CHICAGO, April 20 /PRNewswire/ -- There is still time for low-income ComEd customers to apply for a one-time government assistance payment towards the cost of their outstanding winter heating bills.
The federal government in late March released an additional $1 billion nationally for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), resulting in an additional $32 million in assistance for Illinois customers' 2005-2006 winter heating bills. The money will be available for eligible customers until the funds are spent, or until May 1, the deadline for applying for LIHEAP assistance for the past winter heating season.
A record number of ComEd customers have benefited from LIHEAP funds this program year. So far, more than 220,000 customers received a one-time LIHEAP payment to help with their winter heating bills, compared to the previous high of 175,000 accounts in the 2003-2004 program year. While ComEd's electric rates have been frozen for nine years, more customers are struggling with their energy bills because of increases in the cost of natural gas to heat their homes. Increasing natural gas demand and damage to gas production facilities from hurricanes Rita and Katrina resulted in a sharp increase in natural gas prices.
"We encourage customers to contact us if they are having a difficult time managing their energy bills," said Michelle Hurley, manager, revenue management at ComEd. "In addition to providing valuable information about LIHEAP, we offer a number of tools such as deferred payment plans and budget plans to help customers pay their bills."
Customers can learn how to apply for LIHEAP funds by contacting one of the 15 local LIHEAP administering agencies across ComEd's service territory (see attachment for a list of agencies). In Chicago and suburban Cook County, the number to call is 312-456-4100.
In addition to deferred payments and budget payments, ComEd offers other tools to help customers manage their bills, including:
-- Automatic payment plan (payments are deducted electronically each
month)
-- Credit/debit or checking account payments (pay instantly with credit
or debit card, or checking account)
-- eBill (paperless bill delivery and payment option)
For more information about these options, contact 1-800-EDISON1.
Commonwealth Edison Company (ComEd) is a unit of Chicago-based Exelon Corporation , one of the nation's largest electric utilities with approximately 5.2 million customers and more than $15 billion in annual revenues. ComEd provides service to approximately 3.7 million customers across Northern Illinois, or 70 percent of the state's population.
CHICAGO AND COOK COUNTY LIHEAP INFORMATION Phone Number
Chicago & Suburban Cook County CEDA
(Community and Economic Development, Assn.) 312-456-4100
SUBURBS
COUNTY AGENCY Phone Number
Kane Community Contacts, Inc. 630-232-9530
DeKalb Community Contacts, Inc. 815-758-3835
DuPage DuPage County Dept. of Human Resources 630-407-6500
Ford, Iroquois & East Central Il. Community Action 217-443-2705
Vermilion Program
Kankakee Kankakee County Community Services 815-933-7883
Kendall Kendall-Grundy Community Action 630-553-9100
Ext.107
Grundy Kendall-Grundy Community Action 815-941-3262
Lake Lake County Community Action Project 847-249-4330
McHenry McHenry County Housing Authority 815-338-7752
Livingston Mid-Central Community Action, Inc 815-844-3201
JoDavies, Northwestern Illinois Community 815-232-3141
Stephenson Action Agency
Henry, Mercer & Project Now Community 309-793-6391
Rock Island Action Agency
Boone & Winnebago Rockford Human Services Department 815-987-5701
Carroll, LaSalle, Tri-County Opportunities Council 800-323-5434
Lee, Ogle, Bureau
Marshall, Putnam,
Stark & Whiteside
Tazwell, Woodford Tazwood Community Services, Inc. 309-266-9941
Will Will County Center for Community Concern 815-722-0722
ext.3
