The utility company put aside one million dollars to assist customers going through hard times.

Through the "Helping Hands program" customers with financial, medical, or other hardships can pay 50 percent of their outstanding balance and the remaining 50 percent is credited once the payment is cleared.

"We are getting to the point in the weather season where disconnections will resume, they had been put on hold because of the cold weather, we want to have a way to let people manage their way though this in recognizing the difficult economic times," said ComEd Spokesman Paul Callighan.

Customers can sign up for ComEd Helping Hand by calling 888-806-CARE (2273) or by attending one of the following five special sign-up assistance fairs:

http://www.comed.com/sites/newsroom/News%20Room/newsroomreleases_03012010.aspx