Springfield, IL (CAPITOL CITY NOW) – City Water, Light and Power (CWLP) customers who need help paying their bill could qualify for assistance from the utility’s Project RELIEF program.

The first step in applying for assistance from Project RELIEF is to have gone through Sangamon County’s LIHEAP application process.

To qualify for Project RELIEF, call the appointment line at 217-789-2414 on or after Monday, December 1.

Customers meeting the minimum eligibility requirements will be scheduled for a meeting with Fifth Street Renaissance, the program’s administrator.

To qualify for the program, a customer must have a total household income for the previous 90 days of no more than 150 percent of the Federal Poverty Guidelines.

Household Size and 90-day income requirements for 1 person is $5,868, for 2 people the requirement is $7,931, households of 3 people need $9,993, and households of 4 people need to have $12,056.

Customers also need a past-due CWLP bill, not have received Project RELIEF assistance in the 2024 to 2025 program season, and must have exhausted all assistance resources including the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).

Customers who have only water service from CWLP do not need to apply to LIHEAP first.

Applicants must also have the ability to cover a portion of their past-due bill, as required.

Project RELIEF donations are collected primarily from CWLP customers who add $1 or more to their monthly bill, along with City employee payroll contributions.

All funds that are received for Project RELIEF go directly to those in need, without any amount being used to cover administrative costs.

CWLP customers who would like to donate to the program can sign up to add $1 or more to their monthly bill online, https://www.cwlp.com/ServicesHome/ServicesInformation/ProjectRelief.aspx.

Those who would prefer to make a one-time contribution can mail a check or money order made payable to Project RELIEF and send it to Fifth Street Renaissance at 1315 N. Fifth Street, Springfield, IL 62702.

For more information on Project RELIEF and other bill assistance programs, visit https://www.cwlp.com/ServicesHome/ServicesInformation/BillAssistance.aspx