Gas and electric shutoff protection
Who may qualify
Illinois residents in the armed forces or National Guard on full-time orders for more than 29 straight days.
Which service
Gas or electricity at the home that was your primary residence just before service, if a covered utility or electric cooperative would shut it off for nonpayment.
What to send
Give the provider your orders and any extensions. A not-for-profit cooperative may also ask for proof that service makes it harder to pay on time.
After service
You still owe the bills, but the provider must offer at least as long as your service to repay bills from that period. No late fees or interest may be charged during service or that repayment period.
Municipal utilities have a different rule. This guide covers only the companies and electric cooperatives named in this law. Find military legal help .
Read the full conditions and limits
- Who it covers
- An Illinois resident who is a member of a U.S. Armed Forces component or the National Guard of a state, the District of Columbia, a commonwealth, or a territory.
- Service conditions
- Full-time training or duty under federal or state law, ordered by the President, a governor, or other appropriate military authority, with orders calling the member to service for more than 29 consecutive days.
- State connection
- You must be an Illinois resident, and the service address must have been your primary home just before your assignment. A provider’s Illinois headquarters alone does not make an out-of-state account qualify.
- Who must honor it
- A company providing covered gas or electricity service or an electric cooperative under 220 ILCS 5/8-201.5. Municipal utilities have a separate rule and are not covered by this guide.
- What it covers
- Gas or electricity service at the member’s pre-service primary residence, when a covered provider would stop it for nonpayment.
- Relief
- The covered provider cannot stop that service for nonpayment during covered military service. After return, it must offer at least the length of service to repay arrears incurred during service; no late fees or interest may be charged during service or the repayment period.
- Timing
- The nonpayment shutoff bar concerns the qualifying service period; the member must provide the orders and any extensions. On return, the provider must offer a repayment period at least as long as the service period for arrears incurred during service.
- Notice and documents
- Give the company or electric cooperative a copy of the orders calling the member to more than 29 consecutive days of service and any extension orders. A not-for-profit cooperative customer must also document that service materially affects ability to pay when due.
- How to use it
- Send your orders and any extensions to the company or electric cooperative that serves the home, and keep proof of delivery. If a shutoff or unpaid balance is disputed, contact the provider promptly and seek legal or Illinois Commerce Commission help.
- Limits
- Unpaid bills remain due. The section does not bar every shutoff reason, promise reconnection after a lawful cutoff, or cover a municipal utility under this claim. Choosing Illinois or having an Illinois mailing address alone does not establish coverage.