Financial Resources
Electric Resources
- The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Administered by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, LIHEAP is designed to help income-eligible households pay for winter energy service. Call the LIHEAP hotline at 1-877-411-9276 or contact your Local Administering Agency or Community Action Agency (find out which agency serves you at the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity website). Read CUB’s LIHEAP fact sheet and our step-by-step blog for more information.
- ComEd Smart Assistance Manager (SAM) ComEd’s resource of programs providing financial assistance on electric bills for qualified customers. See ComEd Payment Assistance webpage as well.
- Warm Neighbors Cool Friends. This Ameren program provides year-round energy bill payment assistance and home weatherization to make harsh winters and hot summers bearable. Eligible households can receive up to $350 to help pay for energy costs ($350 during the heating season and $200 during the cooling season.)
- Ameren Payment Assistance. Ameren Illinois offers several forms of financial assistance, including short-term, one-time payment extensions and fixed monthly payment agreements to settle past balances.
- Illinois Solar For All. Learn how income-qualified consumers can benefit from the Illinois Solar For All Program.
Gas Resources
- New: The Low-Income Discount Rate (LIDR) program (pdf version) was ordered by the Illinois Commerce Commission in 2023 as the state’s first-ever income-based program providing gas-bill discounts for eligible customers.
- The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Administered by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, LIHEAP is designed to help income-eligible households pay for winter energy service. Call the LIHEAP hotline at 1-877-411-9276 or contact your Local Administering Agency or Community Action Agency (find out which agency serves you at the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity website). Read CUB’s fact sheet and our step-by-step blog for more information.
- Share the Warmth (Peoples Gas). Share the Warmth provides heating grants to limited and fixed-income households. Eligible customers can receive grants of up to $200 on their bills.
- Share the Warmth (North Shore Gas). Share the Warmth provides heating grants to limited and fixed-income households. Eligible customers can receive grants of up to $200 on their bills.
- Nicor Gas Sharing Program. One-time annual grants are given, with no requirement to be paid back, to qualified residential customers who meet the required income guidelines. The Nicor Gas Sharing Program is administered by the Salvation Army and funded through direct contributions from Nicor Gas’ customers and employees.
- Warm Neighbors Cool Friends. This Ameren program provides year-round energy bill payment assistance and home weatherization to make harsh winters and hot summers bearable. Eligible households can receive up to $350 to help pay for energy costs ($350 during the heating season and $200 during the cooling season.)
- Ameren Payment Assistance. Ameren Illinois offers several forms of financial assistance, including short-term, one-time payment extensions and fixed monthly payment agreements to settle past balances.
Water Resources
Other Sources
- FindHelp.org can help you locate a wide range of assistance programs based on your Zip Code.
- Contact charities, such as the Salvation Army, Catholic Charities and the Heartland Alliance, to see if they offer assistance for utility bills.
- Contact your municipality to see if they have assistance programs for residents. Visit Keep Warm Illinois and Keep Cool Illinois for state-level utility bill resources.
- Check with religious institutions and ask family and friends if they know of organizations providing assistance.
- Warming and cooling centers are available in state facilities across Illinois. These facilities are safe places to go to stay warm in the winter and cool in the summer. The centers’ hours vary by location and are limited to each facility’s regular business hours. Find a warming center or a cooling center.
Note: CUB does not offer financial assistance and does not have an affiliation with or oversight of any of the above-mentioned programs. Please contact those programs directly.
