Ameren Illinois residential customers who have fallen behind on their utility bill may benefit from programs and assistance being offered by the utility.
For a limited time, eligible Ameren Illinois customers with past due balances can establish a repayment plan by making a 10 percent down payment. Beginning April 1, most customers with outstanding balances will be required to pay 25 percent of the amount owed before they can establish a monthly payment plan.
“We understand some of our customers are facing tough economic times. This payment plan is an opportunity for those customers to get back on track,” said Shirley Stennis, director of Customer Service for Ameren Illinois.
To establish a payment plan, customers can call Ameren Illinois Customer Service at 1-800-755-5000, select 'billing and payment' from the menu, and follow the voice prompts. Customers may also set up an agreement by visiting AmerenIllinois.com.
Residential customers with past due amounts who have failed to establish a payment plan or have broken a payment plan agreement will be subject to service disconnection beginning April 1.
“We are offering customers an opportunity to avoid service disconnections,” Stennis said. “Disconnection of service is always a last resort.”
Some customers may be eligible to receive assistance through programs such as Warm Neighbors Cool Friends, a program of the Energy Assistance Foundation, which is funded primarily through the contributions of Ameren employees and customers. 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). Since December 2015, Ameren Illinois has allocated $1 million in energy assistance grants to 27 different agencies across the Ameren Illinois territory to assist low-income customers with their utility bills.
Ameren Illinois also offers rebates and incentives on measures to make a home more energy efficient. Through Ameren Illinois’ energy efficiency programs, customers can 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 AmerenIllinois.com/programs, call 1-866-838-6918 or send an e-mail to: ActOnEnergyResidential@ameren.com.
About Ameren Illinois
Ameren Illinois delivers energy to 1.2 million electric and 816,000 natural gas customers in downstate Illinois, and our mission is to power the quality of life. Its service area covers more than 1,200 communities and 43,700 square miles. For more information, visit AmerenIllinois.com. Follow us on Twitter @AmerenIllinois and Facebook.
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