NAPERVILLE, IL – October 12, 2023 – Applications are now open for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) for qualified residential customers who are over the age of 60, are disabled or have children under the age of six to receive financial assistance to pay their energy bills, without a need for a past-due balance or disconnection notice.
LIHEAP is a federally funded bill payment assistance program that helps low- and fixed-income families meet their energy needs during the winter heating season. These funds are delivered to qualified residential customers in a lump sum from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and do not need to be repaid.
To qualify for LIHEAP, a household’s combined income for the 30 days prior to application must be at or below 200% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. For renters, heat and/or electric must be included in the rent, and rent must be greater than 30 percent of total income to be eligible for benefits.
LIHEAP enrollment for customers who are disconnected or are in imminent threat of disconnection will begin on Wednesday, Nov. 1. Open enrollment for all residential customers will begin on Friday, Dec. 1.
For eligibility and to apply, visit www.LIHEAPIllinois.com or call 877-411-9276 (WARM).
In addition to LIHEAP, Nicor Gas currently offers additional resources to help customers pay and manage their natural gas bill and save on energy costs:
To learn more about the above listed available bill payment assistance programs, visit nicorgas.com/energyassistanceinfo.
In addition, our Community Connection Center (C3), helps customers navigate all the above options, as well as basic need resources. Customers can contact the C3 team at nicorgas.com/CCC or self-serve online and answer anonymous questions to get recommendations by visiting the Community Assistance Navigator tool.
About Nicor Gas
Nicor Gas is one of four natural gas distribution companies of Southern Company Gas, a wholly owned subsidiary of Southern Company (NYSE: SO). Nicor Gas serves more than 2.3 million customers in a service territory that encompasses most of the northern third of Illinois, excluding the city of Chicago. For more information, visit nicorgas.com.
About Southern Company Gas
Southern Company Gas is a wholly owned subsidiary of Atlanta-based Southern Company (NYSE:SO), America’s premier energy company. Southern Company Gas serves approximately 4.3 million natural gas customers through its regulated distribution companies in four states with approximately 600,000 retail customers through its companies that market natural gas. Other businesses include investments in interstate pipelines and ownership and operation of natural gas storage facilities. For more information, visit southerncompanygas.com.
Media Contact:
Allison Gregoire
470.733.2076
aegregoi@southernco.com