ComEd Launches New Low-Income Assistance Program HEAL to Help Customers with Unexpected Medical Expenses Pay Their Electric Bill

11 Mayo 2016, 00:00 AM CDT

ComEd legislation would continue CARE program beyond 2016

CHICAGO–(BUSINESS WIRE)–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.