The Ohio Development Services Agency and Bridges Community Action Partnership want to remind Ohioans that the Summer Crisis Program ends Aug. 31. The program provides eligible Ohioans assistance paying an electric bill or assistance paying for central air conditioning repairs.

To apply for the program, customers are required to schedule an appointment with Bridges Community Action Partnership. Appointments can be scheduled by calling 740-369-3184.

Customers need to bring copies of the following documents to the appointment:

• copy of the most recent energy bill;

• list of all household members and proof of income for the last 90 days for each member;

• proof of citizenship or legal residency;

• physician documentation that cooling assistance is needed for a household member’s health (if there isn’t a household member over the age of 60).

The Summer Crisis Program assists low-income households with an older household member (60 years or older), or households that can provide physician documentation that cooling assistance is needed for a household member’s health. Conditions can include lung disease, Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease, or asthma.

Eligible households can receive up to $300 if they are a customer of a regulated utility, or $500 if they are a customer of unregulated utilities such as electric cooperatives and municipal utilities. The assistance is applied to their utility bill or applied to central air conditioning repair costs.

Ohioans must have a gross income at or below 175 percent of the federal poverty guidelines to qualify for assistance. For a family of four the annual income must be at or below $43,050. Ohioans enrolled in the Percentage of Income Payment Plan Plus Program (PIPP Plus) are not eligible for bill payment assistance through the program, but are encouraged to work with Community Action Partnership to identify other opportunities for assistance.

For local information about the Summer Crisis Program, contact Community Action Partnership at 740-369-3184 Additional information can also be found at www.energyhelp.ohio.gov or by calling 800-282-0880.