Energy Assistance

State enacts emergency expansion of low-income utility assistance program

(Plain Press, September 2022)           The Public Utilities Commission of Ohio (PUCO) on Wednesday July 20th took emergency action to broaden eligibility for a state assistance program in the face of rising natural gas prices.      Hours later, the Ohio Department of Development did the same for low-income electric customers following an executive order inked by Gov. Mike DeWine.      Both … Continue reading →

Utilities for All holds vigil at City Hall to remember those who died due to utility shutoffs

Utilities for All holds vigil at City Hall to remember those who died due to utility shutoffs by Bruce Checefsky (Plain Press, October 2021)           Seven deaths from hypothermia were reported during a single month earlier this year after utility companies shut heat off in the middle of the winter to customers unable to pay their bills. … Continue reading →

Participatory Budgeting Cleveland (PB CLE) to launch budget recommendations

Participatory Budgeting Cleveland (PB CLE) to launch budget recommendations by Bruce Checefsky (Plain Press, August 2021)     Town meetings were first established in the earliest New England settlements as a form of direct democracy in which most or all members of a community come together to discuss policies, laws, and budgets for their community. The first town meeting was … Continue reading →

Cleveland City Council declares racism a public health crisis

CITY COUNCIL POLICIES CONTRIBUTE TO CLEVELAND’S HIGH CHILDHOOD POVERTY RATE Cleveland City Council declares racism a public health crisis CITY COUNCIL POLICIES CONTRIBUTE TO CLEVELAND’S HIGH CHILDHOOD POVERTY RATE by Chuck Hoven (Plain Press, July 2020)    At its June 3rd meeting, Cleveland City Council declared racism is a public health crisis. The legislation was unanimously passed by … Continue reading →

Utility Restoration Car Protest

Ensuring the Rights of Cleveland Public Power Customers During the Pandemic and Beyond

Ensuring the Rights of Cleveland Public Power Customers During the Pandemic and Beyond by Delaney Jones    This article is the fifth in a series based on issues that came out of the Cleveland End Poverty Now Coalition’s October 17th, 2019 public hearing about utility shutoffs through Cleveland Public Power (CPP).    The first article … Continue reading →

Mayor Frank Jackson announces Cleveland Public Power moratorium on shutoffs CUSTOMERS WHO HAVE HAD POWER SHUTOFF CAN REQUEST SERVICE BE RESTORED

Mayor Frank Jackson announces Cleveland Public Power moratorium on shutoffs CUSTOMERS WHO HAVE HAD POWER SHUTOFF CAN REQUEST SERVICE BE RESTORED by Delaney Jones and Jacie Jones (Plain Press, April 2020)    This article is the fourth in a series based on issues that came out of the Cleveland End Poverty Now Coalition’s October 17th, 2019 … Continue reading →

Cleveland Public Power fails to consistently offer payment plan as an option

Cleveland Public Power fails to consistently offer payment plan as an option by Jacie Jones (Plain Press, March 2020) This article is the third in a series based on issues that came out of the Cleveland End Poverty Now Coalition’s October 17th public hearing about utility shutoffs through Cleveland Public Power (CPP).       The first … Continue reading →

End Poverty Now Coalition raises concerns about Cleveland Public Power’s business practices and shutoffs

PHOTO BY CHUCK HOVEN Friday, January 17, 2020; End Poverty Now Press Conference to present demands to Cleveland Public Power, 3500 Lorain Avenue: Adam Jefferson, who lives in an all-electric subsidized apartment, had his electricity shut off by Cleveland Public Power because he was unable to pay the full bill. Jefferson says on cold nights … Continue reading →

Issues Cleveland Public Power customers face when applying for assistance to avoid shutoffs

Issues Cleveland Public Power customers face when applying for assistance to avoid shutoffs by Delaney Jones & Jacie Jones (Plain Press, December 2019)        This article is the first in a series based on issues that came out of the Cleveland End Poverty Now Coalition’s October 17 public hearing about utility shutoffs through Cleveland Public Power … Continue reading →