Following the introduction of low-income discount programs for Illinois’ major gas utilities and private water companies, Commonwealth Edison (ComEd) will be rolling out its own discount program in January of 2026. This program is required under the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) and will provide monthly electric-bill discounts for eligible customers.
Who is eligible for these electric-bill discounts?
Customers of ComEd whose incomes are at or below 300 percent of the Federal Poverty Line (FPL).
Customers who receive Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) benefits (for households that are at or below 60 percent of the state median income) will be automatically enrolled in this discount program, so a good first step is to confirm if you qualify for LIHEAP. LIHEAP also qualifies you for your gas utility’s LID (for customers of Peoples, North Shore, Nicor, and Ameren Illinois). Stacking these three benefits can provide significant financial support for your utility bills.
Important: If you earn too much to qualify for LIHEAP, you might still qualify for the LID program. Please review the eligibility requirements below and explore applying.
How does the LID work?
The LID program is a five-tiered system with a percentage-based discount associated with each tier. The amount of the discount will depend on the household’s income. ComEd outlines the discount percentages for each tier below. These percentage discounts are applicable beginning with the January 2026 monthly billing period and extending through the December 2026 billing period.
| Single-Family Home, Non-electric Heat |
Multi-Family Home, Non-electric Heat |
Single-Family Home, Electric Heat |
Multi-Family Home, Electric Heat |
|
| Tier 1:0-50% FPL | 81% | 67% | 76% | 59% |
| Tier 2:51-100% FPL | 61% | 23% | 54% | 8% |
| Tier 3:101-150% FPL | 32% | 5% | 26% | 5% |
| Tier 4:151-200% FPL | 8% | 5% | 5% | 5% |
| Tier 5:201-300% FPL | 5% | 5% | 5% | 5% |
How do I know what Tier I’m in?
Use the chart below to estimate your household income level for the past 30 days and your tier in the LID program. The chart can help you estimate eligibility, and the application process will confirm it. (A more comprehensive chart is linked here.)
| Number of people in Household | Tier 1:0-50% FPL | Tier 2:51-100% FPL | Tier 3:101-150% FPL | Tier 4:151-200% FPL | Tier 5:201-300% FPL |
| 1 | Up to $665 | $666 to $1,330 | $1,331 to $1,995 | $1,996 to $2,660 | $2,661 to $3,990 |
| 2 | Up to $902 | $903 to $1,803 | $1,804 to $2,705 | $2,706 to $3,607 | $3,608 to $5,410 |
| 3 | Up to $1,138 | $1,139 to $2,277 | $2,278 to $3,415 | $3,416 to $4,553 | $4,554 to $6,830 |
| 4 | Up to $1,375 | $1,376 to $2,750 | $2,751 to $4,125 | $4,126 to $5,500 | $5,501 to $8,250 |
| 5 | Up to $1,612 | $1,613 to $3,223 | $3,224 to $4,835 | $4,836 to $6,447 | $6,448 to $9,670 |
| 6 | Up to $1,848 | $1,849 to $3,697 | $3,698 to $5,545 | $5,546 to $7,393 | $7,394 to $11,090 |
| 7 | Up to $2,085 | $2,086 to $4,170 | $4,171 to $6,255 | $6,256 to $8,340 | $8,341 to $12,510 |
| 8 | Up to $2,322 | $2,323 to $4,643 | $4,644 to $6,965 | $6,966 to $9,287 | $9,288 to $13,930 |
How do I apply?
There are two ways to apply, if you think your household qualifies (at or below 300 percent of the FPL):
- Tiers 1-4: Eligible households with income at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level are eligible for LIHEAP benefits and, additionally, will automatically receive the ComEd LID. To receive the LID, those households must apply for LIHEAP through their local Community Action Agency. To get more information on how to locate a household’s Community Action Agency, visit PowerBillDiscount.com. At this website, maintained by the Illinois Association of Community Action Agencies, visitors can input their address and find their Community Action Agency. You can also call the LIHEAP hotline, 1-833-711-0374.
Important: According to ComEd, if you are 1) an electric customer of ComEd, and 2) you have applied for and received LIHEAP benefits since 2024, you will automatically receive the LID beginning on your January 2026 bill. If you qualify for LIHEAP in 2026, you will receive the LID in 1-2 billing cycles.
- Tier 5: Households with incomes that fall under Tier 5 do not qualify for LIHEAP, but can still receive a discount. To receive the Tier 5 discount, you can either apply through your local Community Action Agency, or self-certify through ComEd’s Smart Assistance Manager online tool at ComEd.com/EnergySavings. After you are approved for the LID, you will receive the discount on your bill in 1-2 billing cycles.
Note: There is no charge to apply and receive a discount.
How is the LID funded?
The LID is funded by a charge on the bills of all residential, commercial and industrial customers, including those who receive the discount.
CUB believes utilities should be making a significant contribution of shareholder funds to this program. If you have questions/concerns about the LID program, please call the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC), at 1-800-524-0795.
How long will my discount be active?
Once you are approved to receive the ComEd LID, you will receive a monthly discount on your bill for up to 24 months (the rest of the current year plus the entirety of the next program year). Customers in Tiers 1-4 must recertify by re-applying for LIHEAP. Customers in Tier 5 will remain in the program for 2 years, and receive information on how to recertify 60 days before their enrollment expires.
Is there a Low-Income Discount Program for gas or water customers?
Yes! There are existing low-income discount programs for gas utilities (Ameren Illinois, Nicor Gas, North Shore Gas and Peoples Gas), as well as for customers of the two biggest private water utilities in Illinois (Aqua Illinois and Illinois American Water). These programs are similar to the ComEd LID, with tiered discounts available for qualifying customers. For more information on these programs and how to apply, see CUB’s previous blog posts on the gas and water programs. Ameren Illinois is expected to release their own program for electric customers later in 2026.
