Following the introduction of low-income discount programs for Illinois’ major gas utilities and private water companies, Commonwealth Edison (ComEd) will be rolling out its own discount program in January of 2026. This program is required under the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) and will provide monthly electric-bill discounts for eligible customers.
Who is eligible for these electric-bill discounts?
Customers of ComEd whose incomes are at or below 300 percent of the Federal Poverty Line (FPL).
Customers who receive Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) benefits (for households that are at or below 60 percent of the state median income) will be automatically enrolled in this discount program, so a good first step is to confirm if you qualify for LIHEAP. LIHEAP also qualifies you for your gas utility’s LID (for customers of Peoples, North Shore, Nicor, and Ameren Illinois). Stacking these three benefits can provide significant financial support for your utility bills.
Important: If you earn too much to qualify for LIHEAP, you might still qualify for the LID program. Please review the eligibility requirements below and explore applying.
How does the LID work?
The LID program is a five-tiered system with a percentage-based discount associated with each tier. The amount of the discount will depend on the household’s income. ComEd has not yet announced the discount percentages that will be available for each tier. However, this information should become available as the program gets implemented in January.
How do I know what Tier I’m in?
Use the chart below to estimate your household income level for the past 30 days and your tier in the LID program. The chart can help you estimate eligibility, and the application process will confirm it. (A more comprehensive chart is linked here.)
| Number of people in Household | Tier 1:0-50% FPL | Tier 2:51-100% FPL | Tier 3:101-150% FPL | Tier 4:151-200% FPL | Tier 5:201-300% FPL |
| 1 | Up to $652 | $653 to $1,304 | $1,305 to $1,956 | $1,957 to $2,608 | $2,609 to $3,913 |
| 2 | Up to $881 | $882 to $1,763 | $1,764 to $2,644 | $2,645 to $3,525 | $3,526 to $5,288 |
| 3 | Up to $1,110 | $1,111 to $2,221 | $2,222 to $3,331 | $3,332 to $4,442 | $4,443 to $6,663 |
| 4 | Up to $1,340 | $1,341 to $2,679 | $2,680 to $4,019 | $4,020 to $5,358 | $5,359 to $8,038 |
| 5 | Up to $1,569 | $1,570 to $3,138 | $3,139 to $4,706 | $4,707 to $6,275 | $6,276 to $9,413 |
| 6 | Up to $1,798 | $1,799 to $3,596 | $3,597 to $5,394 | $5,395 to $7,192 | $7,193 to $10,788 |
| 7 | Up to $2,027 | $2,028 to $4,054 | $4,055 to $6,081 | $6,082 to $8,108 | $8,109 to $12,163 |
| 8 | Up to $2,256 | $2,257 to $4,513 | $4,514 to $6,769 | $6,770 to $9,025 | $9,026 to $13,538 |
How do I apply?
There are two ways to apply, if you think your household qualifies (at or below 300 percent of the FPL):
- Tiers 1-4: Eligible households with income at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level are eligible for LIHEAP benefits and, additionally, will automatically receive the ComEd LID. To receive an LID discount, those households must apply for LIHEAP through their local Community Action Agency. To get more information on how to locate a household’s Community Action Agency, visit PowerBillDiscount.com. At this website, maintained by the Illinois Association of Community Action Agencies, visitors can input their address and find their Community Action Agency. You can also call the LIHEAP hotline, 1-833-711-0374.
Important: According to ComEd, if you are 1) an electric customer of ComEd, and 2) you have applied for and received LIHEAP benefits since 2024, you will automatically receive the LID discount beginning on your January 2026 bill. If you qualify for LIHEAP in 2026, you will receive the LID discount in 1-2 billing cycles.
- Tier 5: Households with incomes that fall under Tier 5 do not qualify for LIHEAP, but can still receive a discount. To receive the Tier 5 discount, you can either apply through your local Community Action Agency, or self-certify through ComEd’s Smart Assistance Manager online tool at ComEd.com/EnergySavings. Please note, the self-certification process will not become available until Jan. 1, 2026. After you are approved for the LID, you will receive the discount on your bill in 1-2 billing cycles.
Note: There is no charge to apply and receive a discount.
How is the LID funded?
The LID is funded by a charge on the bills of all residential, commercial and industrial customers, including those who receive the discount.
CUB believes utilities should be making a significant contribution of shareholder funds to this program. If you have questions/concerns about the LID program, please call the ICC, at 1-800-524-0795.
How long will my discount be active?
Once you are approved to receive the ComEd LID you will receive a monthly discount on your bill for up to 24 months (the rest of the current year plus the entirety of the next program year). Customers in Tiers 1-4 must recertify by re-applying for LIHEAP. Customers in Tier 5 will remain in the program for 2 years, and receive information on how to recertify 60 days before their enrollment expires.
Is there a Low-Income Discount Program for gas or water customers?
Yes! There are existing low-income discount programs for gas utilities (Ameren Illinois, Nicor Gas, North Shore Gas and Peoples Gas), as well as for customers of the two biggest private water utilities in Illinois (Aqua Illinois and Illinois American Water). These programs are similar to the ComEd LID, with tiered discounts available for qualifying customers. For more information on these programs and how to apply, see CUB’s previous blog posts on the gas and water programs. Ameren Illinois is expected to release their own program for electric customers later this year.
