Read more: Local, State
COLUMBUS (AP) -- Low-income Ohioans have been protected against having their natural gas or electricity shut off this winter, but the state's moratorium will come to an end on Tuesday.
People threatened with having their utilities disconnected may turn to a couple of seasonal programs that regulators are extending. Both were to end for the year on April 15th but will go to April 30th.
One program provides an emergency benefit to consumers who have received a disconnect notice. The other allows Ohioans to pay just $175 to avoid losing service or be reconnected, regardless of how much is owed to the utility.
The 90-day moratorium on shutoffs was prompted by a fire that killed four people in Toledo, at a home being lit by candles.
(Copyright ©2008 by The Associated Press. All Rights Reserved.)
