Financial assistance with electric service is now available for low-income households in Madison County.

Image by Svilen Milev

Applications for the Madison County Summer Energy Assistance Program are now being accepted at seven locations, listed below, Madison County Chairman Alan  Dunstan announced today.

To be eligible, low-income households must meet one of several criteria.

A member of the household has a medical condition that can be improved by air conditioning, such as asthma, emphysema, respiratory allergies, coronary disease or terminal illness. A doctor’s certification letter, dated within the previous 90 days, stating that the medical condition of the applicant would be aggravated by extreme heat is required.

A household with at least one member who is age 60 or older, or at least one child under the age of 6. Households in which someone in the household is receiving social security disability benefits or has a pending determination case at the Social Security Administration, and meets the income requirements, may be eligible. A letter of determination from the Social Security Administration, or receipt of social security disability benefit statement, is required.

Income eligibility criteria are:

Households that receive Percentage of Income Payment Plan benefits for electric expenses are not eligible for summer energy assistance, a Madison County Board spokesperson said in a released statement. Households that received PIPP benefits anytime during the period from September 2013 through August, 31, 2014 are also not eligible.

Applicants should contact the nearest facility for an appointment. Locations accepting applications are:

Funding for the program is provided by the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program. The Madison County Community Development Energy Assistance Office is administering the program