RG-6, Assistance Charges Return for Natural Gas Distributors Instructions

A public utility, a gas cooperative, or a municipal gas utility that delivers natural gas in Illinois and collects the:

• Energy Assistance Charge, and 
• Renewable Energy Resources and Coal Technology Development Assistance Charge (hereafter referred to as the “Renewable Energy Charge”) 

from its customers, must file Form RG-6, Assistance Charges Return for Natural Gas Distributors.

Note: All public gas utilities must collect the Energy Assistance Charge and the Renewable Energy Charge. 20 ILCS 687/6-5; 305 ILCS 20/13. A municipal gas utility or gas cooperative may choose to collect the Energy Assistance Charge and Renewable Energy Charge but must notify the Illinois Department of Revenue (IDOR) in writing of such decision. If a municipal gas utility or gas cooperative does not assess the Energy Assistance Charge, the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) may not use funds from the Supplemental Low-Income Energy Assistance Fund to provide benefits to its customers under the program authorized by 305 ILCS 20/4. 305 ILCS 20/13(k). If a municipal gas utility or gas cooperative does not assess the Renewable Energy Charge, its customers shall not be eligible for the Renewable Energy Resources Program. 20 ILCS 6876-5(e).

Pursuant to the Energy Assistance Act, each public utility, gas cooperative, or municipal gas utility must collect a monthly charge from each customer for natural gas services delivered by the utility or cooperative. The utility or cooperative then must remit the total collected charges each month to IDOR with a completed return. 305 ILCS 20/13(f). The collected charges are deposited into the Supplemental Low-Income Energy Assistance Fund and are used to assist low-income Illinois residents with bill payments for gas services and to provide for the State of Illinois weatherization program. 305 ILCS 20/13(a).

Pursuant to the Renewable Energy, Energy Efficiency, and Coal Resources Development Law of 1997, a public utility, gas cooperative, or municipal gas utility must collect a monthly charge from each customer for natural gas services delivered by the utility or cooperative. The utility or cooperative then must remit the total collected charges each month to IDOR. The collected charges are deposited into the Renewable Energy Resources Trust Fund and the Coal Technology Development Assistance Fund. 20 ILCS 687/6-5(d). The funds may be used (1) to provide grants to the Illinois Green Economy Network for its operation and services and to fund education and training for renewable energy and energy efficiency technology; (2) for capturing or sequestering carbon emissions produced by coal combustion; (3) for supporting research on the capture and sequestration of carbon emissions produced by coal combustion; and (4) for improving coal miner safety. 20 ILCS 687/6-5(c).

“Residential gas service” is a gas utility service for household purposes delivered to a dwelling

• of two or fewer units that is billed under a residential rate; or
• unit or units that are billed under a residential rate and are registered by a separate meter for each dwelling unit. 305 ILCS 20/13(c)(2).

“Nonresidential gas service” is all gas utility service that is not residential gas service. 305 ILCS 20/13(c)(4).

See our Excise Tax Rates and Fees page at tax.illinois.gov to determine current rates.

Form RG-6 must be submitted to IDOR on or before the 20th day of the month with the total amount of assistance charges that were collected from customers during the preceding month.

Yes, you can use MyTax Illinois at mytax.illinois.gov to file your Form RG-6. MyTax Illinois also allows for electronic payment of any tax due.

Mail your completed Form RG-6 and payment to:

ASSISTANCE CHARGES
ILLINOIS DEPARTMENT OF REVENUE
PO BOX 19019
SPRINGFIELD IL 62794-9019

If you have any questions, you can also call weekdays between 8:00 a.m. and 4:30 p.m. at 217 782-5906, visit our website at tax.illinois.gov.

Step 1: Figure your assistance charges due

Line 1 – Enter the total number of accounts to which you delivered residential gas service and from which you

collected the Energy Assistance Charge and the Renewable Energy Charge during this liability period.

Line 2 – Multiply Line 1 by the applicable rate.

Line 3 – Multiply Line 1 by $0.05.

Line 4 – Enter the total number of accounts to which you delivered nonresidential gas service and to which you delivered less than 4 million therms of gas during the previous calendar year, and from which you collected the Energy Assistance Charge and the Renewable Energy Charge.

Line 5 – Multiply Line 4 by the applicable rate.

Line 6 – Multiply Line 4 by $0.50.

Line 7 – Enter the total number of accounts to which you delivered nonresidential gas service and to which you delivered 4 million or more therms of gas during the previous calendar year, and from which you collected the Energy Assistance Charge and the Renewable Energy Charge.

Line 8 – Multiply Line 7 by the applicable rate.

Line 9 – Multiply Line 7 by $37.50.

Line 10a: Utility companies that offer an Arrearage Reduction Program may take a subtraction for the amount necessary to fund and cover the cost of the program. The amount of the subtraction cannot exceed the incremental difference between the energy assistance rates charged prior to August 1, 2009, and the rates charged on or after August 1, 2009, times the number of accounts for each energy assistance rate classification.

Line 10b: If the number of customers you were serving on January 1, 2021, was 100,000 or greater, and you fund a Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP) from the Supplemental Low Income Energy Assistance Fund, enter the amount of administrative and operational costs incurred for the PIPP during the reporting period on line 10b.

Line 10c: Add lines 10a and 10b, then subtract the sum from line 10. This is your total Energy Assistance Charge. If the sum of lines 10a and 10b is greater than line 10, enter 0 on line 10c.

Line 11 – Add Lines 3, 6, and 9. This is your total Renewable Energy Charge.

Line 12 – Add Lines 10c and 11. This is your total assistance charges.

Step 2: Sign below

An owner, partner, or officer of the corporation, or other person who is authorized to file this return must sign the return. Be sure to include a daytime telephone number where we can reach you if we have questions.