Announcements

Governor Pritzker Announces LIHEAP Application for Utility Bill Assistance

September 24, 2026
Governor Pritzker Announces LIHEAP Application for Utility Bill AssistanceLow-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) available for income qualified households beginning October 1, 2026

CHICAGO – Governor JB Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) are encouraging eligible families to apply for the Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) to support income eligible households with utility costs for natural gas, propane, and electricity. Applications will open October 1, 2026, and will remain open through August 13, 2027, or until funds are exhausted.

​“No working family should have to decide between heating their home and putting food on the table,” said Governor JB Pritzker. “Making life more affordable for Illinoisans means offering support to those struggling with raised monthly costs, including utility bills. The Low-Income Home Energy Assistance Program provides eligible households with the critical assistance needed to stay warm through the winter months.”

​Beginning October 1, 2026, eligible families can apply by visiting the DCEO website or by visiting their local agency (a list of partners throughout the state can be found here). DCEO has named Will County Center for Community Concerns as the administrator of LIHEAP and the Illinois Home Weatherization Assistance Program (IHWAP) for Kankakee County beginning October 1, 2026.

“As winter approaches, we want to make sure heating your home is affordable for everyone,” said Lieutenant Governor Juliana Stratton. “While we keep seeing prices rise across—from groceries to fuel—the Pritzker-Stratton administration is doing everything we can to help families through this tough time.”

Families can also call 1-833-711-0374 for assistance in 30 languages. The energy bill assistance program offered through Help Illinois Families will provide $240 million to eligible families to assist with natural gas, propane, electricity bills and furnace assistance.“

Numerous families throughout Illinois have received much-needed utility bill assistance through LIHEAP over the years,” said DCEO Director Kristin Richards. “I encourage Illinoisans to check their eligibility and prepare to apply as this critical program begins accepting applications October 1.”

​The priority application system will ensure families most in need are able to apply first. The first group eligible to apply is expected to represent more than half of households that apply for the program. The program will begin taking applications on October 1, 2026, for (i) older adults (60 years +), (ii) individuals with a disability, (iii) families with children five years old or younger and (iv) households that are disconnected from their utilities, have a disconnection notice or have less than 25% in their propane tank. All other income eligible households can start applying November 1, 2026.

All families who meet the qualifications and provide proper documentation will receive support until funding is exhausted. Families who earn up to two times the federal poverty level are eligible to receive support through LIHEAP. A chart with eligible income thresholds can be found on the webpage and below:

FAMILY SIZE (HOUSEHOLD) ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ 30-DAY GROSS INCOME​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​
​ 1 ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ – ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ $3,990​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​
2 ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ – ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ $5,410​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​
3 ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ – ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ $6,830​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​
4 ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ – ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ $8,250​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​
5 ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ – ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ $9,670​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​
6 ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ – ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ ​ $11,090

Additional Program Information:The State of Illinois offers various programs to support eligible low-income families with utility assistance. These programs are open to ALL income eligible Illinois families who meet the criteria, including qualified non-citizen families. Programs for eligible families include:

One-Time Direct Vendor Payment: All LIHEAP recipients receive a one-time payment.
Crisis/Reconnection Assistance: Funding is available for families in heating-related emergency situations.
Furnace Assistance: Based on funding availability, Furnace Assistance may be provided to homeowners who do not have an operating furnace for their residence.
Home Weatherization Program: The Illinois Home Weatherization Assistance Program (IHWAP) helps low-income residents and households conserve fuel and reduce energy costs by making their homes and apartments more energy efficient.

LIHEAP provides one-time payments directly to energy service providers on behalf of recipients. While the amount of support varies based on the needs of individual families, last year’s LIHEAP funding, which was available from October 2025 through August 2026, provided assistance to 360,500 households, with an average of $676 per household. ​

3% Service Fee beginning 8/1/26

July 28, 2026

The City of Prophetstown will be charging a 3% service fee on all credit and debit card transactions beginning Saturday, August 1st.  

The City Council voted to add the utility billing fee at their July meeting. The city was charged $425 last month and is on track to lose up to $4,800 annually, so the new charge will help cover the costs.

The city accepts cash, check or credit/debit cards, and payments can be mailed, dropped off or placed in the drop box at City Hall. Payments may also be made at Farmers National Bank in Prophetstown as long as you bring your water bill. The city also offers ACH payment, which is deducted from the account of the customer’s choice on the due date of the water/sewer/garbage bill, with the application available below:

ACH Application formDownload

Simplify your life…sign up for ACH bill payment for your water/sewer/garbage bill

April 30, 2025
ACH Application formDownload

The City of Prophetstown offers ACH payment for your water/sewer/garbage bill. Complete the application and drop it off at Prophetstown City Hall or The Farmer’s National Bank customer service department. Please do not mail your completed application. We will process your payment monthly on the date your water bill is due. Please contact City Hall for the application or with any questions at 815-537-5598.

Please do not blow grass clippings/leaves into streets

April 21, 2025

Please do not blow grass clippings/leaves into streets. Our street sweeper is not a vacuum truck. Proper disposal of grass clippings/leaves would be to put in lawn waste bags and set out on the 2nd and 4th Thursday of each month for our free yard waste pick up. Any questions, please call City Hall 815-537-5598.

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