ILLINOIS UTILITY RATE ASSISTANCE
- Historically, Illinois had little utility rate assistance. Effective 1998,
the Supplemental Low-Income Energy
Assistance Fund was authorized through electric
utility legislation. A funding formula applied to all regulated gas and
electric utilities raises an additional $65 million annually for rate assistance.
The funds are administered by the state LIHEAP grantee and supplement
LIHEAP benefits.
- Two utilities have arrearage forgiveness programs in conjunction with a state LIHEAP
pilot program to reduce arrearages. The client, utility and state LIHEAP each pay 1/3 of
arrearages. Leveraging figures reflect the amount paid for arrearages by the utilities.
LEVERAGING
2001: $5.2 million