Ameren Illinois customers with past due balances are being encouraged to take advantage of a limited time opportunity to establish a repayment plan by making a 10 percent down payment.
“We want to help our customers who have fallen behind on their utility bills by making it easier to start a payment plan,” said Marianne Luna, Ameren Illinois Customer Service assistant manager. “From now to March 31, eligible customers can pay 10 percent of their outstanding balance and then the remaining amount in monthly installments.”
To establish a payment plan, customers should call Ameren Illinois Customer Service at 1-800-755-5000.
Beginning April 1, customers with outstanding balances will be required to pay 25 percent of the amount owed before they can establish a monthly payment plan.
Additionally, some customers may be eligible to receive assistance through LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program). LIHEAP provides energy services payment assistance to eligible low-income households, elderly persons and those with disabilities. LIHEAP information is available by calling the Energy Assistance Hotline at 1-877-411-9276.
Another source of assistance is Warm Neighbors Cool Friends, a program of the Energy Assistance Foundation. The program is designed to help those who generally do not qualify for federal or state heating assistance. Detailed information is available on the program website (WarmNeighborsCoolFriends.org).
The Ameren Illinois ActOnEnergy® program helps customers gain greater control over their energy bills. The program provides free advice, as well as rebates and financial incentives. For more information on residential programs, visit ActOnEnergy.com, call 1-866-838-6918 or send an e-mail to: ActOnEnergyResidential@ameren.com.
Residential customers with past due amounts and have failed to establish a payment plan or have broken a payment plan agreement will be subject to service disconnection beginning April 2.
“We are offering customers this special opportunity because we want to avoid service disconnections,” Luna said. “Service only will be disconnected after we have attempted to contact the customer and issued a final disconnection notice.”
Ameren Illinois delivers energy to 1.2 million electric and 813,000 natural gas customers in downstate Illinois, and our mission is to meet their energy needs in a safe, reliable, efficient and environmentally responsible manner. Our service area covers more than 1,200 communities and 43,700 square miles. For more information, visit AmerenIllinois.com.
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Contacts: Leigh Morris, 1.217.535.5228, lmorris@ameren.com; Victoria Busch, 1.618.346.1286, vbusch@ameren.com, Stacey Stockton-Shangraw, sstockton-shangraw@ameren.com