As many low-income families continue to struggle with rising costs of everyday living expenses, a power company in Ohio launched a $1 million utility assistance program to help low-income families statewide. American Electric Power Ohio has joined the Neighbor to Neighbor Program in partnership with the non-profit Dollar Energy Fund and began distributing utility assistance grants on May 4.

A family of four earning up to $44,100 per year in income is eligible for the program. To qualify, households must have made a sincere effort of payment on their electric bill in the last 90 days and have a back balance. A network of Community Based Organizations throughout Ohio are providing application assistance. Full eligibility guidelines and application instructions can be found at www.dollarenergyfund.org.

"Today's economy combined with the cold winter has force many of our neighbors to face large utility balances this spring," said Chad Quinn, COO of Dollar Energy Fund. "AEP Ohio's generous donation to the Neighbor to Neighbor Program will help thousands of low-income families keep safe electric service."

AEP Ohio provides electricity to nearly 1.5 million customers of major AEP subsidiaries Columbus Southern Power Company and Ohio Power Company in Ohio, and Wheeling Power Company in the northern panhandle of West Virginia. AEP Ohio is based in Gahanna, Ohio. The company serves all or part of 61 counties in Ohio and two in West Virginia.

Dollar Energy Fund was founded in 1983 and has grown to become the fourth largest hardship fund in the United States. Dollar Energy Fund is a 501(c)3 organization operating in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Ohio and West Virginia. Throughout its history, the organization has provided over $55 million in utility assistance grants to over 225,000 low-income families and individuals.