Articles under Coronavirus Updates
Lakeview Township Property Tax Exemptions and Appeals Workshop
Relief available to residential and business customers struggling due to COVID-19 pandemic
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.
Mayor Lightfoot, CDPH and BACP Reinstate Targeted COVID-19 Restrictions to Help Combat Recent Rise in Community Cases
Office Reopening Hours
Monday: 8:00 a.m – 1:00 p.m.
Tuesday: 1:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Wednesday: 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Thursday: 1:00 p.m. – 6:00 p.m.
Friday: 8:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Taverns and Consumption on Premises-Incidental Activity Licensees to Close by 12:00 a.m.
As City Enters Phase Four of Reopening Framework, Ticketing Enforcement Ramps Up to Normal Operations
Beginning this month, the City will ramp up normal enforcement of certain vehicle violations that were temporarily suspended due to the COVID-19 outbreak. Ticket enforcement will resume citywide for street sweeping on July 1, while booting will commence in early July, City sticker and Residential Parking Permit violations will be enforced mid-month and expired vehicle registration enforcement will begin in October.
Since March 18, when the City began sheltering in place in response to the coronavirus pandemic, the Lightfoot Administration temporarily suspended debt collection, non-safety vehicle impoundments and the issuance of compliance tickets to provide relief to residents experiencing increased financial pressure from the COVID-19 global pandemic. During the early stages of the reopening plan, the Department of Finance began notifying motorists about their outstanding debt and offering to restructure or restart their payment plans to avoid default. Now that the City has entered phase four of the reopening framework, debt collection and payment plan defaults will also resume.
The City encourages anyone who may need assistance with outstanding debt to visit New Start Chicago at www.Chicago.gov/newstartchicago where residents can sign up for flexible payment plans for tickets and utility bills with a lower down payment and up to 60 months to repay amounts due. Residents can learn more or make payments online at www.Chicago.gov/finance.
Ticketing enforcement dates to remember:
| Enforcement Date | Violation Type |
|
July 1 |
Street Sweeping |
| July 6 | Booting |
| July 16 | Expired City Sticker & Residential Parking Permit |
| October 2 | Expired Vehicle Registration* |
Special Enrollment Periods for people who may have lost their employer-sponsored health care coverage
As Illinois continues to experience job losses as a result of the pandemic, the Illinois Department of Insurance and Get Covered Illinois are sharing vital information for those who have lost their job-based health insurance about an available option to purchase health care coverage under the Affordable Care Act (ACA).
The Affordable Care Act Health Insurance Marketplace provides a Special Enrollment Period (SEP) for anyone who loses their employer-based health insurance coverage due to job loss. Job loss is considered a “Qualifying Life Event” which allows for special enrollment. Some people may even qualify for subsidies, such as tax credits, that can help reduce premiums and other expenses.
The following website – https://getcovered.illinois.gov/en/Pages/SpecialEnrollmentPeriods.aspx – provides consumer fact sheets, FAQs, and contact information in multiple languages describing the various health insurance options and how to enroll. There are also public service announcement PDFs in multiple languages that can be downloaded and posted or shared.
While Special Enrollment Periods make it possible to enroll at any time for those who qualify, the traditional open enrollment period for 2021 health insurance plans on the ACA Marketplace begins November 1, 2020 and ends December 15, 2020. For more information about any of these options, please visit the website or call Get Covered Illinois at (800)318-2596.
Please share this link on your own website and with your social networks.
Dine Out West Lakeview
Cubs 2020 Schedule
The Cubs will open their 60-game season Friday, July 24, at 6:10 p.m. CDT against the Milwaukee Brewers at Wrigley Field.