Ohio Partners For Affordable Information

Ohio Partners for Affordable Energy (OPAE) is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit membership organization created to advocate for affordable energy policies for moderate and low-income Ohioans. Sixty-four OPAE member agencies provide essential energy services, including bill payment assistance, weatherization and energy efficiency, and housing services to over 440,000 households statewide annually. OPAE members operate numberous programs supporting children and families incluing Head Start, job training, financial literacy, child nutrition, medical and dental clinics, affordable housing, and promote community development. OPAE and its member agencies deliver the following energy programs:The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), a federally-funded program known in Ohio as HEAP - 330,000 clients;The Percentage Income Payment Program (PIPP), a payment program that permits households with incomes under 150% of the poverty guideline to retain utility service by paying 15% of their income for service - 420,000 clients;Fuel funds utilitizing both ratepayer and utility shareholder funds - 15,000 clients;The Home Energy Assistance Program (HWAP), a federally-funded program that achieves among the highest average savings (30%) of any program in the country - 6,200 homes weatherized in PY 13;The WarmChoice® Program, a weatherization initiative funded by Columbia Gas of Ohio - 2,000 homes weatherized in 2013;The Housewarming Program, funded by Dominion East Ohio - 1,200 homes weatherized in 2013;The Community Connections Program, an electric energy efficiency and repair program funded by FirstEnergy Corp. - 4,500 homes in PY 13;The TEEM I and II Programs, funded by Vectren Energy Delivery of Ohio - 350 + homes in 2013; and,American Electric Power gridSMART Community Assistance Program - 11,000 homes in 2013;Smart Energy Community Program, funded by the Dayton Power & Light - 800 homes in 2013; and,;The Electric Partnership Program managed by the Ohio Department of Developmet - 13,000 homes.These programs support over 750 direct jobs throughout the State, as well as a significant number of contractors and their employees. The agencies ofter source their materials locally, and procure as much equipment, materials, and applicances from Ohio manufacturers. OPAE's 64 members have been working for over 30 years to make utility bills more affordable for the poorest of Ohio's families, and have assisted more than 300,000 families during that time.