electric Partnership Program (EPP). Community Action accepts these applications. For weatherization itself, see our weatherization page.

  1. Call for an appointment at 937-382-8365. If it is a shutoff emergency, tell us when you call.
  2. Print the application and mail it to us. Download the Energy Assistance application from the State of Ohio, fill it out, and mail it to 789 North Nelson Avenue, PO Box 32, Wilmington, Ohio 45177.
  3. Apply online through Ohio's OHID portal (ohid.ohio.gov).
    1. Click Log in or create an OHID account above.
    2. Search for the Energy Assistance Portal tile under the app store. *
    3. Click Request Access to begin.
    4. Then click Open App to begin your application.

    * Once you receive access to the Energy Assistance Portal, the tile will remain at the top of your OHID dashboard.

Processing takes up to 12 weeks. Your HEAP benefit may reach your utility bill as early as October 2026.