Electric Utility bill aid Illinois

[Shameka]

I'm from Galesburg IL and I took my 70 year old mother into the Heath Department to try to get some help with her electricity bill via LIHEAP. She has a shut off notice for Friday 9-25-2026. They set up and appointment. Which we are grateful for but they also said they could not help with anything until that day. I am under the impression that they (LIHEAP) has an emergency help for this particular situation. How do we sign up for this? If she doesn't have $600 by Friday her power will be shut off. Please help. She lives in Williamsfield, IL - Knox county. Please help. Thank you.

[Admin - Jon McNamara]

Hi Carla,
That is Madison County IL. So you have a couple options - one being the local Madison County organizations that help pay bills here. https://www.needhelppayingbills.com/htm ... prog1.html
Since you did not say what company you use, try this for our general list of programs in IL that help people pay utility costs. https://www.needhelppayingbills.com/htm ... gy_bi.html

Hi. My name is Carla. I live in Waterloo Illinois. I was wondering if there was any kind of utility assistance or financial aid to help us?
I was diagnosed with cancer last year and had to take six weeks off with no pay for surgery. We were just catching up and I had to have another surgery last week.
I tried getting assistance with Western Egyptian but was denied because we make too much. I should be back to work in a month and we will get back on track, but we really need to catch up on this next bill. What can we do?
Thank you
Carla

[Arey Gol]

Hi. My name is Carla. I live in Waterloo Illinois. I was wondering if there was any kind of utility assistance or financial aid to help us?
I was diagnosed with cancer last year and had to take six weeks off with no pay for surgery. We were just catching up and I had to have another surgery last week.
I will require four more weeks off of work with no pay. I am self-employed. My husband is not making enough to cover both of our bills and we have fallen behind on some bills and the utility company is one of them that’s pretty important.
I tried getting assistance with Western Egyptian but was denied because we make too much. I should be back to work in a month and we will get back on track, but we really need to catch up on this next bill. What can we do?
Thank you
Carla

[Behr]

Good morning- My name is Kim and I’m in the state of Illinois. I’ve already applied for the LIHEAP program for my electric and heating bills. The status is showing in process. My problem is I’ll be moving in a week so I’ll have to disconnect service therefore the accounts will be closed and the state won’t be able to make payments on closed accounts. I’ve talked to Peoples Gas and ComEd regarding this and both companies advised me that there is no option to have accounts remain open once service is ended. Do you know of any program in Illinois that might offer immediate assistance for situations such as mine? I know this is a long shot because everything is backed up these days but I have to try.
Thank you,
Kimberly

[Admin - Jon McNamara]

What is LP? Not sure what that means. But whatever the agency told you is true...we can't contradict them.
But find many other Illinois utility assistance programs. Maybe they can help your niece get the support she needs...even options like payment plans, etc.

Hello,
I just talked with my niece who lives in Rock City, IL. She is low-income and has 3 children. I was appalled to find out that LIHEAP does not cover LP heating costs. Is this true? If so, what alternatives are available for electric bills to people who live in the country? She has no email and so I am serving as proxy for her.

[Chipper]

Hello,
I just talked with my niece who lives in Rock City, IL. She is low-income and has 3 children. I was appalled to find out that LIHEAP does not cover LP heating costs. Is this true? If so, what alternatives are available for electric bills to people who live in the country? She has no email and so I am serving as proxy for her.

[Flow]

Hello, my family and I are having quiet the struggle the past couple months. My son was born May 5th, has now been in the NICU for over two months. Balancing bills, having the gas money to go visit him, while raising a five year old making sure she has everything she needs has been more than a struggle this past month.
Our electric bill is due on the 28th. We have no way of paying this, only because my boyfriend’s boss went to Canada for two weeks and in that time frame he received no pay. My boyfriend is a roofer. I work for the newspaper for Chicago IL, but I am on maternity leave at the moment. Our electric bill is $238 this month. Any help would be wonderful. We will be turned off because we are renting from my boyfriend’s father and he already made a deal with the company because his father was late in the past. If turned off we will owe $600 on top of the $238. Never thought I'd have to write a letter asking for help. Thank you.

[Direct1]

I was asking because my mom needs assistance paying her electric bill in Chicago Illinois. She is only receiving her pension and she did not qualify for unemployment. She is a seasonal worker and stopped working back in late March or early April and she usually opened her unemployment in June but this time she didn't qualify and the person we talked to told us she did not meet the requirements because she stopped working 6 months ago.
That you guys just help people who just lost their jobs or had a big expense or medical bills. She told them she was unable to pay her utility bill because she had to make her house payment and the lady said that didn't qualify. She spoke to APS they gave her an extension on the shut off date and some forms to help her reduce her utility bill but it will take 30 days for that to go through.

[Admin - Jon McNamara]

If you make enough money to pay the ComEd bill, why do you need help? Maybe we are not understanding correctly. The Illinois based company will provide a good customer who paid on time in the past with a payment plan, which provide them more time. So call customer service and ask them about that. They also offer resources for those families with a short term illness. Read more ComEd assistance programs.

[Buffet12]

Hello I live in Knoxville Illinois and I lost my job in November. I am currently broke beyond anything I have ever been. I have been applying for jobs, but have had no success. My power has been shut off as of today. I have two kids. If you could please help me in anyway. I'm a humble man not knowing what to do. I've worked since I was 16 till I was 31 last November.

[Admin - Jon McNamara]

There are other agencies to try beside the Community and Economic Development Association of Cook County. Places like the Salvation Army or of course government programs such as LIHEAP may help with utility bills too. Especially to keep your furnace on. Find the main resources here. http://www.needhelppayingbills.com/html ... ogram.html

[Booker]

Today I got a disconnect notice from ComEd set for May 1st (Not a pay day). My mother, who lives with us has been out of work due to a major hospitalization and I missed almost a month of work due to her illness and recovery. Along with helping her buy her medications. Due to this I missed my payment with ComEd and they dropped me off the payment plan. I have 4 children, ages 11, 10, 8, 2 and can not be with out electricity. My husband and I both work full time but we make enough to just make the bills, most of the time. I live in Cary, IL, is there anything or anyone who can help me in this crisis?
Any help or even a point in the right direction would be greatly appreciated.

[Libby]

Needing help to pay electric bill ASAP, like by Thursday November the 20th. I live with my mom in Illinois and I have three children ages run from 11, 1, and 5 months old. It's $200 and something but they said we could pay 175 or all by Thursday and we have no money till the 3rd of December and my mom works but her check run from 95 to 137 a week. She is because she works at a shelter work shop and we live in a town which is Cook county. We could really use your help. Thanks.

[Namco1]

Hello,

I am a single, male and I live in Lemont, Cook County, Illinois. I am currently unemployed and receiving a small amount of unemployment benefits ($190/week). I rent a house where I pay rent and utilities separately and its appliances are totally reliant on electricity, including things like the hot-water heater and the furnace. So, I do not have a natural gas bill, but I have high electric service charges.

I am seeking assistance and having a hard time figuring this stuff out. I have a phone list from the Comed website and have called the "Community and Economic Development Association of Cook County" more than once. I have been on hold for hours and yet to talk to a live person. Do you have any recommendations for me please? Is there anywhere I can go in person and apply for assistance?

Thank You for your time,

[Helen]

Dear Sir/Madame,

I need immediate assistance with my electricity bill. I am 26 years and have an application for social security income pending with the state of Illinois. When I turned 25, my income immediately fell under the “reevaluation process” of the federal government. To date it is still pending. In addition to my electricity being disconnected I am also two-months behind in my rent. I was wondering is there any service that will help pay my ComEd bill of $359.40? My mother stated she can help me keep the roof over my head but cannot help with my electricity as this will caused her to be in a financial bind. I have applied for jobs and nothing has become to fruition. I applied at the Illinois Department of Human Services for (LIHEAP) hardship and was told that my application was denied because my SSI was pending and I am no longer considered to be disabled-which is untrue. I am consider to be STILL disabled, the SSA has my doctors notes in relation to this fact. I have no income.
Please get back with me. The lady below is my outreach coordinator and is trying to accommodate me with hardships services. You can email your responses to this email address or you can call her at the number provided below as well.

[Socgel]

I applied for energy assistance for Ameren electric bill at Community Action Agency (CASTLE) in St Louis county. I have a shut off notice for the 24th. I paid some of the bill but did not have enough to pay the rest . I applied for assistance on the 11th and was told that I would receive a letter in 2 to 5 days. It is the 20th today and I have not gotten a letter. I called Ameren several times to see if any agency had called or made a pledge on the account. Ameren does not have any pledges either. I went back down the Community Action Agency today, talked to the same person that took my application, and I was told that even if I qualify for assistance I still may not get any assistance. I recalled HDC saying the same thing to people. People were applying for assistance for their bills, and even though they qualified and were in need they still did not get any help , so where is the Federal funding going that the Community Action Agency on Woodson rd going, I am paying on my bill but it is too much , I cannot afford to pay gas , electric and all the other expenses right now, so I am one of those people who had to turn to public agencies for assistance.

[baby05bisquit]

My name is Brenda and I live in Illinois. I have asked for help on our power bill, but I am behind on our phone bill and have recently gotten it shut off. My husband has been layed off of his job and I am not working at the moment. We have 3 children in school and one in college. Yes my husband gets unemployment but it is not that much at all. If you could provide my with information on finding help with bills past due and property taxes I would greatly appreciate it. Thank you. Sincerely Brenda

[Admin - Jon McNamara]

Thank you for posting state and your utility. It really helps me offer exact info

Here are ComEd assistance programs

The CARE Helping Hand Initiative.
It is a new program offered by ComEd that provides a one-time offer/grant that was designed to provide some immediate relief with energy bills to customers currently facing disconnection. No income restrictions.

Also, the Summer Assistance Program will give a one-time $30 credit for Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program participants. There are some income criteria, and only those people with household incomes up to 200 percent of the poverty level are able to get help.

Last, but not least, the Residential Hardship Fund gives variable free cash grants of up to $1,000 to offset utility bill rate increases for people with special circumstances and those who are facing hardships or emergencies.

[vanessapopp]

I am a single working mother who is looking for help in Illinois to pay a $500 dollar electric bill from 4 yrs ago. i recently took an apartment but when I went to have to electric turned on ComEd told me I had to pay this bill first. I dont have 500 since I live check to check. Can you direct me or help me find help. I dont know what to do..
Live in Illinois

[Assistance]

In Illinois, try the Good Samaritan Initiative for utility assistance. What it does is it helps people get their electric service turned back on and restored, and people need to pay just 20 percent or $250 of their remaining utility bill balance. Almost all electric and gas companies offer this program.