The winter reconnect order requires electric and natural gas utilities to reconnect or maintain service to customers, regardless of income, who have been disconnected or threatened with disconnection due to nonpayment of their utility bill. The Ohio Department of Development (ODOD) requested that the PUCO extend the winter reconnect order from the original April 15, 2008 deadline to mirror the recent extension of E-HEAP funding.

“The extension of the winter reconnect order and E-HEAP funding will provide low-income households that have been disconnected or received a disconnection notice with additional time to take advantage of the benefits of both programs,” PUCO Chairman Alan R. Schriber stated. “This is especially important given that Ohio’s winter heating disconnection moratorium ends this week.”

The PUCO reminds electric and natural gas customers who participated in the winter heating disconnection moratorium to take steps now to ensure their service is not disconnected when the moratorium expires on Tuesday, March 18, 2008. Once the moratorium expires, regulated electric and natural gas companies will proceed with billing and disconnection procedures as outlined in PUCO rules.

There are a number of options available to customers to ensure their service is not interrupted. These include:

• Contacting the local electric or natural gas utility company to discuss payment arrangements for the amount due. If a customer was not previously on a payment plan, there may be payment plans available to the customer. To avoid disconnection upon expiration of the moratorium, the customer must contact their local electric or natural gas company directly to discuss their account. If a customer was on a payment plan prior to the moratorium and did not continue payments on that plan during the moratorium period, the customer will be required to pay the amount in default to the utility company to maintain service. Once the default amount is paid, the customer may be eligible to re-enroll in a payment plan with the utility company.
• Utilizing the PUCO’s winter reconnect order through April 30, 2008. Customers who have not yet utilized this program during the 2007-2008 winter heating season may use this option one time during the winter heating season to maintain or restore service. The customer is required to pay $175 plus a reconnection fee of no more than $20 to maintain or restore their electric or natural gas service.
• Applying for the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) or E-HEAP. E-HEAP funding is available through April 30, 2008. Customers may contact the toll-free HEAP hotline at (800) 282-0880 or visit the HEAP Web site at www.energyhelp.ohio.gov.The hearing impaired can reach HEAP at (800) 686-1557 for assistance.
• Contacting the local community action agency for information about other available assistance programs.

On Dec. 19, 2007, the PUCO issued a 90-day moratorium on the disconnection of residential electric and natural gas services. The moratorium was not a forgiveness of the utility bill. Customers are ultimately responsible for payment of the entire amount owed on the natural gas or electric bill.

For more information regarding available energy assistance programs, customers may visit the PUCO Web site at www.PUCO.ohio.gov or contact the PUCO toll free at (800) 686-PUCO (7826).