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Families, seniors, military personnel, veterans, and nonprofits have range of options

CHICAGO (April 25, 2018) – Spring weather in northern Illinois has been a roller coaster, with temperatures reaching unseasonable highs and lows. Whether people are firing up their furnaces again or switching on their air conditioners, those who face financial hardship may find it harder to keep up with their energy bills.

Customers who struggle to cover their energy expenses have a growing range of assistance options from ComEd. The company offers financial assistance programs, flexible payment options, and programs to reduce energy use and costs, all of which can help eligible customers reduce budget strain and avoid disconnection of service.

"We take our responsibility to all of our customers and communities very seriously," said Val Jensen, ComEd's senior vice president of customer operations, "and we know circumstances can make it hard for families, individuals, and nonprofit organizations to pay their bills. Tens of thousands of customers benefit from our financial assistance programs every year to help make ends meet when they need it most."

ComEd customer offerings include:

Financial Assistance Programs

• Under the Residential Special Hardship program, customers who face financial hardship such as job loss, illness, or military deployment, or senior or disability hardships, may be eligible for grants of up to $500 once every two years based on need.
• The CHAMP (ComEd Helps Activated/Veteran Military Personnel) program allows activated and deployed members of the U.S. Armed Forces, National Guard, and Reserves and honorably discharged veterans to apply for grants of up to $1,000 once every two years, deferred payment plans, cancellation of late charges, and other benefits.
• Under the Nonprofit Special Hardship program, nonprofit organizations that struggle to pay their electric bills may be eligible for grants of up to $2,000 once every two years, to help them cover their expenses and continue to fulfill their missions and serve the community.
• The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) allows low-income households to apply for assistance paying for winter energy services. Administered by community agencies throughout ComEd's region, LIHEAP is funded by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services and the state of Illinois.
  
  Flexible Payment Options

• ComEd may be able to make special payment arrangements and offer extensions to eligible customers who are having difficulty paying their electric bills.
  
  Ways to Save Energy and Money
• Homeowners, multifamily property owners and managers, public housing authorities, and affordable housing developers who qualify can take advantage of ComEd offerings that are specifically designed to help customers who are income eligible improve home and building energy efficiency – and save money.
  
  "We make every effort to empower customers who face circumstances that make it hard to cover their energy expenses," Jensen said. "In addition to connecting them with assistance, we offer payment plans that help them manage their household budgets." 
  
  The enactment of the Future Energy Jobs Act (FEJA) in 2017 established $50 million in shareholder-funded ComEd programs over five years to support veterans and active or disabled military personnel, seniors and families, local nonprofits, and income eligible customers who face financial hardship. 
  
  Under FEJA, ComEd also will invest $42 million per year from 2018 to 2021 on programs to help income eligible customers reduce energy use and save money. FEJA redefined the eligibility requirements for these programs, dramatically expanding the number of people who can take advantage of them.
  
  Learn about customer assistance programs at www.ComEd.com/CARE. 
  
   Learn about energy efficiency offerings at www.ComEd.com/WaystoSave.