Assistance Programs Available for Mon Power and Potomac Edison Customers in West Virginia to Help with Winter Heating Bills

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Feb 15, 2018, 04:00 ET

FAIRMONT, W.Va., Feb. 15, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Financial assistance programs continue to be available for Mon Power and Potomac Edison customers in West Virginia who need help with winter heating bills.

Assistance to qualifying customers is available through the West Virginia Emergency Assistance Program and the West Virginia 20 Percent Discount Program.

The West Virginia Emergency Assistance Program is administered by the West Virginia Department of Health and Human Resources (DHHR) to help eligible customers avoid termination of electric service. Customers must present a disconnect notice at the county DHHR office. Online applications are available at www.wvinroads.org or applicants can call 304-356-4619 to find a local DHHR office. Emergency Assistance is a one-time payment that is applied to the customer's account.
The West Virginia 20 Percent Discount Program is administered by the West Virginia DHHR, Office of Family Support, and can reduce a low-income customers' utility bill by 20 percent. Eligible customers can obtain applications from the DHHR and send the completed forms to: Mon Power/Potomac Edison, 20 Percent Discount Program, 5001 NASA Blvd., Fairmont, WV, 26554. Online applications are available at www.wvinroads.org or applicants can call 304-356-4619 for additional information.

Mon Power and Potomac Edison residential customers also can manage their electric bills through the FirstEnergy Equal Payment Plan (EPP). With EPP, customers can make consistent monthly payments to avoid seasonal highs and lows in their electric bills. To apply or learn more about other company programs, visit www.firstenergycorp.com or call 800-686-0022.

In addition to the payment options, FirstEnergy offers a Medical Certification program. Disconnection of electric service resulting from overdue bills can be delayed up to 30 days if it is determined that the loss of electric service would be especially dangerous to the health of a permanent member of a customer's household. An appropriate health care professional must complete a Medical Certification Form describing the resident's medical condition. The Medical Certification process also can be used to restore electric service after a customer has been disconnected.

FirstEnergy also offers a program called Third Party Notification where a relative, friend, clergy, or social service agency can be notified along with the customer if electric service is about to be disconnected. The third party is not obligated to pay the overdue bills, but can help make payment arrangements for the customer who might have difficulty paying their bill.

Mon Power, a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp. (NYSE: FE) serves about 385,000 customers in 34 West Virginia counties. Follow Mon Power on Twitter @MonPowerWV.

Potomac Edison, also a subsidiary of FirstEnergy Corp., serves about 137,000 customers in the Eastern Panhandle of West Virginia. Follow Potomac Edison at www.potomacedison.com, on Twitter @PotomacEdison, and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/PotomacEdison.

FirstEnergy is dedicated to safety, reliability and operational excellence. Its 10 electric distribution companies form one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems, serving customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, Maryland and New York. The company's transmission subsidiaries operate more than 24,000 miles of transmission lines that connect the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions. Follow FirstEnergy online at www.firstenergycorp.com. Follow FirstEnergy on Twitter: @FirstEnergyCorp.

SOURCE FirstEnergy