News

Peoples Gas is providing additional benefits to assist customers facing economic hardship due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The Illinois Commerce Commission, Illinois utilities and consumer advocates announced an agreement creating these benefits on June 19. The following benefits are available as part of the agreement.

Residential customers

Reconnection of customers disconnected prior to COVID-19 emergency
Residential customers whose natural gas service was disconnected in 2019 and reside at the same premises, will have the option to have their service restored if they contact us at 866-556-6001 by Aug. 25, 2020. Reconnection fees for these customers are waived until Dec. 31, 2020.

New Bill Payment Assistance Program
Peoples Gas has committed $12 million in additional assistance for customers. Beginning July 6, 2020, residential heating customers with an arrearage on their Peoples Gas account who have received a Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) or Share the Warmth grant since October 2019 will receive a Bill Payment Assistance Program (BPAP) grant toward their natural gas bill. A credit up to the amount of the customer’s arrearage, or $500 — whichever is less — will automatically be applied to the customer’s account.

Eligible customers who have not yet applied for a LIHEAP or Share the Warmth grant are urged to do so, as they may also receive a BPAP grant. Additionally, a customer whose account remains in arrears after all credits have been applied should contact us at 866-556-6001 to set up a payment arrangement.

Extended deferred payment arrangements
Residential customers who have fallen behind on their bills are eligible for an 18-month payment plan. Customers receiving Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) support or expressing hardship are eligible for a 24-month payment plan. These more flexible deferred payment arrangements are available until Dec. 31, 2020.

Learn whether you qualify for LIHEAP.

Residential customers’ down payments for the more flexible plans are capped at 10% of the deferred payment amount until Dec. 31, 2020.

LIHEAP-eligible customers and customers indicating hardship will not need to make down payments to enter into a flexible deferred payment plan until Dec. 31, 2020.

Customers who default on a flexible plan or whose financial condition changes may receive a one-time revised deferred payment plan with similar terms if they contact Peoples Gas before Aug. 1, 2021.

Commercial and industrial sales service customers may enroll in or renegotiate deferred payment plans until Aug. 31, 2020. Peoples Gas will offer a six-month deferred payment arrangement with a 30% down payment.

Suspension of new deposit assessment
Peoples Gas will not assess new deposits to new and existing residential customers until Aug. 25, 2020. For customers eligible for LIHEAP or indicating financial hardship, no new deposits will be assessed until Dec. 31, 2020.