ComEd Launches New Low-Income Assistance Program HEAL to Help Customers with Unexpected Medical Expenses Pay Their Electric ...
May 11 2016 - 3:01PM
Business Wire
ComEd legislation would continue CARE program
beyond 2016
For people working to make ends meet, an unanticipated medical
emergency can put an intolerable strain on a budget. Today at a
press conference, ComEd announced a new program to help bring some
relief to customers in need. The Hospital-Based Energy Assistance
& Long-Term Health (HEAL) program expands ComEd’s CARE program
to provide funds to eligible customers facing an unforeseen
extended hospitalization stay and/or long term outpatient care
event.
ComEd is partnering with local hospitals and hospital networks
within its territory to identify participants and streamline
application process to reduce the patient’s burden of going to
their local administration agencies upon discharge after an
extended stay. Current participating hospitals include La Rabida
Children’s Hospital. Other hospitals and networks are signing up to
participate, as well.
“ComEd cares about our customers and we recognize the burden
that unforeseen medical expenses can have on low income families,”
said Val Jensen, senior vice president of customer operations for
ComEd. “The new HEAL program lets us work directly with hospitals
to bring support to patients in need.”
The ComEd CARE programs are focused on helping military
families, veterans, senior citizens and people who may have
experienced a job loss, illness or disability and need help with
paying their electric bills. ComEd also offers assistance to
non-profit organizations that are experiencing a hardship. Under
the Smart Grid law, enacted in 2011, ComEd committed $50 million
for five years to help eligible customers with their utility bills.
2016 is the final year of the program.
“These assistance funds help families who struggle with
financial hardships manage their energy needs and costs. The HEAL
program is bringing greatly needed relief to families experiencing
the difficulties that come with medical issues. I applaud ComEd for
helping people that need it most, through their low-income CARE
programs and hope we can continue this assistance in the future,”
said Senator Kwame Raoul.
As part of the Next Generation Energy Plan legislation
introduced last week, ComEd committed $1 billion of funding for
low-income assistance, mostly through energy efficiency, which
would expand the CARE program for five more years. Following 2016,
without legislative support, the CARE program would end.
“Last year through ComEd’s CARE programs, we were able to help
more than 22,000 customers with financial grants,” said Jensen.
“This is a valuable plan for customers with hardships to find some
peace of mind. We are hopeful that the General Assembly will
consider the legislation and we could continue the CARE program and
bring other benefits to customers.”
For more information on ComEd’s financial assistance programs,
including eligibility requirements please visit ComEd.com/CARE or
call 1-888-806-CARE (2273).
About ComEd
Commonwealth Edison Company (ComEd) is a unit of Chicago-based
Exelon Corporation (NYSE: EXC), the nation’s leading competitive
energy provider, with approximately 10 million customers. ComEd
provides service to approximately 3.8 million customers across
northern Illinois, or 70 percent of the state’s population. For
more information visit ComEd.com, and
connect with the company on Facebook, Twitter and YouTube.
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