Fresh Start Program

Background State legislation requires the implementation of a state- wide Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP) by As a Part of that legislation each regulated utility is required to begin Interim PIPP programs this program year. These programs will be very different from what will become the state-wide PIPP program.

Program Duration Week of November 2 – June 30, 2010 (or six months after the customer signs up – whichever is later) Applications will be taken until April 1, 2010

Overview Customer 1. Placed on a payment plan of $10 /month 2. Opportunity to eliminate their arrearages by making on-time payments Agency 1. Sign the customer up for the program 2. Contact the customer if they miss a payment or are in danger of being removed from the program

Customer Eligibility ComEd Customers are eligible for the program who meet each of the following criteria: 1. They are all Electric Space Heating Customers 2. They have been approved for LIHEAP 3. They are at or below 100% of poverty 4. They currently have an arrearage 5. They are active customers

Customer Benefit Customers who are approved for the program will receive the following benefits: 1. Customer will be placed on a budget billing plan requiring a $10/month payment 2. There is a $150 max monthly credit from ComEd (see example below) 3. If the customer makes 6 on-time payments their arrearages will be eliminated Example: # 1 Customer Bill amount - $100Example #2 Customer bill amount - $200 Customer Obligation - $10 Customer Obligation - $10 ComEd Credit - $90 ComEd Credit - $150 The customer will have to make up the $40 difference

Customer Responsibilities Customers will be expected to do the following: 1. Customers must make regular on-time payments to ComEd in the amount of $10 2. Pay any amount not covered by the $150 credit Two consecutive missed payments or three total missed payments will result in being removed from the program

Agency Each agency will be asked to do the following: 1. Identify eligible customers – either as they sign up for LIHEAP or from a list, provided by ComEd, of those already eligible 2. Explain the program, benefit, and customer obligations 3. Obtain a signed consent form from the customer 4. Forward to IACAA an electronic spreadsheet of the customers who have signed up and the signed consent form

FRESH START PROGRAM Account NumberFirst NameLast NameLAA LIHEAP PledgeComments JohnDoeRockford$ JaneSmithKankakee$420.00

Process Signing Up Customers 1. Once a LIHEAP customer has been approved, assuming they have met the other Fresh Start qualifications, you may sign them up for the program. 2. The customer will need to sign the consent form 3. Agency will place their name, account number, and LIHEAP amount on the spreadsheet. 4. the spreadsheet and consent form to Dan Manfredo at IACAA 5. ComEd will be providing you with a list of Fresh Start eligible customers who have already been approved for LIHEAP this program year. These customers will need to be called and asked to return to sign the consent form.

Process (cont.) Intervention 1. Once a week ComEd will provide IACAA with a list of participants who are late on a payment 2. IACAA will forward that on to agencies 3. Agencies are asked to mail a letter to the customer as well as make a phone call to remind them the benefit of staying on the program 4. Agencies are asked to mail a second letter if the customer is close to being removed from the program

Payment 1. ComEd will pay the agency for each customer signed up for the program 2. ComEd will pay the agency for each first intervention 3. Payments to all agencies will be limited to 10% of the total program amount

Thank you Contact Information: Dan Manfredo Illinois Association of Community Action Agencies