PIPP Plus Offers Lower Payments

Beginning November 1, our income-eligible customers can expect lower monthly payments and on-time payment incentives.

A new plan, PIPP Plus, replaces the former Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP). The new plan is designed to help enrolled customers reduce their old debt faster while they maintain gas service, provided that they make monthly payments in full by the due date.

PIPP Plus allows income-eligible customers to make lower energy payments for heating based on a percentage of their gross monthly household income.

Customers with total household incomes at or below the amounts shown in the chart may apply.

For each additional household member, add $5,610.  To apply or for questions, call the Ohio Department of Development at 1-800-282-0880 or visit www.development.ohio.gov.

PIPP plus Benefits and Responsibilities

Reduced monthly payments: Payments drop from the current 10 percent of total monthly household income to 6 percent, or a $10 minimum payment, whichever is greater.

On-time payment incentives: Each time customers make their required PIPP Plus monthly payment by the due date, we will credit their account for the rest of that month’s billed amount, plus a 1/24th credit toward their prior account balance.

After 24 months of full and on-time payments, their account should be current.

Two important dates display on participants’ bills:

• Anniversary date — the original date of a customer’s PIPP Plus enrollment.
• Re-verification date — the date by which a customer must complete documentation of gross household income through the Ohio Department of Development.

Participants should know the following:

• If they miss PIPP Plus payments, their gas service will be shut off, they will be removed from the program and their entire account balance will become due.
• They will have 30 days from their PIPP Plus anniversary date to make up any missed payments, or they will be removed from the program.
• Also, they must reverify their gross monthly household income once every 12 months or they will be removed from PIPP Plus.
  

Graduate PIPP Plus

Also on November 1, a new program called Graduate PIPP Plus will replace the PIPP Repayment Plan. It is designed for customers:

• Who already are enrolled in the PIPP Repayment Plan;
• Whose income is too high to remain on PIPP Plus;
• Who do not reverify their income by their re-verification date and make up missed payments; or
• Who choose to leave PIPP Plus.

Graduate PIPP Plus can help participants bring their account up to date in 12 months. Their monthly plan amount is the average of their most recent PIPP Plus amount and the budget-billing amount.

For each payment made in full by the due date, we will credit the account for the rest of that month’s billed amount, plus a 1/12th credit toward their prior account balance at time of enrollment.