Utility programs and help

It helps to know where the utility's part ends and yours begins. Peoples Gas owns and maintains the gas lines up to the meter at your building, whether the meter is inside or outside. Customers are responsible for the pipes that leave the meter and serve the gas appliances on their property. Buried piping can corrode or wear over time, so customer-owned buried gas piping should be inspected periodically by a qualified contractor.

If you have an outdoor meter, keep it clear of debris so it stays reachable and the gas flow is not blocked. What to do about a suspected gas leak is on the gas safety page.

Source: Peoples Gas

Gas and electric utilities offer rebates on efficient heating and cooling equipment. Peoples Gas's 2026 Home Energy Rebate Program requires a Service Classification 1 account at the home. All equipment must be new and meet the program's specifications; used or rebuilt equipment is not eligible, and the old equipment must be removed or permanently disconnected. The existing equipment must still be working when you apply.

Timing matters. For the 2026 program, applications must arrive within 30 days of installation or by December 31, 2026, whichever comes first. Only new products that meet or exceed the standards on the application qualify, as a 2023 consumer fact sheet also explained. Ask your contractor to confirm a model qualifies before you buy, since program specifications can change.

Source: Peoples Gas · Citizens Utility Board

An energy assessment looks at where your home loses energy. According to a July 2025 Citizens Utility Board fact sheet, ComEd residential customers may be eligible for free Home Energy Assessment services. Customers at or below 80 percent of the Area Median Income may qualify for a free in-home assessment. That income limit changes depending on where you live.

Single-family homes, two-flats, condos and townhouses are eligible, and renters in them can join with the landlord's permission. If Peoples Gas or North Shore Gas is your gas utility, the building must have two units or fewer; larger buildings go to the multi-family program. Owners of income-eligible multi-family buildings may qualify for efficiency upgrades in common areas and tenant spaces. One program in the same fact sheet is open to homeowners and owners of buildings of 4 units or less, with a credit score of 640 or more and pre-qualification before buying.

Source: Citizens Utility Board

The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, LIHEAP, helps eligible low-income households pay for home energy, mainly heating in winter. Income limits are set each year based on available funding and may not exceed 60% of the state median income. For customers of ComEd, Nicor Gas, North Shore Gas, Peoples Gas and Ameren Illinois, the household's gross income for the 30 days before applying must be at or below 300% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. You may qualify regardless of immigration status.

For the 2026-2027 season, the application period runs from October 1, 2026 to August 13, 2027, or until funding runs out. Adults 60 and older, people with a disability, families with children 5 and under, and households that are disconnected or facing disconnection within 7 days could start applying on October 1, 2026. All other income-eligible households could start on November 1, 2026. In Chicago, LIHEAP and weatherization are offered through CEDA. You can apply online at helpillinoisfamilies.com during your application month, or through your local agency.

Gather your papers before you apply. You need proof of income for the past 30 days, such as pay stubs or a benefit check. You also need your most recent heating or electric bill from the last 30 days, if you pay for energy directly. If you rent and heat is included in your rent, you may still be eligible, with a copy of your rental agreement showing that. If your household is going to have a utility turned off within 7 days, reconnection assistance may be available.

Source: Illinois DCEO · Illinois Legal Aid Online

Weatherization fixes the home rather than the bill. The Illinois Home Weatherization Assistance Program, IHWAP, helps low-income households save fuel and cut energy costs by making homes and apartments more efficient. To qualify, the household's combined income must be at or below 200% of the federal poverty level. Households with members 60 and over, a member with a disability or children 5 and under are served first.

The work can include air sealing, attic and wall insulation, heating and cooling repair or replacement, and water heater repair or replacement. The program's page lists a maximum of $20,000 per home for energy-related work and $4,000 for health and safety measures, and those limits can change. What gets done is set by a computerized energy analysis, so no two houses get the same work. Heating and cooling systems are cleaned and tuned, or replaced when that is cost justified over their expected life. The program cannot replace roofs or siding, or deal with major plumbing problems.

Plan for some time and a few visits. The program has up to one year from the day you qualify to weatherize your home. The furnace contractor calls first, and once the heating and cooling work is done, another contractor finishes the rest. If you rent, your landlord must sign a consent form first. State evaluations show average savings of 25% statewide.

Source: Illinois DCEO

These programs come with rights. When you apply for energy assistance or weatherization, you have certain appeal rights. If you are unhappy with weatherization work, you have the right to complain, and the first step is an informal conference at the local agency.

Be careful with letters that look official. The state has warned of fake notice of award letters claiming to come from the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity. When in doubt, contact your local agency directly rather than answering the letter.

Source: Illinois DCEO