Currently, customers can call 1-800-227-1376 and speak to a customer service specialist Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 7 p.m. CST. In addition to the regular service hours, customer service specialists will be available Saturdays from 7 a.m. until noon CST in October.
“It is important to increase our flexibility during this busy season,” said Jon Luttrell, Vectren’s vice president of information technology and customer service. “As we prepare to enter the heating season, we often see higher than normal call volumes during regular business hours and are offering the seasonal Saturday hours as a benefit to our customers. “
Beginning Oct. 18, low-income households are also encouraged to contact their local community action agency or the Ohio Department of Development at 1-800-282-0880 to inquire about a number of assistance programs, including the following:
• Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP): State and federal utility assistance dollars are available for income-eligible customers. Households must fall within 200 percent of federal poverty guidelines, which would be $44,100 for a family of four, to apply.
• Emergency Home Energy Assistance Program (E-HEAP): E-HEAP provides assistance once per heating season to eligible households that are disconnected or are threatened with disconnection. Households must fall within 200 percent of federal poverty guidelines to apply.
• Percentage of Income Payment Plan Plus (PIPP Plus): PIPP Plus calls for a qualified household to pay 6 percent of its monthly income for gas service throughout the year. To be eligible for the PIPP Plus program, a customer must receive his or her primary or secondary heat source from a company regulated by the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO), must have a total household income which is at or below 150 percent of the federal poverty, which would be $33,000 for a family of four, and must apply for all energy assistance programs for which he or she is eligible.
• Project TEEM: Vectren’s Project TEEM (Teaching Energy Efficiency Measures) helps qualifying Ohio customers implement energy efficiency improvements to their homes at no cost. Households must fall within 300 percent of federal poverty guidelines to apply. Call 1-800-617-2673 to learn more or visit http://www.cap-dayton.org.