As Aug. 15 LIHEAP application deadline passes, ComEd customers still have support options for current and future bills

As hotter-than-normal summer temperatures continue across northern Illinois, ComEd encourages customers to explore support programs that can help with past-due balances and energy-saving offerings that can lower future bills.

Energy assistance is more important than ever with air conditioner and fan use increasing this summer, the Aug. 15 end of the current funding season for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), and the continued rise in energy supply prices due to energy demand outpacing the rate of new supply options coming online. ComEd does not set these prices and does not profit from them.

"The result of the heat waves experienced across northern Illinois in July are now showing up on customers’ August bills," said Ajit Apte, ComEd's SVP of Customer Operations. "With the LIHEAP deadline passed and summer energy costs remain a concern, ComEd is here to offer year-round bill-assistance and payment options to help customers manage past-due balances and avoid future challenges."

To help customers more easily access support, ComEd works with community action agencies across northern Illinois to connect them with bill-assistance options that can help them get back on track.

In 2025, ComEd worked with agencies such as the Community and Economic Development Association (CEDA) of Cook County to connect 220,000 customers with more than $108 million in financial assistance and other relief programs. So far this year, ComEd has helped nearly 140,000 customers access more than $60 million in relief.

"The close of the LIHEAP season does not mean the end of available support for households facing energy challenges," said Latoya Butler, Vice President of Energy Services at CEDA. "ComEd customers still have access to bill assistance and payment support programs offered by ComEd that can help reduce financial stress and maintain essential utility service. We encourage families to explore these resources today and be prepared to apply for LIHEAP when the new program year opens on Oct. 1."

ComEd encourages customers who need bill assistance – regardless of whether they qualified during the current LIHEAP cycle – to explore its assistance and energy-saving options.

ComEd’s Low-Income Discount (LID) program offers qualifying income-eligible customers a percentage-based discount on their electric bills based on income level. Customers who qualify for LIHEAP are automatically enrolled in LID. Until LIHEAP’s new funding season begins later this fall, ComEd encourages households earning 300% or less of the federal poverty level – or $99,000 for a family of four – to self-certify for LID at ComEd.com/LID.
Catch Up and Save: A two-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 – while supplies last – to help families save on future energy bills. Each kit includes home products designed to help lower home energy use while improving the efficiency of the home.
A flexible deferred payment arrangement 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.
Budget billing, which provides a predictable monthly amount due based on your electricity usage from the last 12 months.
Flexible payment options like 21-day extensions on a customer's due date.
High-usage alerts, which let customers know when their usage is trending higher than normal to help manage overall energy use, and energy-management tips to save money now and on future energy bills.
Community solar allows customers to participate in the benefits of clean solar energy without installing panels on their own homes. Participants subscribe to a solar energy project and earn credits on their monthly utility bills for their portion of the energy produced by the solar project.
Energy-efficiency offerings, including services and incentives designed for income-eligible residential customers, which can help reduce energy use now and in the future.

To support small- and medium-sized business customers, ComEd expanded its Customer Relief Fund to offer matching grants up to $500 for past-due balances. The fund is administered by Neighborhood Family Services (NHS) of Chicago. Qualifying business customers can visit NHSChicago.org/SmallBiz for details or to apply.

To make financial-assistance and bill-management programs easier to access, ComEd offers residential customers its Smart Assistance Manager (SAM). SAM is an online self-service tool that helps match customers with the payment-assistance programs they may qualify for. The free tool is available at ComEd.com/SAM.

ComEd is a unit of Chicago-based Exelon Corporation (NASDAQ:EXC), a Fortune 200 company and one of the nation’s largest utility companies, serving almost 11 million customers through six fully regulated transmission and distribution utilities — Atlantic City Electric, BGE, ComEd, Delmarva Power, PECO, and Pepco. ComEd powers the lives of more than 4 million customers across northern Illinois, or 70 percent of the state's population. For more information visit ComEd.com, and connect with the company on Facebook, Instagram, LinkedIn, X, and YouTube

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