Gov. Taft OKs order for heating-bill aid

Regional briefings and an awareness campaign will educate Ohioans.
By JEFF ORTEGA
VINDICATOR CORRESPONDENT
COLUMBUS -- Gov. Bob Taft signed an executive order Thursday that will transfer an extra $75 million in federal welfare money to a low-income home heating assistance program and change eligibility requirements to allow thousands of additional households to qualify.
Taft's announcement came in response to projections of skyrocketing home-heating bills this winter.
"With heating bills on the rise this winter, we are working to protect our most vulnerable citizens from having their heat shut off," Taft, a Republican, said. "This new program, coupled with a common-sense weatherization and conservation strategy, will ensure that Ohioans can heat their homes and make ends meet without the risk of discontinued service."
According to the governor's office, the executive order authorizes $75 million in federal Temporary Assistance for Needy Families funds to use to supplement the $100 million in the state Home Energy Assistance Program.
10 percent increase
The funding boost will provide a 10 percent increase in the average benefits Ohioans received in 2004 and will provide an average of $430 per household to help defray costs of heating bills this winter, the governor's office said.
The order, which was developed after meetings in recent weeks between the governor and his advisers, also increased income eligibility requirements for the program from 151 percent to 175 percent of the poverty level, which will allow about 70,000 more households to participate, the governor's office said.
About 330,000 households were served by the program in 2004, the governor's office said.
According to the state, 150 percent of the federal poverty level represents an annual income of $29,025 for a family of four while 175 percent of the poverty level is an annual income of $33,862 for the same-sized family.
Taft's order also instructs the Public Utilities Commission of Ohio and the state Department of Development, the Department of Job and Family Services and Department of Aging to conduct regional briefings to educate Ohioans on energy conservation and to ensure that Ohioans know of the additional assistance.
Awareness campaign
The state will also conduct a television, radio and Internet public awareness campaign, Taft spokesman Mark Rickel said.
Rickel said the governor is stressing to people the need for energy conservation.
"We urge them to take whatever measure they need to weatherize their homes and conserve energy," Rickel said.
An executive order doesn't need legislative approval, but some lawmakers appeared supportive of the assistance and energy conservation plan.