Illinois American Water expanding income-based assistance program for residents

BELLEVILLE, Ill. (WCIA) — More people in Illinois will receive help paying their water bill, beginning Tuesday. Illinois American Water said they will increase the income threshold for customers to receive help through a discount program.

American Water’s Income-Based Discount Program aims to support more customers paying their monthly water and wastewater bills. The water utility has partnered with Dollar Energy since 2023 on this discount program.

As a part of this program, approved water and wastewater customers receive a monthly discount on their water and wastewater bill. Starting July 1, the program’s eligibility threshold is moving from 150% of the Federal Poverty Level to 300%.

“The expansion of the Illinois American Water Income-Based Discount Program will help our residential customers who need financial help the most,” Rebecca Losli, President of Illinois American Water, said. “Our goal is to make water and wastewater service affordable to our customers while continuing to make strategic investments in our water and wastewater infrastructure.”

This expansion includes moving from a flat 70% discount on the volumetric/usage charge portion of the bill to a four-tiered approach that provides greater discounts to the people who need help. The four tiers apply to both the usage charges and the customer charge.

Losli also said that feedback from Illinois residents and communities led to Illinois American Water’s expansion of the program, approved by the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC).

“Our customers and community leaders wanted a more inclusive program. We listened, and
so did the ICC,” she said.

For any questions about the program or to apply for the program, people are asked to call Dollar Energy at 888-282-6816 or can apply directly on the company’s website. Once enrolled, people will be required to recertify their number of household members and income information on an annual basis to stay enrolled in the program.

This program is available in addition to Illinois American Water’s H2O Help to Others customer assistance program, which is administered via the local Salvation Army chapter.