WarmChoice®
WarmChoice® is a weatherization program for eligible, low-income Columbia Gas of Ohio customers. Weatherization includes insulation, air sealing and high-efficiency furnaces. Columbia Gas of Ohio’s network of community-based providers serve approximately 1,300 WarmChoice® eligible customers each year. WarmChoice® eligible customers may receive:
- Home energy inspection
- Safety checks on gas appliances
- Space and water heating system repair and/or replacement, if needed
- Attic and wall insulation, if it is less than current recommended levels
- Sealing of major air leakage sites
Columbia Gas of Ohio has a local WarmChoice® provider in each county it serves. The provider verifies customer eligibility and then performs a home energy inspection. A heating contractor may be sent to service the gas furnace, space heaters, and the water heater if repairs or replacement are needed. Gas cook stoves may also be inspected. After the heating equipment is determined to be safe, an insulation crew may install insulation and seal up major air leaks. Each WarmChoice® customer’s home receives a final inspection to ensure the WarmChoice® weatherization work was done properly. WarmChoice® reduces gas usage by an average of 28 percent. This reduced gas usage can amount to approximately $400 in average savings. Customers' homes are safer and more comfortable after participating in WarmChoice®.
How to apply
Customers must contact the community-based organization that provides WarmChoice® services in their county. WarmChoice® provider information is listed below.
Corporation for Ohio Appalachian Development (COAD)
1-740-594-8499 or toll-free at 1-800-807-9781
Serves all the Appalachian counties including Ashland, Athens, Belmont, Carroll, Columbiana, Coshocton, Gallia, Guernsey, Harrison, Hocking, Holmes, Jackson, Jefferson, Knox, Lawrence, Meigs, Monroe, Morgan, Muskingum, Noble, Perry, Ross, Scioto, Tuscarawas, Vinton, Washington
Ground Level Solutions (GLS)
1-614-861-7992, or toll-free at 1-800-537-8210
Serves the following counties: Champaign, Clark, Crawford, Cuyahoga, Delaware, Erie, Fairfield, Hancock, Hardin, Huron, Licking, Logan, Lorain, Madison, Mahoning, Marion, Medina, Morrow, Ottawa, Pickaway, Richland, Sandusky, Seneca, Stark, Union, Wayne, Wood, Wyandot.
Mid-Ohio Regional Planning Commission (MORPC)
1-614-621-1171
Serves Franklin county and the city of Columbus
Neighborhood Housing Services of Toledo (NHST)
1-419-691-2900
Serves Lucas county and the city of Toledo
Who’s eligible?
WarmChoice® participants must be Columbia Gas of Ohio customers, use natural gas as their primary heat source, and be eligible for the Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP) or have an income of 150% or less of federal poverty guidelines. WarmChoice® serves homeowners and renters, and is limited to housing structures of 1-to-4 units. Mobile homes must use 1000 Ccf of gas or more per year to be eligible. Landlords must help with the cost of repairing or replacing the heating system, unless the landlord is also low-income. Customers who have already received the service are not eligible for re-weatherization. To be eligible for WarmChoice®, customers must be at or below 150% of the 2009-2010 Federal Poverty Guidelines shown below.
2009 - 2010 Income guidelines (150% of poverty level)
| Size of household | Income Limit
Yearly |
| 1 | Up to $16,245 |
| 2 | Up to $21,855 |
| 3 | Up to $27,465 |
| 4 | Up to $33,075 |
| 5 | Up to $38,685 |
| 6 | Up to $44,295 |
For households with more than six people, add $5,610 per person for 12 months.
For more information
To learn more about WarmChoice®, call 1-800-952-3037.