ELIGIBLE Americans are in line to receive handy checks worth up to $150 as an energy company dishes out a new round of bill credits.
The checks will go out under a bill payment assistance program for customers who meet the income requirements.
Tens of millions of Americans struggle to afford their energy bills as costs rise[/caption]
An energy company is handing out one-time grants worth $150 to help its customers[/caption]
Tens of millions of Americans are struggling to pay their energy bills as utility costs outpace inflation thanks to increased demand, rising supply costs, and extreme summer heat.
Nearly 75% of consumers are concerned that their electric and gas utility bills will rise even more this year, per a new poll from PowerLines.
The financial stress of energy bills, which run Americans thousands of dollars annually, are pushing many households to forgo essential expenses such as food and medicine to keep their power on.
Millions of families have also reported keeping their homes at unsafe or unhealthy temperatures to cut down on costs.
In a bid to lend a helping hand to its cash-strapped customers, energy company Ameren Illinois is offering one-time $150 grants to eligible customers who have fallen behind on their energy payments.
The funds stem from an Ameren program that is handing out $4 million in assistance to agencies in Illinois and Missouri as families grapple with higher energy bills.
The availability of energy resources in the Ameren Illinois service territory experienced a recent reduction, resulting in a spike in the cost of electricity during the summer months.
The increased supply costs, paired with increased demand for energy due to the high temperatures, have pushed higher-than-usual electric bills for many Ameren Illinois users.
Ameren Illinois’ summer electricity price, for example, rose by roughly 50% on June 1, bumping up the average customer’s monthly bills by 18% to 22% over the summer, or around $38 to $46 each month, per Citizens Utility Board.
The new program is an effort to give customers back some of the extra money they spend, with the $4 million coming on top of the almost $58 million in assistance that Ameren Illinois users have received so far in 2025.
HOW CAN I APPLY?
Ameren customers who qualify for LIHEAP are being encouraged to reach out to their local Illinois LIHEAP agency to determine their eligibility and apply for the payment.
Although this program is separate from LIHEAP – a federally funded program that offers financial assistance to cover energy costs – they have been tasked with distributing the money.
“Our Illinois LIHEAP partners are stepping up to help us distribute much needed bill payment grants to customers who are experiencing financial difficulties due to higher electricity prices,” said Joe Solari, vice president of customer experience at Ameren, in a community announcement.
“We encourage customers who have fallen behind on their bills to reach out to a local LIHEAP agency to determine their eligibility and apply for funding.”
Energy bills: by the numbers
- 64% of Americans whose household pays a monthly electric and gas utility bill say those bills have increased compared to a year ago.
- 63% of billpayers indicate that their electric and gas utility bills are adding to their financial stress.
- 48% of all Americans say that rising electric and gas utility bills for consumers like them is a bad sign for the economy.
- 60% of Americans say they are not familiar with the state or local regulatory body that determines their utility bills. In a separate open-ended question, around 9 in 10 respondents could not correctly name their specific regulatory body.
Source: PowerLines
Ameren customers can visit Help Illinois Families or call 1-833-711-0374 while funds are available.
HELPING HAND
In addition to Ameren’s new relief program, the company is offering even more financial and energy-saving opportunities.
For example, in September and October, the energy company is hosting local community development workshops to provide advice on in-home energy saving strategies.
Ameren Illinois is hosting an event on Thursday, October 2, from 9 am to 4 pm at the Carbondale Civic Center located at 200 South Illinois Avenue, where attendees can score a $300 energy bill credit.
Those struggling with their energy costs are also being encouraged to apply for financial aid via LIHEAP, with the new season starting on Wednesday, October 1.
In addition to receiving a one-time $150 benefit on their energy bill, LIHEAP-eligible Ameren customers will automatically be approved for a credit on their monthly gas bill via the Natural Gas Service Discount program.
If you’re looking to cut down on your energy costs, you can save $200 by using an exact laundry temperature to avoid the “real energy hog.”
Plus, read up on the four energy bill credits worth up to $3,200 that Americans can automatically get in October.
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