ComEd Reopens Financial Assistance Satellite Sites to Continue Administering its CARE Funds to Eligible Customers

Published: September 14, 2015

CHICAGO (Sept. 14, 2015) – Today ComEd is reopening satellite sites in local communities to continue administering available financial assistance funds through its CARE programs. With the reopening of CEDA and LIHEAP agencies, which also administer ComEd’s CARE programs, the temporary satellite sites provide additional access in low-income communities where customers can apply for help paying their electric bills. Nearly $1 million remain available for distribution in 2015.

The 12 satellite locations open on Monday, Sept. 14 and will continue to operate through Sept. 25, or until CARE funds are completely exhausted. ComEd reminds customers in need that the utility has funds devoted to helping eligible military families, veterans, and senior citizens, as well as individuals who may have experienced a job loss, illness, disability, or other hardship and are in need of help paying their electric bill. This is the fourth consecutive year in which ComEd has dedicated $10 million in financial assistance funds, and the company is looking to extend this assistance through 2021 under new legislation, known as ComEd’s Future Energy Plan.

“Opening CARE satellite sites and hosting energy fairs this summer helped provide needed support to hundreds of customers, especially after the temporary shutdown of CEDA agencies,” said Val Jensen, senior vice president of Customer Operations, ComEd. “In an effort administer the remaining funds, we are reopening our community locations for a two-week period to provide more places where eligible customers can go to apply for this help.”

CARE Programs

Residential Special Hardship Program – Customers with a past due balance on their electric bill and experiencing a hardship may be eligible to receive a one-time grant toward their electric bill every two years. Grant amounts may vary. A hardship can include job loss, illness, disability, or other hardship.

CHAMP (ComEd Helps Activated/Veteran Military Personnel) – This program provides bill-payment assistance to deployed members of the military and honorably discharged veterans who have fallen behind on their bill and who reside within ComEd’s northern Illinois service territory. CHAMP offers a package of benefits, including bill payment assistance of up to $1,000 while funds are available, a deferred payment plan, extended payment due dates, exemption from late charges, deposit reduction and budget payment plans.

Non-Profit Assistance Programs – ComEd extended this program to include all non-profit organizations, including faith-based organizations. This program typically provides a one-time variable grant once every two years of up to $2,000 for 501 (c)(3) non-profit organizations that are experiencing a hardship.

Satellite Sites

Cook County Fellowship Baptist Church	9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.	4543 S. Princeton Ave.	Chicago
Back of the Yards Neighborhood Council	9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.	1751 W. 47th St. (2nd floor)	Chicago
El Valor’s Technology Center	9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.	1950 W. 21st St.	Chicago
Enlace Chicago	9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.	2329 S. Troy	Chicago
North and Talman Elderly Apartments	9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.	1600 N. Talman Ave	Chicago
Thornton Township	9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.	333 E. 162nd St	South Holland
Bethlehem Star Church	9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.	9231 S Cottage Grove Ave"	Chicago
South Austin Coalition	9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.	5071 W Congress Parkway	Chicago
Heritage International Christian Church	9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.	5308 West North Ave.	Chicago
Mt Vernon Baptist Church	9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.	2622 W. Jackson Blvd.	Chicago
TriedStone Full Gospel Baptist Church	9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.	1415 W. 104th Street	Chicago
Grace and Peace Community Center	9:30 a.m. - 3:30 p.m.	2100 North Kildare	Chicago

Customers can visit the nearest satellite site, CEDA (Cook County) or LIHEAP (Suburbs) agency to apply for assistance. For a list of social service agencies accepting applications, please call CEDA at (800) 571-2332 or LIHEAP at (877) 411-9276 or visit ComEd.com.

The ComEd Smart Ideas Energy Efficiency Program also helps customers save money and manage their energy bills. Since its inception the program has saved customers more than $1 billion. During a recent regional energy auction, ComEd’s energy efficiency programs cleared $57 million for the 2018-19 procurement year; ComEd will pass along these savings to our customers. And earlier this year, ComEd also filed for a delivery rate reduction with the ICC that will decrease customer rates by an unprecedented $50 million in January of 2016.

For more information on ComEd’s financial assistance programs, including eligibility requirements please visit ComEd.com/CARE or call 1-888-806-CARE (2273) – press option 2.

Keywords: CARE, CEDA, ComEd, financial assistance