Payment plans from Ameren

From time to time the energy provider will set up special repayment plans for a select number of customers. Low income customers of Ameren Illinois and others who are qualified, and who have a past due balance on their account, are strongly encouraged to take advantage of these limited opportunities to establish a repayment plan. There may be different conditions that need to be met, but in general applicants will need to make a 10 percent down payment. They will then have more flexibility to pay the outstanding balance.

The utility company wants to help those customers who are struggling and who have fallen behind on paying their energy bills. So these services will make it easier for them to start a payment plan with Ameren. When available, these payment plans are only available for a short period of time. As indicated, eligible customers will be able to pay 10 percent of the outstanding balance on their account up front. After that occurs they will then be able to pay the remaining amount due in monthly installments.

What these payment plans do is they allow customers to take advantage of opportunities that can help them keep their power on and assist them with having preventing their service from being disconnected. Their power will only be disconnected after Ameren has attempted to contact the customer and issued a final disconnection notice to them. They will make multiple efforts in an effort to reach the individual, and customer service representatives will offer individuals a number of different assistance programs and solutions.

In general, those residential customers with past due amounts on their account and who have failed to establish a payment plan may have their service disconnected. In addition, anyone who has broken a payment plan with Ameren will be subject to service disconnection of their utilities.

In order to establish a payment plan with Ameren Illinois, customers will need to call Ameren Customer Service. The phone number is 1-800-755-5000. The special 10% down payment rate is only occasionally offered, so take advantage of it when possible. Normally customers will be required to pay 25 percent of the total amount owed for a payment plan.

In addition to entering into a payment plan, some qualified lower income customers of Ameren may be eligible to receive utility bill payment assistance through the federal government LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program). This resource provides cash grants and more general energy services payment assistance to eligible low-income and working poor households, elderly persons, senior citizens and those with disabilities in Illinois. Customer service representatives will advise people on this option as well, and it can be combined with the payment plans indicated above.