Bill Assistance Programs

Payment Arrangements	If you owe a previous past due amount on your current account, you might (at our discretion) be allowed to enter into a payment arrangement that will allow you to spread payments on the past due amount over a period of time. The precise terms of the payment arrangement are determined on a case-by-case basis, but we will work with you in every way we can to make the payment plan as reasonable as possible for you. For more information, call the Customer Service Office at 789-2030.
Project RELIEF	Project RELIEF is a CWLP program that offers financial assistance to customers with overdue electric or water bills who are facing service cut-off due to nonpayment. Qualifying customers must have a total household income for the previous 90 days of no more than 150% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines and must also have exhausted all other sources of assistance including those mentioned below. Customers may be required to cover some portion of their delinquent bills in order to receive help from Project RELIEF. The first step in applying for Project RELIEF is to call the CWLP Project RELIEF Office at 789-2414. The program coordinator will conduct a telephone interview with you to determine if you meet the basic requirements for participation. If you do, an appointment will be scheduled for you with Contact Ministries, which administers the program for CWLP. Sign-up for Project RELIEF starts on or around December 1 of each year. The program runs through May or until funds are exhausted, whichever comes first. Project RELIEF is funded almost entirely by customer and CWLP employee contributions. You can find out more about donating to Project RELIEF elsewhere on this website.
Hand Up	Hand Up is a partnership between CWLP and Land of Lincoln Goodwill Industries that allows qualifying CWLP customers to trade work at Goodwill for credit toward their past-due CWLP bills. A customer with a delinquent account of $400 or less can work off up to 50% of the balance by giving up to 25 hours of time to Goodwill. The utility will then create a payment arrangement by which the customer can pay off the remainder of the overdue amount. Persons participating in or on the waiting list for "Hand Up" are not at risk of having their service cut for nonpayment. Customers who are physically unable to participate in the Hand Up program can have friends or family members work for them. For more information about Hand Up contact the CWLP Customer Service Office by phone at 789-2030 or email at publicinformation@cwlp.com.
LIHEAP	LIHEAP stands for Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program. It is funded by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity and administered by Sangamon County. The program provides qualifying Sangamon County residents with financial help to cover their energy bills. Eligibility is based on income. The LIHEAP office is located in Suite C100, 2833 S. Grand Avenue East (the former Cub Foods building). For more information, call (217) 535-3120.
Capital Township Assistance	Located at 901 S. 11th Street, this local governmental agency provides financial assistance, including help with utility bills, to qualifying residents of Capital Township. Assistance is limited to no more than once every two years. For more information, call the Township Office at (217) 525-1736.
Woodside Township Assistance	Located at 490 North Street, this local governmental agency provides financial assistance, including help with utility bills, to qualifying residents of Woodside Township. For more information, call the Township Office at (217) 522-3712.