COVID-19 Update from your local cooperative:

PPEC’s office has returned to full operational status, and the drive-thru window and lobby are open for payments. Rest assured you will still experience the high level of service you’ve come to expect from us. Our crews are ready to respond to any outages that may occur.

We know times have been tough for our members, so we have been patient in reinstalling normal practices. As a cooperative, we care about our members and want to help. We are willing to make flexible payment arrangements with our members who call. That’s why we will be resuming all normal business operations, including disconnections of electric service for non-pay and late fees, starting August 14, 2020.

Please call our office at 800-686-2357 to make a payment plan and avoid disconnection if you have become behind on your electric bills. 

 

Manage your account remotely with SmartHub:

We urge members to learn how to manage their electric accounts from home during this time. The best way to do this is via SmartHub, our online system that allows you to pay bills, monitor your daily electric use, sign up for outage texts and alerts, and more. There’s also a free mobile app so you can conveniently access all of your information 24/7/365 from anywhere.

Learn more or sign up for SmartHub here: https://ppec.coop/smart-hub-2/

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Ways to pay your bill:

Members can still pay their electric bill by phone, mail, drop box outside our office, or online via SmartHub: https://ppec.smarthub.coop/Login.html#

*Please don’t call our office to make a payment. Instead, call our secure automated payment line: 888-220-6482.

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Struggling to pay due to COVID-19? Call us to make a payment arrangement before Aug. 14.

We care about our members! If you are affected by special circumstances related to COVID-19, please call our office at 800-686-2357. We can work with you on payment arrangements.

That said, please remember that every member is responsible for their account balance. Making payments as you can will help you prevent a larger account balance at a later date.

We are resuming all normal business operations, including disconnections of electric service for non-pay and late fees, starting Aug. 14.

Where to get assistance in paying your bill:

Call Job and Family Assistance at 419-784-5136, ext. 1111, and leave a message for Becky who will help connect you. PRC funding and COVID-19 funding is available. 

Northwestern Ohio Community Action Commission (click here to visit their website)
Call (844) 493-1193 to reach any of the following:
Defiance County CAC
Paulding County CAC
Findlay Ohio CAC
Van Wert County CAC

Community Action of Northeast Indiana (click here to visit their website)
Call (800) 589-2264 or or (260) 423-3546 to reach CANI.
Learn about their programs here.

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Resources for Families and Children

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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RESOURCES FOR BUSINESSES

We are committed to performing our critical role, delivering safe and reliable energy to our business members. We have robust plans to ensure continued electric service and do not foresee any issues meeting our members’ energy needs.

Importantly, Paulding Putnam Electric Co-op (PPEC) is suspending business service disconnections and will be working with members on a case-by-case basis to establish payment arrangements.

Paulding Putnam Electric Co-op programs/resources:

• Business Service: Business members with questions please reach out to Member Service Manager Erika Willitzer at 419-769-3011 or via email at ewillitzer@ppec.coop

LOCAL ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT OFFICES:

• Paulding County Economic Dev. Office: (419) 399-8282
• Putnam County CIC:  (419) 523 5595
• Van Wert Economic Dev. Office:(419) 238-2999
• New Haven Economic Dev. Office: 260-748-7040
• Greater Fort Wayne Inc: (260) 420-6945
• Northeast Regional Partnership: (260) 469-3469

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STATE PROGRAMS/RESOURCES: 

Ohio Bureau of Workers Compensation Deferral   Ohio’s Bureau of Workers’ Compensation (BWC) system is the exclusive provider of workers’ compensation insurance in Ohio and serves 249,000 public and private employers.

To help businesses facing difficulties due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ohio BWC is announcing that insurance premium installment payments due for March, April, and May for the current policy year may be deferred until June 1, 2020. At that time the matter will be reconsidered.

Unemployment Information

Ohio: Coronavirus Resources

Ohio Department Transportation Waiver   The Ohio Department of Transportation (ODOT) is modifying the process for haulers carrying heavy loads of essential goods. Generally, Ohio requires haulers with loads classified as “oversized” to seek advanced permission from ODOT before they are legally allowed to travel in the state.

Shared Work Ohio Available to Employers   SharedWork Ohio is an alternative to layoffs for employers experiencing reductions in available work. The Ohio Chamber of Commerce supported the creation of this program. SharedWork allows employers to preserve employees’ jobs and retain a trained workforce during difficult economic times by reducing hours to avoid layoffs. For more information on SharedWork Ohio, click here.

OHIO ECONOMIC SUPPORT    Please regularly visit Coronavirus.Ohio.Gov/BusinessHelp for the most complete and up-to-date information about resources available for Ohio businesses, individuals, and families. Listed below are just a few.

• Paycheck Protection Program – Businesses with fewer than 500 employees are eligible for assistance to keep employees on their payroll through the end of June. Under the Paycheck Protection Program, a small business can receive a loan of up to $10 million, with a two-year term and a 1% interest rate. The loans will not require collateral or personal guarantees. Most importantly, up to 100% of the loan can be forgiven if the funds are used to maintain employee payroll.
• Banking – Banks have recently received guidance from the federal government and are currently working to get the program into place. Visit SBA.gov for more information.
• Foreclosure Prevention – Governor DeWine signed an executive order that seeks to provide some assistance for small businesses with mortgage and rent payments. The order asks lenders and landlords across Ohio to work with their small businesses and suspend payments for at least 90 days in an effort to avoid foreclosures.

JOB OPENINGS  Lt. Governor Husted announced that the Governor’s Office of Workforce Transformation has developed a website specifically geared toward matching essential businesses with Ohioans who are able and willing to work as an essential employee during the COVID-19 crisis. Both essential businesses and current job seekers can visit Coronavirus.Ohio.Gov/JobSearch to post and search. The site features a highly streamlined interface with only two main links – one for essential businesses, and one for job seekers. Applicants can search through jobs in their area, their region, and the entire state.

PPE MANUFACTURING The state has established the Ohio Manufacturing Alliance, a collaborative public-private partnership to coordinate efforts to provide healthcare workers and first responders with personal protective equipment (PPE). The alliance is working to identify and match the critical needs of Ohio’s healthcare system with companies willing and able to repurpose production to meet those needs. Manufacturers that can help should visit RepurposingProject.com for more information. Those involved with this project will be compensated. The alliance includes Ohio Manufacturers’ Association, Ohio Hospital Association, Ohio Manufacturing Extension Partnership, Manufacturing Advocacy and Growth Network, nursing home organizations, JobsOhio, Ohio Department of Administrative Services, Ohio Development Services Agency, and the Ohio Department of Health. Anyone else with items to donate should email together@governor.ohio.gov.

STAY AT HOME ORDER The Ohio Department of Health issued an amended “Stay at Home” order for the state. The order is in effect until 11:59 pm on May 1^st, unless it is rescinded or modified. You can read the order here and find answers to frequently asked questions here.  

FOR MORE INFORMATION:

ONLINE:	Please visit www.Coronavirus.Ohio.gov for the most up-to-date information from the Ohio Department of Health.
PHONE:	For any questions you have about COVID-19, please call 1 (833) 4-ASK-ODH from 9:00 a.m. – 8:00 p.m (7 days/week).
SOCIAL MEDIA:	@GovMikeDeWine @LtGovHusted @OHDeptofHealth
DAILY UPDATES:	Governor DeWine is holding daily press briefings at 2:00 p.m. to deliver the most recent updates as well as give updated guidance for the state’s response. These press events are carried live at www.OhioChannel.org.

 

FEDERAL PROGRAMS/RESOURCES:

US Department of Labor

U.S. SBA Coronavirus (COVID-19): Small Business Guidance & Loan Resources: Page contains info on many different business resources from the U.S. Small Business Association, including how small business owners can apply for low-interest economic injury disaster loans. Please note that utility costs are eligible costs for which loans can be provided.

U.S. Chamber of Commerce Coronavirus Emergency Loans Small Business Guide & Checklist: Guide to help small businesses, independent contractors, and gig economy workers prepare to file for a coronavirus relief loan under the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Note that borrowers will need to provide a good faith certification that they will use the loan proceeds to retain workers and maintain payroll or make mortgage, lease, and utility payments.

IRS/ US Dept. of Labor Updates The U.S. Treasury Department, Internal Revenue Service (IRS), and the U.S. Department of Labor (Labor) announced that small and midsize employers (<500 employees) can begin taking advantage of two new refundable payroll tax credits, designed to immediately and fully reimburse them, dollar-for-dollar, for the cost of providing Coronavirus-related leave to their employees. This relief to employees and small and midsize businesses is provided under the Families First Coronavirus Response Act (Act), signed by President Trump on March 18, 2020.

The Act will help the United States combat and defeat COVID-19 by giving all American businesses with fewer than 500 employees funds to provide employees with paid leave, either for the employee’s own health needs or to care for family members. The legislation will enable employers to keep their workers on their payrolls, while at the same time ensuring that workers are not forced to choose between their paychecks and the public health measures needed to combat the virus.

For more information about these credits and other relief, visit Coronavirus Tax Relief on IRS.gov. Information regarding the process to receive an advance payment of the credit will be posted next week. www.irs.gov/coronavirus