Low-Income Resources

If you are having difficulty affording your utility bills during the pandemic, it’s important to reach out to your utility company immediately and keep the lines of communication open. Learn about any protections your utilities offer to help you keep up-to-date on your utility bills and prevent from getting your service interrupted in the future: Read CUB’s fact sheet on the protections available to utility customers struggling to pay their bills (Spanish version).

Visit CUB’s Help Center for more information about CUB’s services during the COVID-19 pandemic.

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Low-Income Resources

If you are having difficulty affording your utility bills during the pandemic, it’s important to reach out to your utility company immediately and keep the lines of communication open. Learn about any protections your utilities offer to help you keep up-to-date on your utility bills and prevent from getting your service interrupted in the future: Read CUB’s fact sheet on the protections available to utility customers struggling to pay their bills (Spanish version).

Visit CUB’s Help Center for more information about CUB’s services during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Electricity Assistance

Electric Assistance Programs

  • The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Administered by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, LIHEAP is designed to help eligible low-income households pay for winter energy service. Read CUB’s fact sheet on the program.
  • ComEd Payment Assistance. ComEd’s programs provide financial assistance on electric bills for qualified customers.
  • 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 for families in need. Eligible households can receive up to $700 a year to help pay for energy costs ($350 during the heating season and $350 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.

Natural Gas Assistance

Natural Gas Assistance Programs

  • The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP). Administered by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, LIHEAP is designed to help eligible low-income households pay for winter energy service. Read CUB’s fact sheet on the program.
  • 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 for families in need. Eligible households can receive up to $700 a year to help pay for energy costs ($350 during the heating season and $350 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.

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