MidAmerican Energy is reminding customers that heating bill assistance may be available for those who meet income guidelines through the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP).
The federal program provides funding to states for energy assistance, and qualifying low-income households can apply through their state agency.
“LIHEAP can make a real difference for families struggling to afford heating during our coldest months,” Mike Gehringer, MidAmerican vice president of customer operations, said in a recent news release. “We encourage any customer who might qualify for this assistance to apply for it as soon as they can.”
MidAmerican customers who have received a disconnection notice are encouraged to call the company at (888) 427-5632 to discuss possible payment options.
Illinois LIHEAP
To be eligible for LIHEAP in Illinois, the applicant’s total household income must be at or below 60% of the state median income level for the 30 days prior to the application’s filing. For example, a single-person household is eligible with a 30-day gross income at or below $3,332, and a family of four is eligible with a 30-day gross income at or below $6,407.
The program began taking applications on Oct. 1 for people 60 and older, disabled individuals, families with children five years old or under, and households that have been disconnected or received a disconnection notice. All other income-eligible households can now apply as of Saturday, Nov. 1.
The program will accept applications through Aug. 15, 2026, or until funding is exhausted. Eligible customers are encouraged to apply as soon as possible.
To apply, Illinois residents in Rock Island, Mercer and Henry counties should contact Project NOW, Inc. at projectnow.org or (309) 793-6391. Residents can also call the state’s LIHEAP hotline at (833) 711-0374. More information is available on the state’s Utility Bill Assistance website.
Iowa LIHEAP
To be eligible for LIHEAP in Iowa, the total household income for an applicant must be at or below 200% of 2025 federal poverty guidelines. For example, a single-person household is eligible with an annual gross income at or below $31,300. A family of four is eligible with an annual gross income at or below $64,300.
The program began taking applications Oct. 1 for those 60 or older, disabled, and those who received a disconnect notice or had their service disconnected. All other applications are now being accepted as of Saturday, Nov. 1, through April 30, 2026.
Eligible customers should apply for LIHEAP at a local community action outreach office. The Iowa Department of Health and Human Services has additional information, and eligibility requirements are also available by dialing 211.
Budget Billing
Customers who want to avoid month-to-month bill fluctuations can opt for MidAmerican’s Budget Billing program, which allows customers to pay the same amount each month for a set period. The free program does not lower rates or costs but offers a more predictable bill.
Help others with I CARE
To help those in need, customers can donate to MidAmerican’s I CARE program. The I CARE provides funding to local community action agencies to assist low-income residents with heating bills and home weatherization. Customer donations fund I CARE, together with a 25% match from MidAmerican.
Tax-deductible donations stay within the local community and go directly to help those in need. MidAmerican customers can donate by noting the donation amount on their monthly bill or pledging online.
