ComEd reminds customers of billing assistance and energy management tools available during severe cold

As we defrost from two periods of sub-freezing temperatures over the past week, ComEd is reminding customers of financial assistance programs available to manage higher-than-expected electric bills. The following billing assistance and energy management programs can bring relief to customers:

• Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) which, in Illinois,provides a one-time grant, per program year, with no payback required, based on a household’s income and size. To qualify, a customer’s annual household income cannot exceed 200 percent of the federal poverty income guidelines which, for a family of four, is $4,625 a month.
• Payment arrangements of up to 12 months for eligible residential customers with past-due balances. Make a down payment on the amount owed and pay the rest through installments in addition to your regular monthly bill.

• Due Date Extensions of up to 21-days of a customer’s due date.
• Deposit and late-payment charge waivers for one year to income-eligible customers, along with the return of any current deposit.
• Catch Up and Save isatwo-part program that provides monthly credits to an eligible customer’s bill to eliminate past-due balances, as well as a free, energy-savings kit – which includes home products designed to help lower home energy use while supplies last – to help families save on future energy bills.
• Fresh Start Services provides customers with both online and person-to-person help customers become aware of and navigate the options available to manage bills and energy use. This program also offers customers tools that will alert them when their energy use is trending higher than usual and help them be aware of financial-assistance options for which they may be eligible.
• Credit Empowerment provides one-on-one support to help individuals improve their credit scores. In collaboration with Working Credit, the program provides an overview of how the credit system works, helps participants create a personalized credit action plan to help them improve their specific credit situation, and provides information on ComEd energy-efficiency offerings to the customer that will help the customer manage their energy use and energy bills.

Learn more about how you can manage your electric bill with ComEd’s Smart Assistance Manager (SAM) at ComEd.com/SAM. ComEd urges customers to contact the energy company immediately if they face difficulty paying their electric bills.