Ameren Illinois invests $8 million into bill payment assistance with Fresh Start program

Customers of Ameren Illinois could gain up to $700 to help them pay energy bills during the era of COVID-19, as part of an $8 million bill payment assistance program known as Fresh Start.

The goal is to reduce or eliminate past-due account balances as people struggle to make ends meet during the pandemic. Fresh Start launched on July 9 for qualified customers, with income qualifications based on family size.

“This has been a very difficult stretch for many of our customers,” Richard Mark, chairman and president of Ameren Illinois, said. “While we’re seeing some indications that the economy is improving and people are getting back to work, the need for assistance remains high. We’re glad to be in a position to provide additional financial support and offer a fresh start for customers who are most in need.”

Customers with outstanding account balances can work with Ameren to create extended payment schedules, with repayment terms stretched up to 24 months. From among the company’s 1.2 million electric and 800,000 natural gas customers, this could help bridge the gap. For example, a family of four earning up to $4,367 per month could get up to $400 for electric bills and up to $300 for natural gas bills under the program. The same family with an income up to $7,642 could get up to $200 for electric bills and $150 for natural gas bills.

There are caveats, though: applicants at the lower bracket must have first received assistance from the Illinois Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program, while those at the higher bracket will be administered by the Energy Assistance Foundation. Still, Ameren reports that nearly 5,000 customers have received bill payment assistance in this way so far.