About 187,000 Ohio homes get heating-cost help

COLUMBUS (AP) — The state says about 187,000 low-income households received help with heating costs from November through March, about 7,000 more than the previous year.

Lisa Patt-McDaniel, director, Ohio Department of Development, said today that the state spent roughly $45 million on the Home Energy Assistance Program for winter 2009-2010, an average of about $240 per household.

The program provides help once per heating season to low-income residents whose heat has been disconnected or is close to being disconnected or who are low on bulk fuel.