Parent-Led Victories
Discount Rates Maintained 
A victory for families! Through the advocacy and organizing efforts of COFI and POWER-PAC IL, National Consumer Law Center (NCLC), and Legal Action Chicago, the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) upheld the discount rates for Nicor Gas and Ameren customers. This means that, no matter how high gas rates climb, families receiving the discounted rates – that COFI and POWER-PAC IL fought for and won in 2023 – will continue to pay no more than 3% of their household’s monthly income. Thank you to the ICC for siding with and protecting ALL families’ right to affordable utility services!
Decreased Rate Hikes Additionally, shout out to Elgin and East St. Louis parent leaders (pictured below) who have been sharing concerns about the rising cost of gas! The ICC has ordered both Nicor and Ameren to lower their rate hike requests by millions of dollars – Nicor by a reduction of more than $146 million and Ameren by $55.8 million. This is what the power of parent-led advocacy can achieve!
Winter Moratoriums Start Early Another great victory – ComEd, Ameren, Nicor Gas, and Peoples/N.Shore Gas all have started their winter shutoff moratoriums early this year! This means that, even if a customer receives a disconnect notice, no shutoffs can occur until March 31, 2026.
Elgin parents at a Nicor Gas forum
East St. Louis parent speaking at the Future Energy Forum, photo by Mena Darre
Apply to Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to Help Make these Victories a Reality (or to Save on Gas and Electric Bills)
Many families who are economically challenged can experience the benefits of the above-mentioned victories much easier if they are enrolled in the LIHEAP program. In order to take advantage of the gas discount rates, any family enrolled in LIHEAP will automatically be enrolled in the gas discount programs at Nicor Gas, Ameren, and Peoples Gas that COFI and POWER-PAC IL parents have fought for with our partners! Additionally, for ComEd Electric customers, the discount rate program begin January 1! LIHEAP recipients will automatically be enrolled in this electric utility discount rate program. Finally, LIHEAP-eligible families should continue to apply for LIHEAP benefits while the disconnection moratorium is in place to help reduce any utility bill arrearages and to get the benefits they’re entitled to. For more information about LIHEAP, including how to apply, visit: https://dceo.illinois.
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