Cool Down St. Louis: Free AC Units & Summer Cooling Assistance (2026)
Revised July 13, 2026
What do I do if I can’t pay my utility bill?
Cool Down St. Louis provides free box fans, window air-conditioning units, and cooling-bill help to seniors, people with disabilities, and low-income families across the metro. Apply at CoolDownStLouis.org or call 314-241-0001. In a heat emergency, dial 2-1-1 to find the nearest cooling center.
Keep reading ↓By mid-July, a St. Louis afternoon can feel like standing in front of an open oven. The heat index climbs past 105, the air stops moving, and for most of us it’s a nuisance. But for an 80-year-old in Spanish Lake with a fixed income and a broken window unit, or a family in Arnold caring for a child with a heart condition, or a disabled veteran in Mehlville rationing the AC to keep the bill down — a Missouri heat wave is genuinely dangerous.
Heat kills more Americans than any other kind of weather. The good news for St. Louis: there’s a program built specifically to keep vulnerable neighbors cool, and it’s the summer twin of the one that keeps them warm in winter. It’s called Cool Down St. Louis, and this guide covers exactly how it works, who qualifies, how to apply, and the summer shut-off protections you may not know you have — verified against current 2026 program information.
Need cooling help right now? Apply at CoolDownStLouis.org or call 314-241-0001. In a heat emergency, dial 2-1-1 to find the nearest cooling center.
What is Cool Down St. Louis?
Cool Down St. Louis is a regional charity — the summer counterpart to Heat Up St. Louis, founded by Gentry Trotter — that helps at-risk residents survive dangerous heat. It provides free box and window fans, ENERGY STAR window air-conditioning units, and cooling-related electric-bill assistance for the people who are most at risk when the temperature spikes: seniors 60 and older, people with disabilities, and low-income households, especially families with critically-ill children.
The program leans on community partners to do it. 2026 marks the 21st year of its partnership with Ameren Missouri, which donated 950 window air-conditioning units for this summer alone. Like its winter sibling, Cool Down serves a wide footprint — dozens of counties across Missouri and Illinois — so help isn’t limited to the city. Over its two decades, the program reports distributing roughly 25,000 air-conditioning units to the region’s most vulnerable residents — a quiet, life-saving effort that ramps up every time the forecast turns dangerous.
Who to call: a quick summer reference
When the heat is bearing down and you’re not sure where to start, here’s the short list:
| You need… | Who to contact |
|---|---|
| A free fan or window AC unit | Cool Down St. Louis — CoolDownStLouis.org, 314-241-0001 |
| Help with a summer electric bill | Summer ECIP via myDSS (up to $300); Ameren 1-800-552-7583 |
| A cooling center open today | Dial 2-1-1 (United Way) |
| A shut-off stopped during a heat wave | Your utility; Missouri PSC 1-800-392-4211 |
| A medical emergency from the heat | 911 |
Who qualifies for cooling help?
Cool Down focuses its limited supply of fans and AC units on the households most likely to suffer a medical emergency in the heat. You’re a strong candidate if you are:
- A senior, age 60 or older, especially on a fixed income
- A person with a disability or a health condition that heat makes dangerous
- A low-income household, particularly one with a critically-ill child or a medically fragile family member
Why these groups specifically? Older adults and people with chronic health conditions can’t regulate body heat as easily, and many take medications that make heat even harder to handle. A home without working air conditioning during a Missouri heat wave isn’t just uncomfortable — it can push a fragile body past its limit within hours. That’s the whole reason the program exists, and why it prioritizes the people it does.
If that describes you or someone you love, don’t wait for a crisis — supplies are limited and go fast once the first heat wave hits. Apply early in the season.
How to apply for Cool Down St. Louis
Applying is simple, and you can do it online or by phone:
- Online — apply at CoolDownStLouis.org (or CoolDownMissouri.org).
- By phone — call 314-241-0001 or 314-834-0034.
Have your basic household and income information ready, along with any documentation of a medical condition if that’s part of your situation. The program partners with Ameren Missouri and area agencies to distribute units, so where and when you pick up may depend on supply in your area — the intake staff will walk you through it. Because demand always outruns the number of donated units, being early in the season matters more than almost anything else. If the current year’s supply is exhausted when you apply, ask to be added to the list so you’re first in line for the next round.
Prepare before the next heat wave
A little planning turns a dangerous day into a manageable one. Do these on a cool day, so a hot one never becomes an emergency:
- Get your fan or AC unit now, before the first advisory — supplies run out fast.
- Find your nearest cooling center today by calling 2-1-1, so you’re not searching in the middle of a crisis.
- Keep a short phone list handy: your utility, 2-1-1, and a neighbor or family member who can check on you.
- Stock water and review the signs of heat illness above.
- Ask your pharmacist whether any of your medications are affected by heat or need cool storage.
- Set up a daily check-in with someone if you live alone — even a quick text counts.
Your rights: the Missouri Hot Weather Rule
Just as winter has the Cold Weather Rule, Missouri summers have a Hot Weather Rule that limits when your electricity can be shut off — and it’s broader than most people realize.
From June 1 through September 30, an electric utility cannot disconnect your service when the National Weather Service forecasts the temperature above 95°F, or the heat index above 105°F. Thanks to the same 2025 law (Senate Bill 4) that updated the winter rule, the forecast window was extended from 24 hours to 72 hours. And unlike the winter rule, the summer electric protection is broad: it applies to every electric provider in the state, not just the investor-owned utilities under Public Service Commission jurisdiction.
If you’re behind on your bill and a heat wave is coming, that protection buys you time — use it to apply for the help below. If you believe a utility is violating the rule, call the Missouri PSC Consumer Services line at 1-800-392-4211.
More cooling help: bill assistance and cooling centers
Cool Down isn’t the only summer resource. Stack these on top:
- Summer energy crisis assistance (ECIP): Missouri’s LIHEAP program offers up to $300 toward summer cooling costs for income-eligible households. It’s the same application as winter heating help — see our guide to applying for LIHEAP in Missouri.
- Cooling centers: during declared heat emergencies, both the City of St. Louis and St. Louis County open air-conditioned cooling centers — community centers, libraries, and senior centers where anyone can escape the heat for free. To find the nearest one open today, dial 2-1-1 (United Way).
- Your utility’s programs: Ameren’s Budget Billing and payment plans can smooth out those brutal July and August bills before they become a crisis.
Warning signs of heat illness (and when to call 911)
Knowing the warning signs can save a life — especially for the seniors and medically fragile neighbors this program serves. Heat exhaustion shows up as heavy sweating, cold or clammy skin, dizziness, headache, nausea, and a fast, weak pulse. Move the person somewhere cool, loosen their clothing, have them sip water, and apply cool, damp cloths. If it doesn’t improve within an hour, get medical help.
Heat stroke is the emergency. The signs: hot, red skin that may be dry or damp; a body temperature above 103°F; confusion or slurred speech; and fainting. Call 911 immediately, move the person into shade or air conditioning, and cool them with whatever you have — but do not give fluids to someone who is unconscious. When a heat advisory hits, check on elderly neighbors and anyone living alone. A two-minute knock on the door is the simplest life-saving thing you can do all summer.
Lower your summer electric bill
A few moves keep the summer bill from becoming the emergency in the first place. Ask Ameren about Budget Billing to flatten those brutal July and August spikes into a steady monthly amount. Apply for free weatherization through your Community Action Agency — the same insulation and air sealing that keeps heat inside in winter keeps it out in summer, cutting cooling costs for good. And simple habits add up: close the blinds on the sunny side during the day, run fans so you feel comfortable at a higher thermostat setting, and change your AC filter monthly so the unit doesn’t have to strain.
Don’t wait for the heat to win
The hardest part of a heat wave is that it doesn’t look like an emergency until it becomes one. A stuffy apartment feels survivable right up until it isn’t — and for a senior or someone with a heart or lung condition, that line comes fast. So make the call on a normal day, not a 105-degree one. Get the fan or the unit in the window before you need it, apply for the bill help while there’s still funding, and know where your nearest cooling center is.
When the temperatures drop again, the same organization has you covered from the other direction — see our full guide to Heat Up St. Louis and winter utility assistance.
Looking for more local resources? A tool like findhelp.org can point you to food, housing, and health programs near you, and you can search the St Louis Near Me Directory for St. Louis organizations and community resources.
If you run a nonprofit or a service that helps neighbors in need, listing it is how the people looking for you actually find you.
More St. Louis help: This guide is part of our St. Louis Help & Assistance Resources hub — one trusted place for housing, food, jobs, health coverage, utility bills, and legal aid, whether you need help yourself or you’re helping someone who does.
Frequently Asked Questions
How to apply for Cool Down in St. Louis?
Apply online at CoolDownStLouis.org (or CoolDownMissouri.org), or call 314-241-0001 or 314-834-0034. Have your household and income information ready, plus documentation of any medical condition. The program provides free fans, window AC units, and cooling-bill help to seniors, people with disabilities, and low-income families — apply early, since supplies are limited.
What is the phone number for Cool Down St. Louis?
Cool Down St. Louis can be reached at 314-241-0001 or 314-834-0034. You can also apply online at CoolDownStLouis.org. In an active heat emergency, dial 2-1-1 (United Way of Greater St. Louis) to find the nearest open cooling center in the City or County.
Can my electricity be shut off during a heat wave in Missouri?
No, not when it’s dangerously hot. From June 1 to September 30, Missouri’s Hot Weather Rule blocks electric disconnection when the forecast calls for a temperature above 95°F or a heat index above 105°F within 72 hours. The summer protection applies to every electric provider statewide, not just PSC-regulated utilities.
Where can I get a free air conditioner in St. Louis?
Cool Down St. Louis distributes free ENERGY STAR window air-conditioning units — 950 donated by Ameren Missouri for 2026 — to seniors 60+, people with disabilities, and low-income families with a critically-ill member. Apply at CoolDownStLouis.org or call 314-241-0001. Units are limited, so apply as early in the summer as possible.
How do I find a cooling center in St. Louis?
During declared heat emergencies, the City of St. Louis and St. Louis County open free, air-conditioned cooling centers at community centers, libraries, and senior centers. The fastest way to find the nearest one open right now is to dial 2-1-1, the free United Way helpline, available 24/7 across the region.
Does Cool Down St. Louis help with the electric bill?
Yes. Along with free fans and window AC units, Cool Down provides cooling-related electric-bill assistance for eligible households. You can also apply for up to $300 in summer crisis help (ECIP) through Missouri’s LIHEAP program, and ask Ameren about Budget Billing and payment plans. Dial 2-1-1 to be matched to what fits your situation.
Written by a dedicated team of St. Louis locals who live, work, and play right here in the St. Louis metro. Founder Lane Forman and team are committed to building the region’s most trusted directory by verifying listings and connecting local businesses with loyal customers across Missouri and Illinois.