Low-income heating cost help:

North Shore Gas encourages its customers to prepare for winter by applying for Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and Share the Warmth grants to help with heating costs. General enrollment for LIHEAP opened Nov. 1, with more than $150 million dollars in funding available for Illinois residents to help with winter bills. Grants can be used to reconnect service, avoid disconnection and maintain a home's natural gas service. LIHEAP provides grants of varying amounts based on household need to help customers pay outstanding bills and reconnect service. Share the Warmth provides grants of up to $200 to customers and can be applied for year round. Both are administered by the Community Action Partnership of Lake County (CAP). North Shore Gas customers can call CAP at (847) 249-4330 to make an appointment to apply for the grants. Customers can call CAP or visit www.northshoregas.com for application sites and guidelines.