2014 Home Energy Assistance Program Public Hearing

Columbus

August 7, 2014

AgendaAugust 7, 2014

10:00 a.m.

1. Welcome

2. HEAP and Winter Crisis Updates

3. Guideline Changes

4. Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP) Plus Updates

5. Testimonies & Questions

HEAP and Winter Crisis Updates

2015 Energy Assistance Programs

Funding Source Amount

LIHEAP $131,166,688

HWAP Transfer (up to 15%) $23,147,062

Total Energy Assistance: $154,313,750

2015 Energy Assistance Programs Funding Level

Funding Level for Federal Fiscal Year 2015 LIHEAP has not been determined.

2014 HEAP Program Summary as of July 30th

70%

6%

3%

1%20%

Fuel Type

Gas / Natural Gas

Propane / Bottle Gas

Fuel Oil / Kerosene

Coal / Wood

Electric

2014 HEAP Program Summary as of July 30th

  Poverty Ratio Households Percent

1 Below 75% 201,917 48.13%

2 75% to 100% 85,916 20.48%

3 101% to 125% 61,610 14.69%

4 126% to 150% 45,735 10.90%

5 151% to 175% 24,356 5.80%

  Total 419,534 100.00%

Average HEAP Benefit $ 229.86

Comparison 2008-2014 Eligible Applications

2014 HEAP Program Summary as of July 30th

387,226

393,939

425,230

457,367

459,057

454,090

419,534

2014

2013

2012

2011

2010

2009

2008

2014 Winter Crisis Program Summary

  Poverty Ratio Households Percent

1 Below 75% 79,828 53.36%

2 75% to 100% 28,657 19.16%

3 101% to 125% 19,324 12.92%

4 126% to 150% 13,700 9.16%

5 151% to 175% 8,077 5.40%

  Total 149,586 100.00%

Total Households Served by Federal Poverty Ratio

Average WCP Benefit $ 281.23

• July 22, 2014 – Begin outreach. Elderly and disabled will be sent applications first. – Mailed in batches of 30,000 – Batching controls the volume of calls to the Contact Center

• August 18, 2014 – Applications will begin to be distributed by

Community Action Agencies, Second Harvest Food Banks, and other Agencies.

• Completion date – September 1, 2014.

– More than 400,000 applications will be distributed to individuals when mailing is completed.

– Total distribution of applications will be approximately 500,000.

2014 HEAP Outreach Summary

2013-2014 Income Guidelines

To be eligible a household must have total income for the last 12 months or 90 days equal to or less than 175% percent of the federal poverty guidelines. The period to be used in determining annual income must not be more than 12 months, or less than the 90 period preceding the request for assistance by the household.

Size of Household

Total Household Income for 12

Months

1 up to $20,422.50

2 $27,527.50

3 $34,632.50

4 $41,737.50

5 $48,842.50

6 $55,947.50

7 $63,052.50

8 $70,157.50

* For households with more than 8

members, add $1776.25 per member.

Social Security Disability (SSDI) Supplemental Security income (SSI) Railroad Pensions Retirement and/or Company

Pensions Social Security Veteran’s Pensions Veteran’s Compensation Company Disability and Black Lung Strike Benefits OWF/TANF/DA Alimony Unemployment Benefits Workers’ Compensation Unearned income paid to or on the

behalf of minors

Estate and Trust Settlements (excluding attorney fees)

Capital Gains (Example: Proceeds from sale of property, home and stock)

Utility Allowances (as discretionary income) Immigrant Relocation Allowance Adoption Assistance Child Support Garnished Wages Active Military Pay Cash Gifts Lump Sum Distribution (prorated when

payment is designated for a set period of time)

Countable Income

Household income is defined as the total annual gross income before taxes (minus exclusions) of all household members, except earned income of dependent minors under 18 years of age. All income sources and some exclusions must be documented. Head of household and spouse may never be considered minors. Gross household income includes wages, interest dividends,annuities and pensions. Additional sources of countable income include but are not limited to the following:

Excluded Income

Food Stamps/Cash Payment for food stamps

Assets from bank withdrawals Tax refunds and rebates Handicapped Income- self-sufficiency

programs (e.g., work expenses for the blind)

Loans from individuals or institutions requiring repayment of either principal or principal and interest

Funds/training stipends designated for specific purposes (i.e., educational grants for tuition

and/or books) Work Allowances (i.e., LEAP) Transportation Allowances (i.e.

Workforce Investment Act (WIA)) Title V Wages – Older Americans’ Act

• Medicare payments• Stipend for Foster Care• Agent Orange Compensation/Benefit• Vista or other Americorp Stipends• Health Insurance Premiums (dental, vision

and health insurance, supplemental health insurance)

• Prevention, Retention, Contingency (PRC), assistance to attempt to divert families from long-term financial dependency

• Title III DREAP• Documented Child Support Paid• Military allowances for subsistence;

housing, family separation, etc.

Social Security Number/Citizenship Requirements

• Social Security Numbers will continue to be required for all household members, regardless of age.

• Documentation of citizenship or resident alien status will only be required for the primary applicant, not for all household members.

energyhelp.ohio.gov

Percentage of Income Payment Plan Plus (PIPP

Plus) Program

PIPP Plus Clients as of 6/30/14

Company

Active PIPP Clients Graduate

Minimum Payment Post

AEP 140,126 4,146 19,934 18

CEI 57,642 942 10,163 13,676

Columbia Gas 67,513 1,560 11,637 0

Dominion Gas NR NR NR 0

DP & L 39,146 616 4,357 1,460

Duke Energy 33,645 528 6,952 12,780

Ohio Edison 79,467 1,760 11,444 20,168

Toledo Edison 26,437 412 4,354 7,506

Vectren 17,535 243 2,143 0

461,511 10,207 70,984 55,608

Distinct Clients 390,526

Trends in PIPP Plus

Aug-11 Dec-11 Apr-12 Aug-12 Dec-12 Apr-13 Aug-13 Dec-13 Apr-140

100,000

200,000

300,000

400,000

500,000

600,000

Active PIPP Plus Clients

Trends in PIPP Plus

Aug-11 Dec-11 Apr-12 Aug-12 Dec-12 Apr-13 Aug-13 Dec-13 Apr-14370,000

380,000

390,000

400,000

410,000

420,000

430,000

429,616

424,713

394,617

408,663411,887

408,548

390,526

Distinct Clients

June Payments

Company

Received an Arrearage Credit

% of Payments made by Active PIPP

Accrued Arrearage Credits Applied

Accruing Arrearage Credits Applied

AEP 85,783 61% $2,818,535.59 $7,848,690.73

CEI 28,475 49% $970,938.59 $1,444,260.61

Columbia Gas 21,117 31% $909,654.45 $557,713.58

Dominion Gas NR NR NR NR

DP & L 23,302 60% $692,659.55 $1,789,580.80

Duke Energy 23,118 69% $1,012,059.53 $1,053,418.45

Ohio Edison 43,220 54% $1,721,646.77 $2,456,473.45

Toledo Edison 12,556 47% $533,545.86 $694,440.69

Vectren 4,177 24% $139,102.64 $60,776.41

241,748 52% $8,798,142.98 $15,905,354.72

$24,694,497.70

Percentage Payment Comparison

Company June-14 Feb-14 Nov-13 Aug-13

AEP 61% 63% 56% 61%

CEI 49% 44% 48% 51%

Columbia Gas 31% 32% 22% 23%

Dominion Gas NR 34% 22% 24%

DP & L 60% 64% 56% 60%

Duke Energy 69% 75% 62% 75%

Ohio Edison 54% 50% 50% 58%

Toledo Edison 47% 42% 47% 54%

Vectren 24% 42% 23% 22%

52% 52% 42% 47%

Utility Issued 14 day Disconnection Notices

Company Jun-14 Feb-14 Nov-13

AEP 509 78 505

CEI 23,944 23,788 23,519

Columbia Gas 16,522 16,531 8,327

Dominion Gas NR NR 1,174

DP & L 6,895 7,452 7,430

Duke Energy 10,133 10,598 9,274

Ohio Edison 32,200 31,441 31,818

Toledo Edison 11,392 11,461 11,582

Vectren 4,915 4,453 3,282

106,510 105,802 96,911

PIPP Plus Customers Disconnected for Non-Payment

Company Jun-14 Feb-14 Nov-13 Aug-13

AEP NR NR NR 90

CEI 620 67 31 740

Columbia Gas 573 69 168 761

Dominion Gas NR NR 329 572

DP & L 976 334 208 900

Duke Energy 1,108 437 730 1,333

Ohio Edison 1,647 181 193 2,014

Toledo Edison 352 3 78 411

Vectren 418 69 68 533

5,694 1,160 1,805 7,354

Dropped for Failure to ReverifyJune 2014

Company Jun-14 Jun-13

AEP 2 2

CEI 23 556

Columbia Gas 670 687

Dominion Gas NR 1,716

DP & L 152 286

Duke Energy 477 654

Ohio Edison 171 553

Toledo Edison 150 163

Vectren 170 314

1,815 4,931

Current Issue

PIPP Plus rule revisions:• Ohio Development Services Agency and PUCO

revised rules to more closely align with each other

• PUCO is reviewing final comments• The rules go to the Joint Committee for Agency

Rule Review in November• Office of Community Assistance will work with

the PUCO to determine an implementation date for the rules

Questions or Testimony

When asking questions or giving testimony, please state your name and the agency you are representing, if any.

The State of Ohio is an Equal Opportunity Employer and Provider of ADA Services

Additional Testimony or Comments

Mail to:Sharon Smith

Assistant Deputy Chief, OCA77 S. High St., 25th Floor

Columbus, OH 43215sharon.smith@development.ohio.gov