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HEAP Winter Crisis Program (heating repair and replacement) annual

Administered by the Ohio Department of Job and Family Services, through local energy assistance providers.

Once each winter, a household at or below 175% of the poverty line ($57,750 for four) facing a shut-off or running low on fuel can get help with the bill and, separately, up to $1,500 to repair or replace a homeowner's heating unit. It runs from 1 November 2026 to 31 March 2027, by appointment with a local agency.

source · verified 2 October 2026 · amounts in US dollars

What it pays

Winter Crisis Program maximums, 1 November 2026 to 31 March 2027
UpgradeConditionUp to
Heating unit repair or replacementA separate benefit, for a homeowner's main heating source; in some cases wood or pellet stoves$1,500
Bulk fuelPropane, fuel oil or kerosene$1,200
Bill help, municipal utility or co-op customersOnce per winter$750
Wood or coal$650
Bill help, PUCO-regulated utility customersOnce per winter$175

Who is eligible

2026-27 income limits (175% of the federal poverty guidelines)
People in householdAnnual income
1$27,930
2$37,870
3$47,810
4$57,750
5$67,690
6$77,630
7$87,570
larger households
Eight or more: 60% of state median income ($94,881 for eight).
when
Disconnected, holding a shut-off notice, needing to start or transfer service, in PIPP Plus default or needing to enroll, or with 25% or less of a bulk fuel tank.
who
Owners and renters can get bill help; the heating repair benefit is for homeowners.

Where the application goes

By appointment with your local energy assistance provider or community action agency.

Where the application goes
If this is youApply here
Find your providerenergyhelp.ohio.gov

The thing most pages get wrong

Customers of co-ops and city utilities get far more bill help than customers of the big regulated utilities: up to $750 against $175. The $1,500 heating repair benefit is separate from both, and many households who ask only for bill help never hear of it.

Two different 30-day limits

The Consumers' Counsel and the PUCO publish different 30-day income limits for the same program: $4,746.58 and $4,812.50 for a household of four. A household between the two should apply anyway.

Summer: air conditioning, July to September

The Summer Crisis Program, which can help repair central air conditioning or buy an air conditioner or fans for households with someone 60 or older, a medical condition or a disconnection notice, ran from 1 July to 30 September 2026.