FirstEnergy: payment plan or bill assistance

Collect

• proof of household income
• account number
• disconnection notice if any

Steps

1. Open the assistance page for your operating company and note the programs and phone numbers.

   FormPayment assistance programs, by operating company

2. Ask Customer Care for a payment arrangement or, if you are 60 or older or live on Social Security, pension or disability payments, an extended due date.

3. Call 211 (or text your ZIP code to 898211) to find local help.

More contacts for this issue

Facts you can cite

• Policy

  Ohio's PIPP Plus is for households at or below 175% of the federal poverty level. The payment is 5% of gross monthly household income or $10, whichever is more, for homes without electric heat, and 10% or $10 for homes with electric heat. Apply through ODOD at 1-800-282-0880.

  Source: firstenergycorp.com, verified 2026-10-13

• Compensation

  The OPAE Fuel Fund for Ohio Edison customers opens March 1 and runs until funds are exhausted, with a maximum grant of $250, for households at or below 200% of federal poverty guidelines that first apply for HEAP or Crisis if eligible.

  Source: firstenergycorp.com, verified 2026-10-13

• Policy

  Met-Ed's PCAP sets monthly bills at a percentage of income or actual usage, whichever is less, with a minimum of $12 (non-electric heating) or $45 (electric heating). Apply through Dollar Energy Fund at 888-282-6816.

  Source: firstenergycorp.com, verified 2026-10-13

• Policy

  PAGE (Payment Assistance for Gas & Electric) gives JCP&L customers an annual grant for accounts that are past due, have a disconnection notice or are disconnected, with a minimum balance of $100. Call SHARES at 866-657-4273.

  Source: firstenergycorp.com, verified 2026-10-13

• Process

  Met-Ed offers an extended due date to customers who are at least 60, receive Social Security or pension checks, or receive disability assistance (call 800-545-7741).

  Source: firstenergycorp.com, verified 2026-10-13

If that fails, escalate

Go up one step at a time. Keep the reference numbers and dates from each contact.

1. Customer service

   PhoneOhio Edison Customer Care +1-800-633-4766
   PhoneThe Illuminating Company Customer Care +1-800-589-3101

   Call the Customer Care number of your operating company (it is on the bill).

2. Supervisor

   Ask the Customer Care representative for a supervisor. Write down the name and reference number.

3. Written complaint

   FormEmail Us form (choose the operating company and Customer Service)

4. State agency

   Your state’s utility commission. Find it in the list of state agencies (also as JSON: states/<code>.json, for example states/ny.json).

   The commission of the state where you get service: PUCO (Ohio), Pennsylvania PUC, New Jersey BPU, West Virginia PSC or Maryland PSC. Contact the utility first; the commissions expect the company to have a chance to fix the problem.

5. State agency

   Your state’s attorney general. Find it in the list of state agencies (also as JSON: states/<code>.json, for example states/ny.json).

   Attorney general of the state where you get service.

Watch out

Related

• Payment plan or bill assistance at other companies
• How FirstEnergy complaints actually go (dossier, checked 2026-10-13)
• Electric and gas utilities — how complaints work
• FirstEnergy: disconnection notice
• FirstEnergy: outage credit