Illinois Weatherization and Low-Income Energy Programs
Illinois Weatherization
The Illinois Home Weatherization Assistance Program (IHWAP) is designed to help low income residents save fuel and money, while increasing the comfort of their homes. The IHWAP is administered by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO). Weatherization services are provided by local community action agencies or not-for-profit agencies throughout the state. You may contact the agency provider in your area, to apply for weatherization services. Additional information is available by calling 217-785-2533. For the name of the local administering agency serving your area, call 877-411-9276.| Total number of households receiving assistance in 2006 | 11,219 |
|---|---|
| Percent elderly | 19% |
| Percent with children | 12% |
| Percent with disabilities | 15% |
Illinois Weatherization Overview
The Weatherization Assistance Program Technical Assistance Center (WAPTAC) publishes a summary of funding, contacts, and links to state directives for local weatherization agencies involving standards for service.
Energy and Low-Income Heating Assistance (LIHEAP) in Illinois
Complete List of Illinois's Low-Income Energy Programs
The National Energy Accessibility and Affordability Project (NEAAP) publishes a complete list of the programs available to low-income households in the state, including those funded by federal and state governments, Illinois utilities, and charities. NEAAP publishes this list as part of the LIHEAP Clearinghouse, which is maintained on the National Center for Appropriate Technology Web site and receives support from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services. The list also includes LIHEAP contacts in Illinois. Under federal rules, Illinois can use up to 25% of its LIHEAP funds for weatherization.
State Energy Assistance Programs
The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity also administers low-income energy programs and local agencies offer the following programs:
- Energy Assistance: These one-time payments apply to all income-eligible households. Applicants must prove they are low income and responsible for their home heating costs, or if the applicant is a renter and has no utility bills, then the amount of the applicant's rent must exceed 30% of the household's income.
- Emergency Services: These payments apply to eligible households that are disconnected from their primary and/or secondary (electric) utility(ies), or where the supplier has refused to deliver fuel. The applicant must prove that he/she is low income; responsible for the energy bill from the disconnected utility or the delivered fuel vendor, and has made a good faith effort to maintain these energy services.
- Emergency Furnace Repair/Replacement: This category ensures that the home heating system is safely operational.
City of Chicago Energy Assistance Programs
- The City Of Chicago also offers an Emergency Housing Assistance Program. Emergency repair grants are available to qualified low-income homeowners. This may include repair or replacement of heating units, emergency roof repairs, and other energy saving conservation activities. For more information on these and other programs, call the Department of Housing at 1-312-747-9000.
Illinois Publications and Links
Some of the following documents are available as Adobe Acrobat PDFs. Download Adobe Reader.
DOE Publications
Weatherization Spans the Efficiency Spectrum in Illinois (PDF 112 KB)
DOE's Weatherization Assistance Program publishes this short fact sheets summarizing accomplishments and funding statistics; 2 pp.; October 2001.
More Weatherization Publications
WAPTAC Library
Search the Weatherization Assistance Program Technical Assistance Center library for publications.