EAST ST. LOUIS, Ill. (First Alert 4) – As millions of Americans relying on SNAP benefits wait to see what happens, on Friday, judges ordered the Trump administration to tap into emergency funds to pay out at least partial SNAP benefits.
It’s not the only program being impacted by the now month-long federal shutdown. The National Energy Assistance Directors Association warns there have been delays in another federal program designed to assist with energy bills at a time when many are seeing the cost of energy rise.
The concern was expressed at a forum in East St. Louis, where families shared stories of struggling to make ends meet amid soaring utility costs.
Belleville mother of four, Monique McClure, knows the dilemma of rising energy bills well. McClure lost her job because of federal cuts and now drives for rideshare to keep money coming in.
“Providing them with clothes and shoes, and got to go off and think if you want to do your electric bill or provide for your kids,” McClure said.
She said soaring electric bills this summer are hurting her bottom line.
She said, “I have been through a lot dealing with my electric bill, and the hike has caused me a lot of issues and a lot of financial situations.”
“From where you’re used to paying $200 to now, where you’re paying $500 to $600 on your bills. So that’s like a big hike, in a lot of situations. That’s like actually you paying rent,” McClure said.
Ameren Illinois was approved for an electric rate increase in 2024 of $309 million, spread out through 2027. But a reason for the large spike this summer was that the cost of energy on the grid available to utility providers like Ameren went from $30 a megawatt day to $666 a megawatt day during the summer months.
A proposed gas rate increase by Ameren Illinois adds more worry. The utility is seeking a nearly $129 million increase. Last month, a judge recommended that Ameren lower its request by $44 million.
Brad Kleoppel, Sr. Director, Gas Operations and Technical Services, explained in a statement that the reason for the rate increase is to address needs in the utility’s gas system.
The investments we have proposed in our reliability plan will enable us to meet strict federal pipeline safety requirements, reduce leaks, and provide reliable and affordable natural gas to our residential and business customers. We evaluate all available methods to maintain compliance at the lowest possible cost based on operational feasibility and industry best practices.
A decision from the Illinois Commerce Commission is expected in the coming weeks.
“Not just bothering me, but a lot of families throughout Illinois,” McClure said. “That’s why we are here to get our voices heard, to speak on behalf of a lot of other people that are not here today, but also just let them know, like this is unfortunate for a lot of people right now. And it’s causing a lot of people financial hardships and people have been dealing with disconnections and things like that.”
The United Congregations of Metro-East and the Citizens Utility Board were among the groups that organized a forum on Saturday about what’s happening and what to do.
“How we can work better with utility companies to lower it. And so we had folks from Ameren and other folks come in and just talk about how to lower their bills,” said Darnell Tingle, executive director of United Congregations of Metro-East. “We’re just asking that utility companies come in community with us and try to help lower these rates.”
Tingle explained that as bills have jumped, people’s incomes haven’t.
“The big things that we’ve been hearing is they’ve got to make decisions between their phone bill and their utilities, their medical and their utilities. They’ve got to make hard decisions with life things versus keeping their utilities on,” he said. “It’s been a challenge. We’re worried about folks who are low-income. This region alone is a little over $20,000 is the average income for an individual.”
The event provided resources and help with utility bills, but heading into the winter months, another worry has emerged because of the federal shutdown.
Last month, the National Energy Assistance Directors Association warned that the shutdown is delaying the release of energy assistance funding known as LIHEAP. NEADA stated that energy costs in the first half of the year increased by about 10 percent on average, with higher rates in some areas. NEADA data show that Illinois saw a 28.3 percent increase in the average bill in July 2025 compared to July 2024. It was about a $40 difference. The most significant increase in the nation.
Additionally, the cost of heating homes this winter is expected to increase by 7.6 percent.
“Folks who are worried about their grandchildren having heat on in their building. Being able to afford that. That’s something that shouldn’t be thought about. That should be a basic human right,” Tingle said.
Meanwhile, McClure and others are trying to figure out how to pay all the bills.
“Let them know this is unfortunate for a lot of people right now. And it’s causing a lot of people financial hardships,” McClure said.
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