Illinois Utility Relief Programs: LIHEAP, Monthly Discount Rates, PIPP, and Shutoff Protections

Illinois utility relief programs at a glance

Each program does a different job. Most families who qualify should use more than one.

LIHEAP for the 2026–27 heating season

According to DCEO’s How to Apply page, the 2027 program year works like this:

• From October 1, 2026: adults 60 and older, people with a disability, households with a child age 5 or under, and households that are disconnected, have a disconnection date within 7 days, or have 25% or less left in their propane tank.
• From November 1, 2026: all other income-eligible households.
• End date: DCEO’s How to Apply page says August 13, 2027, while its 2027 LIHEAP state plan says August 15, 2027. Either way, the program stops earlier if funding runs out, so apply early.

To apply, fill out the online Request for Services form at helpillinoisfamilies.com during your application month. Your local agency then calls or emails you to confirm eligibility and set your benefit. If you hear nothing within three weeks, contact the agency yourself. You can also apply directly with your county agency, listed on DCEO’s Where to Apply page. Households that are already disconnected or have a disconnection date should call the county agency directly instead of using the online form.

LIHEAP pays once per program year. The payment goes straight to your energy company. If heat is included in your rent, you may get a one-time cash payment instead, and you will need your lease showing heat is included, the rent amount, and your landlord’s contact information. DCEO’s state plan estimates heating benefits from $58 to $2,564 for this year. LIHEAP does not pay water, sewer, or phone bills.

After you apply, you can check status with your seven-digit application ID (it starts with an 8) on the LIHEAP status page or by calling 1-833-711-0374. For how LIHEAP works nationally, see our main LIHEAP guide.

Income limits and documents

Illinois uses two income limits. If your utility is one of the large companies the state regulates for discounts (Ameren Illinois, ComEd, Nicor Gas, North Shore Gas, or Peoples Gas), the limit is 300% of the federal poverty guidelines, measured on your gross income for the 30 days before you apply. For every other utility, co-op, city utility, or fuel dealer, the limit is 60% of state median income.

DCEO asks you to have these ready for each household member:

• proof of income for the past 30 days (pay stubs, or benefit letters from SSA, VA, or IDHS),
• your most recent heating bill and electric bill, issued within the last 30 days,
• Social Security cards or ITINs for those who have them (you can still apply without one), and
• your lease, if heat is included in your rent.

If you are paid in cash or have no income, you can still apply using an income affidavit. Our document checklist has tips for gathering proof quickly.

Crisis help when you face a shutoff

DCEO sets aside part of LIHEAP for emergencies. According to its LIHEAP FAQ, there are two kinds:

• Reconnection Assistance: for households that are disconnected, have a disconnection notice within the next 7 days, or have a fuel dealer that will not deliver and a tank at 25% or below. It can also help an adult in the home start new service.
• Furnace Assistance: for homeowners who received LIHEAP or PIPP but have no working furnace. Renters are not eligible because landlords must provide heat.

Crisis help is provided within 48 hours of a complete application, or within 18 hours if the situation is life-threatening or the temperature is below 32°F. The state plan caps winter crisis benefits at $2,000. You can get Reconnection Assistance once per program year even if you already received regular LIHEAP.

If you need help beyond energy, such as rent or food, our Illinois hardship program guide covers state cash and crisis programs, and our guide to emergency help with utility bills lists charities that act quickly.

Low-income discount rates by utility

Since October 2024, the Illinois Commerce Commission has required the state’s big utilities to offer income-based discount rates. Gas customers came first, ComEd electric customers were added on January 1, 2026, and Ameren Illinois electric customers on October 1, 2026. A charge on every customer’s bill pays for the program.

• ComEd: if you get LIHEAP or PIPP, or your income is up to 200% of poverty, enroll through your community action agency. At 201% to 300%, you can enroll on ComEd’s discount page. The discount starts within one or two billing cycles and lasts 13 to 24 months.
• Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas: in Chicago, apply through CEDA at 800-571-2332. Peoples Gas customers are signed up automatically when approved for assistance there.
• Nicor Gas: discounts range from 5% to 77%, and customers getting LIHEAP or PIPP are enrolled automatically, according to Nicor’s assistance page.
• Ameren Illinois: gas customers get a monthly discount. For electric, DCEO calls Ameren’s new program, which started October 1, 2026, the Electric Service Discount Program; its state plan says it aims to keep the bill at no more than 3% of household income (6% for all-electric homes).

The Illinois Association of Community Action Agencies runs PowerBillDiscount.com, where you can enter your address to find your agency.

Where PIPP stands

Under the Percentage of Income Payment Plan, you pay a set share of your income each month, the state adds a monthly benefit to your bill, and part of your past-due balance is forgiven each time you pay on time. It works with Ameren Illinois, ComEd, Nicor Gas, and Peoples Gas/North Shore Gas.

The catch is funding. DCEO’s FAQ says PIPP did not accept new applications from October 1, 2025 through August 15, 2026, though current members could recertify. In November 2026, Nicor Gas still lists PIPP applications as closed. DCEO has not posted whether new enrollment has reopened for 2026–27 (its FAQ still shows the 2025–26 closure notice, and the 2027 state plan does not say), so ask your local agency. The new discount rates now give many households a similar monthly break.

Winter shutoff protections

The Illinois Commerce Commission’s winter weather rule runs from December 1 to March 31. In its December 2025 notice, the ICC said:

• Utilities cannot disconnect residential customers when the forecast calls for temperatures at or below freezing.
• Homes that used gas or electricity as their main heat source the previous winter cannot be disconnected for nonpayment unless the utility offered a deferred payment agreement, the customer refused it, and all notice rules were met.
• LIHEAP and PIPP participants, electric space-heating customers, and military personnel and veterans cannot be disconnected during this period if they fall behind.
• The rule does not cover shutoffs for theft, tampering, or safety problems.

If you owe a past-due balance, call your utility and ask for a deferred payment agreement. If you have already been shut off, ask whether you can be reconnected for less than the full amount. You can reach the ICC’s Consumer Services Division at 1-800-524-0795 to ask questions or file a complaint. The protections pause shutoffs; they do not erase what you owe.

Free weatherization and other help

The Illinois Home Weatherization Assistance Program makes homes cheaper to heat. DCEO’s weatherization page says it can pay up to $20,000 per home for energy work such as air sealing, insulation, and furnace or water heater repair, plus up to $4,000 for health and safety fixes. The income limit is 200% of poverty ($31,920 for one person, $66,000 for four). Households that got LIHEAP in the last 12 months, and many HUD and USDA housing residents, qualify automatically. Renters need the landlord to agree.

Other help to ask about:

• Utility hardship funds. Nicor Gas’s Sharing Program, run with The Salvation Army, helps income-eligible customers, including seniors and veterans. Its Energy Aide program is open from August 1, 2026 to June 30, 2027, while funds last. Peoples Gas customers can apply for Share the Warmth through CEDA.
• Keep Warm Illinois. The state’s Keep Warm Illinois site gathers winter safety tips and energy-saving help in one place.
• Phone and internet. The federal Lifeline program takes up to $9.25 a month off phone or internet service for eligible households.
• Water bills. LIHEAP does not cover water, but your county agency may know of local water help.

Related guides

• Missouri utility relief programs
• Salvation Army help with utility bills
• Utility relief programs
• Catholic Charities utility bill assistance

Frequently asked questions

This guide is general information. Program dates, income limits, and discounts can change with funding and ICC decisions. National Relief Program is an independent website and is not affiliated with DCEO, the ICC, any utility, or any government agency.