LEADS Provides Cooling Financial Relief to Licking County

Posted July 1st, 2009

Did you know an estimated one in ten residential utility consumers in Ohio were cut off from gas or electric services in the past year because they didn’t pay their bills?

Everyone knows someone who has struggled to pay utility bills at some point in their lives. If you or someone you know is struggling with bills, tell them about the LEADS Summer Crisis Program, created to help Licking County families who’re in need of assistance with paying their utility bills.

The LEADS Community Action Agency’s Summer Crisis Program offers financial aid to county residents for their electric bills or cooling costs this summer. The program helps families with an annual income at or below 175 percent of the federal poverty guidelines. This aid is available to consumers through a one-time payment of up to $175 toward their electric bill.

In addition to meeting income guidelines, to qualify households must have a member who is at least sixty years of age or older, or under the age of 60 with verifiable health issues.

The LEADS Summer Crisis Program is available from July 1st through August 31, 2009. For additional information on the program including details on how to apply for assistance, contact Mary Hawk, energy coordinator, LEADS Community Action Agency at 1-740-345-3133.

Utility consumers can use the following chart to determine whether or not they qualify for assistance:

Size of household	Total Annual Income	Total household income for past three months
1	$18,952.50	$4,738.13
2	$25,497.50	$6,374.38
3	$32,042.50	$8,010.63
4	$38,587.50	$9,646.88
5	$45,132.50	$11,283.13
6	$51,677.50	$12,919.38