Ameren Illinois Rate Relief Programs
Program Details: Ameren Illinois Utilities Customers Eligible for $40 Million in Special Assistance; Programs Part of $1 Billion Statewide Rate Relief Package
Here are some specifics of assistance available to Ameren Illinois utilities customers who will get help adjusting to the new rates:
	Cooling Assistance Program: The Ameren Illinois utilities will provide donations to the Illinois Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), which is administered by the Illinois Department of Healthcare & Family Services (DHFS) through a network of local agencies. The Ameren Illinois utilities’ contributions will help fund individual cooling assistance grants of $150 to qualifying seniors, the disabled and vulnerable households with children. $6 million will be allocated over four years. Check your eligibility for this program.
	Bill Payment Assistance Program: The Ameren Illinois utilities will provide $150 energy assistance grants to low-income electric customers with household incomes of 150 percent to 200 percent of the energy assistance federal poverty level ($30,975 to $41,300 for a family of four). The grants will be provided through the local community action agencies that administer the LIHEAP. $7 million will be allocated over four years. Check your eligibility for this program.
	Hardship Assistance for Residential Customers: The Ameren Illinois utilities will provide funds for bill payment assistance for certain residential customers with hardship situations. Local community action agencies that administer the LIHEAP will distribute the funds based on the hardship of customers with household incomes of up to 400 percent of the federal poverty level ($82,600 for a family of four). Based on agency discretion, a maximum of $600 per household may be provided. $8 million will be allocated over four years. Check your eligibility for this program.
	Hardship Assistance for Non-Residential Customers: Assistance will be made available to non-profit organizations, community centers and small businesses who purchase power from the Ameren Illinois utilities. The Energy Assistance Foundation will administer the program. Assistance of up to $5,000 per account may be provided. $6 million will be allocated over four years. View the details and guidelines.
	Percent-of-Income Payment Program (PIPP) Pilot: The Ameren Illinois utilities will partner with the Illinois DHFS in the development of a PIPP pilot. The pilot will target about 14,000 Ameren Illinois utility low-income electric space heat customers to determine if paying a percentage of income will make energy more affordable and develop regular bill-paying habits. $6 million will be allocated over three years.
	Space Heat Weatherization Aid: Assistance will be available to LIHEAP-approved customers, particularly those with high usage and all-electric households. The DHFS will be partnering with the Ameren Illinois utilities to implement this program. $3 million will be allocated over three years.
	Compact Fluorescent Bulb Distribution: Nearly one million compact fluorescent light bulbs will be made available at reduced or no charge by the Ameren Illinois utilities to residential customers. The bulbs use as much as 75 percent less energy than standard incandescent bulbs, produce 75 percent less heat and last up to 10 times longer. Of special interest, customers can save $30 or more in electricity costs over the life of each CFL bulb. $2 million will be allocated over two years.
	Municipal Street Light Conversion: The Ameren Illinois Utilities will waive the one-time street light conversion fee currently applicable to municipalities requesting the replacement of existing company-owned mercury vapor lighting fixtures to more efficient lighting units. This program will be in effect for 2007 and 2008, covering the conversion of up to 4,000 fixtures annually. $2 million will be allocated over two years.