COLUMBUS — The Dollar Energy Fund’s 2026-2027 Hardship Program opened Thursday, accepting applications from Ohio households facing a utility shutoff or a pending termination of service.
The grants are applied directly to a customer’s utility account and can maintain or restore basic gas, electric, water, or wastewater service. Applications are accepted on a first-come, first-served basis through Sept. 30, 2027, while funds remain available.
The program serves limited-income individuals, families, and senior citizens struggling with basic household expenses — many of whom have jobs or retirement and disability income but don’t qualify for state or federal assistance programs.
This year brings more help than ever for customers of Ohio Power Company, formerly AEP Ohio. In August, the utility and five data center companies operating in the state — Meta, QTS, Amazon, SoftBank Energy, and Google — committed more than $18 million in additional funding to the Neighbor to Neighbor Program, which is administered by the Dollar Energy Fund. The new money allowed the program to expand its guidelines so more Ohio families can qualify.
During the 2025-2026 program year, more than 2,600 Ohio households received a combined $818,000 in assistance. Families facing a shutoff notice are encouraged to apply early, since the program runs only while funding lasts.