Automatic Delivery – Did you know the most efficient way to receive propane is through our Automatic Delivery service? With this service, you don’t have to call for a delivery, we deliver to you based on your propane needs. In many cases, customers who choose our Automatic Delivery option will reduce their propane price per gallon with our auto fill discount, and avoid untimely out of gas calls and special trip fees.

Will Call Delivery – Some customers prefer to call us when they want a delivery. They may opt for the “will call” status because their financial situation or use of alternate heat sources. Using the percentage gauge on the tank the customer monitors the amount of gas left in the tank calls to schedule a delivery. Things to remember with Will Call: Minimum Delivery is 250 gallons, we require 3 business days to schedule deliveries, and there are delivery charges for out of gas/low gas/less than minimum/special deliveries.

Budget Billing – The budget payment plan is simple.  Your average or estimated yearly heating bill is calculated to determine your equal monthly payment.  Payments are made monthly from July till June of the following year.  At the end of the budget payment year, your account will be “cleared.”  If you have a balance due, you will be billed for the remaining balance.  If you have overpaid, the amount of the credit may be applied to the following year’s budget payment plan, or a refund check may be requested.  Our budget payment plan allows you to maintain smaller monthly payments instead of larger invoices at the time of gas deliveries.  Customers on our budget payment plan will also enjoy the convenience of our “KEEP FULL” delivery service.  Our drivers will monitor your tank to ensure you do not experience the inconvenience or cost of running out of gas.  When a delivery is made a yellow copy of your ticket will be left on your door.  Keep these copies for your records.  To remain on the plan, you must make payments monthly.  Budget billing starts in July of each year.  The sign up period ends June 30th.  Customers wishing to sign up after that date may either make up payments from July or wait until the next budget year begins.

Pre-Purchase – A second option we offer is a Pre-Purchase program in which you may purchase propane for the winter months in the Summer of that year at a fixed price.  Our Pre-Buy price is usually set June  15th.  We suggest purchasing gallons that would normally be delivered between late November thru early February. All Pre-Purchase contracts must be made between June 1st and Mid September  of the year. You have until May 31st  to use the pre-purchase  gallons. 

Energy Assistance – For many Illinois households, energy costs place a severe and continuing stress on a family’s budget. In some instances, the household is forced to make painful decisions regarding which bills to pay and which necessities to survive without. The Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is designed to help eligible low income households pay for winter energy service.

Barb (Senger) Bollinger  is the most knowledgeable on LIHEAP, call and ask for her, she can walk you thur all the steps of the application process and answer any questions you may have.

Frequently Asked Questions on LIHEAP

Q1.  Does my utility bill have to be listed in my name?

A. Applicants must document that they are responsible for their home energy costs. Applicants who have a bill and pay directly to the energy vendor must present documentation that shows the applicant to be the Customer of Record with the energy vendor.

Q2.  I don’t have a utility bill because my heat and electric services are included in my rent. Can I still apply for LIHEAP?

A. If you do not have any energy bills because energy costs are included in your rent payment, you must prove your monthly rent costs are greater than 30% of the household’s income for the past 30 days.

Q3. What kind of LIHEAP assistance is available?

A. According to funding availability and client’s utility area, local agencies may offer up to four types of LIHEAP assistance:

  • LIHEAP Direct Vendor Payment (DVP): These one-time payments will apply to all income eligible households. Applicants must prove they are low income and responsible for their home heating costs, or if the applicant is a renter and has no utility bills, then the amount of the applicant’s rent must exceed 30% of the household’s income.
  • LIHEAP PIPP: LIHEAP clients who are customers of Ameren Illinois, ComEd, Nicor Gas and Peoples Gas/North Shore Gas may choose the new Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP). Under PIPP, clients pay a percentage of their income, receive a monthly benefit toward their utility bill, and receive a reduction in overdue payments for every on-time payment they make by the bill due date.
  • Emergency Period: The Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity may set aside a portion of the State’s allocation for use in emergency situations. Under this component, funds may be used for either weather or supply emergencies that affect the entire eligible population or for emergency related situations that affect an individual household to the extent funds are available.
    In the event of a weather-related natural disaster or extreme weather conditions, the department will develop an appropriate response designed to eliminate the threat to life and health. This assistance will be limited to energy-related crisis activities, such as pledges of payment to utilities, replacement of fuel tanks, heating system and water heater repair or replacement, purchase of fans, operation or support of local cooling centers, coordination with local social service agencies, air conditioners (where medically necessary), etc.
    During emergency periods, emergency assistance will be provided within 48 hours from the date the client application is complete (all client documentation has been submitted), or within 18 hours in the event of a life-threatening situation affecting an individual household.
    If the department has not declared an emergency period or the department has announced that the emergency period is no longer in effect, emergency assistance may be provided, although it may not be provided within 48 hours. Emergency assistance will not be made on behalf of a household unless the household makes a good-faith effort to pay its home energy bills.
  • Reconnection Assistance: If your household is disconnected or has a disconnect notice from a energy source needed for heating, or has a delivered fuel supplier that has refused to deliver to you, Reconnection Assistance is available. However, it is only provided to households that have made an effort to maintain their energy services or who can pay a portion of the reconnection assistance.
  • Furnace Assistance: This will be provided to households that qualify for reconnection assistance, but do not have an operating furnace or heating supply for their residence. Furnace benefits, which include tune-up, repair, or replacement will be utilized to restore a vital heat supply to the home. It will be operated by Local Administering Agencies, which are uniquely situated to define and develop individualized responses to energy-related emergencies and emergency furnace repair to restore a home heating source.

 

Q4. Does LIHEAP pay my bill each month?

A. Not exacty. Applicant households with rental expenses greater than 30% of income that indirectly purchase energy as an undesignated portion of rent are eligible to receive assistance in the form of a one-time cash payment made directly to the household For the traditional Direct Vendor Payment program, applicant households that purchase energy directly from vendors are eligible to receive Energy Assistance benefits in the form of a one-time payment representing a percentage of the average primary and secondary vendors in accordance with a payment schedule. Secondary electric service must be an integral part of the heating system or heat-related in order to qualify for a benefit. Under the PIPP program, PIPP-eligible households who are customers of Ameren Illinois, ComEd, Nicor Gas and Peoples Gas/North Shore Gas can directly receive a monthly State benefit to apply towards their utility bill.

Q5. If I qualify for assistance, how are the payments made to my utility?

A. Payments are made directly to the utility on behalf of the applicant. In the case of applicants whose heat is included in their rent, payment is made directly to the applicant.

Q6. Does LIHEAP pay for water, sewer or phone utility service?

A. No, the purpose of the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) is to assist low income citizens by offsetting the rising cost of home energy (principally heating) through direct financial assistance, energy counseling, outreach and education.

Q7. How long does it take to receive LIHEAP assistance?

A. Once an application is complete, the local agency will notify the client of approval or denial within 30 days. All client and vendor payments are made by the local agency within 15 days after approval of the client’s application. Emergency Services applications are approved within 48 hours after the application is complete. If the disconnection has caused a life-threatening situation, the application approval and vendor notification must occur within 18 hours of a completed application.

Q8. I live in Public Housing. Can I get LIHEAP assistance?

A. In most cases, the answer is No. Eligibility for LIHEAP is limited to households at or below 150% of the federal poverty income level. In addition to income eligibility, applicants must document that they are responsible for their home energy costs. Applicants who have a bill and pay directly to the energy vendor must present documentation that shows the applicant to be the Customer of Record with the energy vendor. If the applicant does not have any energy bills because energy costs are included in the rent payment, the household must prove its monthly rent costs are greater than 30% of the household’s income for the past 30 days.

Q9. How do I apply if I’m homebound?

A. There are times when a home visit or the mail-in application procedure may be necessary to serve an applicant. A home visit by local agency staff will be made when:

  • A relative or friend cannot make application on behalf of the applicant at a regular site;
  • The individual has stated the need for a special accommodation because of a disabling condition; or
  • All other methods for getting the individual to the site have been exhausted.

Here Are Some Great Energy Savings Tips

  • We would like to provide you with some tips on how to keep your home warm and cozy.  These are some helpful hints to help you conserve energy in your home with out feeling like you are sacrificing your and your family’s comfort.
  • We all forget to change our furnace filters.  Change your filters on a monthly basis.
  • Check to be sure that your whole heating system is energy efficient.  Check to make sure there is no leaks in the ducks.  A leak can decrease the energy by 20%.
  • Use and Energy Star programmable thermostat  that can be automatically adjusted to the temperature of your home while you are gone.
  • Keep all vents cleared from furniture, rugs and/or any other items.  A clear open vent will allow air to circulate throughout your home.
  • Weather strip and caulk all windows and doors.  This helps eliminate drafts.
  • A propane gas fireplace or stove burn very efficiently and are a great way to heat up the rooms in your home.
  • To reduce hot water usage by 50%, install flow restricting shower heads.  They are effective and theres no change in your water pressure.
  • When doing laundry make sure to do big loads instead of several small loads.  This will ensure you to save on both water and electricity.
  • You may also want to consider signing up for our Budget Payment Plan.   We will be happy to allow you to spread out your payments making it easier for you to budget.