House & Apartment

Explains situations, days, and hours in which a utility company cannot shut off service including holidays.

A tenant can use a defense (legal reason) to ask the judge to throw out an eviction case. Some eviction defenses are listed.

Learn about how low-income households can get help paying for their water and wastewater utility bills through the Low-Income Household Water Assistance Program (LIHWAP).

Landlords have responsibilities for the building and units they rent.

Understand how to receive financial assistance to pay for utilities through LIHEAP.

Your options when a utility claims you owe them money.

Learn about how you can qualify for free and low-cost internet access.

Learn about how the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program LIHEAP can help low-income households pay for utilities like electric, heat, and gas.

A blog post that explains the Cook County Residential Tenant Landlord Ordinance. Describes the rights tenants have under the law.

A program to make a letter to ask a landlord to repair your apartment or house.

How to manage bills, from prioritizing debts to finding useful resources.

The landlord must pay for public utilities if agreed upon in a lease, and landlords may not stop paying for utilities.

Explains that companies must send a written demand for a deposit, but the guidelines are different for low income people

Gives information about what you can do under the RLTO when your utilities are shut off.

Explains that utility companies must reconnect your service within a certain time frame when you qualify again.

Defines public utilities, explains that services must be provided equally and fairly, and gives information on resolving issues.

Explains that utility companies must give you a 10 day notice before shutting off service and must have a good reason.

Explains the guidelines that public utility companies must follow during the winter or heating season between December 1 and the following March 31, for general consumers.

Applications for the Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP), a program with LIHEAP, are accepted through December 31. This explains how the program works and what is required to participate.

Learn about why a public utility company may refuse to service you, and when they are allowed to refuse you.

Tell the public utilities company if your bill seems high and you think someone else has been using your utilities.

Steps to get a hearing if your Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program application is denied or taking too long.

Explains how to register to receive public utilities.

A blog about common misconceptions surrounding winter utility usage.

Details new Illinois laws passed in 2023 that go into effect on January 1, 2024.

A utility company may ask for Payment Avoidance by Location (PAL) if it proves avoided payments at the same location.