ComEd Encourages Customers to Apply for LIHEAP Winter Assistance

Some customers also may be eligible for ComEd CARE assistance programs

CHICAGO, Aug. 27 /PRNewswire/ -- ComEd wants its customers to know
beginning Sept. 1, low-income seniors and customers that live in households
with a person with a disability can apply for LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy
Assistance Program) funds for the 2008-09 winter heating season.
The application period for LIHEAP funds for the upcoming winter heating
season will continue through April 30, 2009, or until funds are exhausted.
Households disconnected for non-payment may begin applying Oct. 1, while all
other customers can apply starting Nov. 1.
LIHEAP funds come in the form of a one-time credit on customers' bills to
assist payment of winter heating costs. The program primarily is funded by the
U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, and is administered by the State
of Illinois and delegate community agencies. In July, ComEd donated $1 million
to support the LIHEAP cooling program, benefiting about 6,500 homes, as part
of ComEd CARE programs.
"ComEd customers who are eligible for LIHEAP also are encouraged to apply
for ComEd CARE program assistance as a way to further manage their electricity
costs," said Anne Pramaggiore, ComEd executive vice president, Regulatory,
Customer Operations and External Affairs. "We expanded the eligibility
requirements and there are dollars available as we hope to provide a total of
$18 million in assistance this year to customers most in need."
ComEd offers a variety of assistance options, including budget billing and
deferred payment plans. Some customers may be eligible to enroll in multiple
programs simultaneously. Programs include:
-- Residential Special Hardship: Provides a one-time grant of up to
$1,000 for residential customers with household income up to 400 percent of
the poverty level ($82,600 for a family of four) that identify a hardship
issue. The 2008 program expands eligibility to reach additional customers.
This program will run until funds are depleted.
-- CHAMP (ComEd Helps Activated Military Personnel): Assists members of
the U.S. National Guard and Reserve on active duty with managing their
electric service bills.
Last winter, more than 186,000 ComEd households, or about six percent of
the utility's residential customer base, took advantage of LIHEAP assistance.
For more information on LIHEAP or other bill payment options, call
1-800-Edison-1 (1-800-334-7661).
To apply for LIHEAP, contact one of the 15 local administering agencies
across ComEd's service territory (see attachment for a list of the agencies).
In Chicago and suburban Cook County, the number is 1-800-571-2332. Outside the
Chicago area, the number is 1-877-411-9276. Customers also can find the local
administering agency nearest them by visiting http://www.liheapillinois.com or
http://www.ComEd.com.
Commonwealth Edison Company (ComEd) is a unit of Chicago-based Exelon
Corporation (NYSE: EXC), one of the nation's largest electric utilities with
approximately 5.4 million customers. ComEd provides service to approximately
3.8 million customers across Northern Illinois, or 70 percent of the state's
population.
CHICAGO AND COOK COUNTY LIHEAP INFORMATION
Chicago & Suburban Cook County CEDA
(Community and Economic Development, Assn.)
(312)-456-4100

SUBURBS (COUNTY, AGENCY and PHONE NUMBER)
Kane -- Community Contacts, Inc.
(630)232-9530

DeKalb -- Community Contacts, Inc.
(815)758-3835

DuPage -- DuPage County Dept. of Human Resources
(630)407-6500

Ford, Iroquois & Vermilion -- East Central IL. Community Action Program
(217)443-2705

Kankakee -- Kankakee County Community Services
(815)933-7883

Kendall -- Kendall-Grundy Community Action
(630)553-9100, Ext.107

Grundy -- Kendall-Grundy Community Action
(815)941-3262

Lake -- Lake County Community Action Project
(847)249-4330

McHenry -- McHenry County Housing Authority
(815)338-7752

Livingston -- Mid-Central Community Action, Inc.
(815)844-3201

JoDavies, Stephenson -- Northwestern Illinois Community Action Agency
(815)232-3141

Henry, Mercer & Rock Island -- Project Now Community Action Agency
(309)793-6391

Boone & Winnebago -- Rockford Human Services Department
(815)987-5501

Carroll, LaSalle, Lee, Ogle, Marshall, Putnam, Stark & Whiteside
Tri-County Opportunities Council Bureau
(800)323-5434

Tazwell, Woodford -- Tazwood Community Services, Inc.
(309)266-9941

Will -- Will County Center for Community Concerns
(815)722-0722, ext.3

SOURCE Commonwealth Edison Company

ComEd Media Relations, +1-312-394-3500