Chilly winter weather can require your heating system to work harder, using more energy to maintain a comfortable temperature inside your home. Even if your heating system uses gas, the fan circulating the heated air throughout your home may need to run longer or more frequently to keep your home comfortable. This increase in energy usage leads to higher energy bills.
Are you wondering what you can do to manage your electric bill? If you’re having a hard time paying your bill right now, we’re here to help. Check out the following tips and resources to find the option that best fits your needs.
Bill Assistance Tool
Make our bill assistance tool your first stop to find out what programs may be right for you. Just sign in to your account at AEPOhio.com/BillHelp and take a simple, two-minute survey about your household.
Average Monthly Payments
Our Average Monthly Payment* (AMP) plan spreads the cost of heating and cooling over the whole year by leveling out payments to account for seasonal spikes in usage. That means you pay roughly the same during the higher-usage winter and summer months as you pay during milder seasons. When enrolled in AMP, your bill will adjust on a 12-month rolling average and change only slightly each month, making payments more predictable.
- To sign up, visit AEPOhio.com/AMP and log into your account.
- Once logged in, you’ll see a detailed explanation of how AMP works and your personalized AMP amount. Here’s an example.
- Check the box to accept the terms and click the Enroll now button.
*AMP is only applicable to AEP Ohio charges. If you participate in Ohio Choice and want to enroll in a budget plan for generation supply charges, please contact your generation provider.
Payment Extensions & Arrangements
Do you need just a few extra days and you can pay your balance in full? A payment extension may be the right choice. Need to spread out payments over a few months? An extended payment arrangement helps you do just that.
Ohio’s Percentage of Income Payment Plan
The Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP) helps eligible Ohioans manage their energy bills year-round. This program helps make monthly payments more affordable and sets up an on-time and in-full payment plan that reduces your outstanding balance. Payments are based on a percentage of household income and are consistent throughout the year.
Ohioans with a gross annual income at or below 175% of the federal poverty guidelines who get their power from companies regulated by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio — like AEP Ohio — are eligible for Ohio’s PIPP program.
Get more information on PIPP by visiting the Ohio Department of Development or calling 800-282-0880.
Ohio’s Home Energy Assistance Program
The Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) is a federally funded program that provides eligible Ohioans with home energy bill assistance. This one-time benefit is applied directly to a customer’s utility bill.
Ohio households eligible for the program have:
- Eight or fewer members with income at or below 175% of the federal poverty guidelines, or
- Nine or more members with an income of 60% of the State Median Income.
Learn more, review frequently asked questions and apply at Ohio’s HEAP page.
Neighbor to Neighbor
Through a partnership with Dollar Energy Fund, AEP Ohio’s Neighbor to Neighbor program supports customers in need with a winter heating assistance grant applied directly to their electric bill. The grant is available once per customer per program cycle on a first-come, first-served basis. The application period is open now through March 31, 2026, while funds are available.
Who is Eligible?
Your household may be eligible for up to a $350 grant if:
- You are an AEP Ohio residential customer.
- Your income is less than 200% of the federal poverty level guidelines.
- You are at least 30 days behind and have an outstanding balance of $50 or more.
- You have paid at least $75 on your AEP Ohio account in the last three months.
- Your electric service has been disconnected or is in danger of disconnection.
- You are not enrolled in Ohio’s Percentage of Income Payment Plan.
Grant awards are based on need and determined on a case-by-case basis. To learn more or apply, please visit AEPOhio.com/N2N.
High Efficiency for Low-income Program
With AEP Ohio’s High Efficiency for Low-income Program (HELP), eligible income-qualified residential customers can receive free or low-cost energy-efficient products and services with personalized support from an authorized efficiency expert. These upgrades help reduce energy use, save money and improve home comfort. HELP benefits may include upgrades to:
- Heating, ventilation and cooling equipment.
- Water heaters.
- Refrigerators and freezers.
- Lighting.
- Showerheads and faucets.
- Air sealing and weatherization.
- And more.
Visit AEPOhio.com/HomeUpgrades to find out if you qualify and apply today.
