Can households afford energy in Illinois?
27th of 51. All Illinois households: 2.3% ($2,450 of $104,347). Same income group, U.S.: 8.3%. Under 30% of median: 18.4% on $10,037. Renters 2.7%, owners 2.3%.
Illinois burden by income bracket
At or above 6% in Illinois: under 30%, 30% to 60%. Together 29% of homes (1,416,650 of 4,951,866).
Illinois burden, % of income
- 18.4Under 30%
- 6.730% to 60%
- 4.460% to 80%
- 3.680% to 100%
- 1.6Over 100%
Getting the average under-30% household in Illinois down to 6% takes $1,245 off its $1,847 energy cost, or $20,746 more income.
Illinois income, cost and burden
| Bracket | Illinois homes | Share | Illinois income | Electric | All energy | Illinois burden | U.S. burden |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 30% | 619,672 | 13% | $10,037 | $1,005 | $1,847 | 18.4% | 17.0% |
| 30% to 60% | 796,978 | 16% | $32,820 | $1,149 | $2,197 | 6.7% | 6.3% |
| 60% to 80% | 514,297 | 10% | $53,591 | $1,229 | $2,370 | 4.4% | 4.3% |
| 80% to 100% | 483,617 | 10% | $69,053 | $1,278 | $2,480 | 3.6% | 3.4% |
| Over 100% | 2,537,302 | 51% | $166,861 | $1,368 | $2,688 | 1.6% | 1.6% |
| All | 4,951,866 | 100% | $104,347 | $1,264 | $2,450 | 2.3% | 2.2% |
Renters, owners and fuel in Illinois
Renters pay $1,530 on $56,972 (2.7%); owners $2,910 on $128,006 (2.3%); U.S. 2.4% and 2.2%. Most common fuel: utility gas, 76% of homes. Heaviest burden: fuel oil, 4.6%.
| Illinois heating fuel | Homes | Share | Illinois income | All energy | Burden |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electricity | 882,923 | 17.8% | $76,588 | $1,507 | 2.0% |
| Utility gas | 3,768,540 | 76.1% | $112,749 | $2,621 | 2.3% |
| Bottled gas (propane) | 210,170 | 4.2% | $90,152 | $3,778 | 4.2% |
| Fuel oil | 5,965 | 0.1% | $59,257 | $2,702 | 4.6% |
| Wood, coal, solar and other | 84,269 | 1.7% | $58,001 | $1,361 | 2.4% |
Your burden against Illinois
Help and shutoff rules in Illinois
FY2024 LIHEAP heating help: 205,143 homes, 14 per 100 under 60% of median.
FY2026 funding snapshot $199,837,523, $141 per such home.
Eligibility listed: Heating: 60% State Median Income Crisis: 60% State Median Income (15+ households at 150% Federal Poverty Level) Weatheri.
Benefits listed: Heating: $58 minimum, $2,564 maximum Winter Crisis: $1,500 maximum Weatherization: $12,000 maximum.
Programs named for Illinois: and Energy Efficiency; Percentage of Income Payment Plan; Search By Utility.
- Illinois LIHEAP office, phone 833-711-0374
- Clearinghouse snapshot, Illinois
- Illinois help with your bill
Illinois has a cold-weather clause; wording on the help page.
Read: 83 Ill. Adm. Code 280.130 (Disconnection of Service), 280.135 (Winter Disconnection, Dec 1-Mar 31), 280.160 (Medical Certification), 280.230 (Commission Complaint Process), checked 2026-10-02; some utilities only.
Not legal advice. Ask your Illinois utility.
Highest-burden Illinois counties
102 counties with 1,000+ homes; top: Alexander County at 7.9%, lowest of the 102: DuPage County at 1.8%.
| Illinois county | Homes | Income | All energy | Burden | Under 60% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Alexander County | 1,727 | $53,662 | $4,243 | 7.9% | 19.3% |
| Clay County | 5,477 | $69,332 | $3,904 | 5.6% | 14.6% |
| Pulaski County | 1,886 | $54,814 | $2,902 | 5.3% | 12.1% |
| Wayne County | 6,848 | $64,547 | $3,098 | 4.8% | 11.0% |
| Scott County | 1,952 | $80,425 | $3,838 | 4.8% | 13.5% |
| Pike County | 5,734 | $74,323 | $3,454 | 4.7% | 13.7% |
| Edgar County | 7,598 | $65,359 | $2,976 | 4.5% | 10.3% |
| Pope County | 1,349 | $66,899 | $2,990 | 4.5% | 13.8% |
Next to Illinois in the ranking
More
Sources
DOE LEAD 2022; LIHEAP Clearinghouse; CSV.
Questions
How much of income do Illinois households spend on energy?
2.3% for all households ($2,450 of $104,347) and 8.9% under 60% of median income. U.S.: 2.2%, 8.3%.
Who is hit hardest in Illinois?
Households under 30% of median income: 18.4%, 619,672 homes spending $1,847 on $10,037.
How many Illinois homes get LIHEAP heating help?
205,143 in FY2024, 14 per 100 homes under 60% of median; not a take-up rate.
Is electricity the whole Illinois energy burden?
No: electricity is 1.2% of 2.3%; gas and other fuel are the rest.