Just as Democrats want to end Illinois flat rate income tax, the state’s biggest electric company, Com Ed, is announcing a shift of who pays what.
The Sun-Times reports,
ComEd discounts: Thousands of lower-income residents in the Chicago area will be eligible for new discounts on their electric bills starting next year as energy costs soar.
“The discounts are subsidized by other ratepayers,..
The article includes the following:
“The gas and electricity discounts are supposed to be calculated to ensure energy costs don’t exceed 6% of household income…”
The details are here.
Supporting only some customers.
Customers with a household income of up to 300% of the federal poverty (FPL) are eligible for ComEd’s LID. Higher discounts will be given to customers with lower incomes, based on the below five tiers.
- Tier 1: 0% to 50% FPL
- Tier 2: 51% to 100% FPL
- Tier 3: 101% to 150% FPL
- Tier 4: 151% to 200% FPL
- Tier 5: Up to 300% FPL
How do I enroll in the LID Program?
Customers in tiers 1-4 who have been approved to receive Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) funding or Percent of Income Payment Plan (PIPP) since October 2024 will automatically be enrolled in ComEd’s LID program. Customers who are approved for a LIHEAP grant in 2026 and beyond will automatically be enrolled in ComEd’s LID. To ensure LID enrollment in January 2026, qualifying customers should reach out to their local administering agency (LAA) to enroll in LIHEAP, automatically enrolling them in the LID Program.
If your income is below 300% of the FPL and you do not qualify for LIHEAP, which is income tier 5 above, you can enroll in one of two ways: visit your LAA now, or beginning next year, self-certify for LID through ComEd’s Smart Assistance Manager online tool at ComEd.com/EnergySavings. If you need to self-certify, keep in mind that this process will not be available until the LID program launches on Jan. 1, 2026.
How will the discount show up on my bill?
Beginning next year, qualifying income-eligible ComEd customers will see a line item labeled “Low-Income Discount” on their bill. Income eligible customers who have received a LIHEAP grant since 2024 will see the line item labeled “Low-Income Discount” starting with their January 2026 bill. Income eligible customers who qualify for LIHEAP grants in 2026 will see the line item in 1-2 billing cycles.
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But, there will not be a line on bills of those ratepayers providing the subsidy showing the amount beig paid to subsidize others.
