Illinois Electricity Rates andAlternative Retail Electric Suppliers

Understand rates, suppliers, local delivery and plan details before comparing electricity options in Illinois.

STATE IL

GUIDE Rates + market

COMPARE ZIP + usage

SECTIONS 8

Illinois electricity rates should be compared as a complete service decision, not as a single advertised number. The useful questions are who delivers power at the address, whether supply choice is available, what the current default supply option costs, and how a competing contract behaves at the household’s normal usage.

Illinois electricity choice is most relevant in ComEd and Ameren Illinois territories, where the supply company can differ from the delivery utility. Community aggregation can also determine the current supplier for some municipalities and counties. Before comparing offers, identify whether the account is on utility supply, an alternative supplier or an aggregation program.

LOCATION CHANGES THE MATH

Start with your Illinois ZIP code

Rates, utilities and available plans can change by service area. Use your ZIP code as the first local filter.

Electricity market in Illinois

Illinois electric choice allows many residential customers in ComEd and Ameren Illinois territories to choose the company that supplies electricity while the local utility continues to deliver it. The Illinois Commerce Commission oversees retail electric suppliers, and the Illinois Power Agency manages procurement planning for utility supply customers. Municipal systems, cooperatives and local aggregation arrangements can create different situations.

Illinois does not present one uniform shopping situation. A Chicago-area ComEd customer can have different supply and aggregation conditions from a household in Ameren territory, and municipal utilities or cooperatives operate separately. The service address and current account status therefore matter more than a statewide list of supplier names.

How electricity choice works in Illinois

A customer can remain with utility supply, select an alternative retail electric supplier, or in some communities participate in municipal or county aggregation. In every case, ComEd or Ameren Illinois remains the distribution utility for customers in its territory. The retail choice affects the supply portion of service, while utility delivery, outage response and regulated distribution charges continue under the same local utility.

The Illinois Commerce Commission’s Plug In Illinois resources help consumers understand supply choice and alternative retail electric suppliers. The first comparison is between the current supply arrangement and an alternative contract; the second is whether a local aggregation program applies. The distribution utility remains unchanged in either case.

Utilities and electricity providers in Illinois

ComEd serves much of northern Illinois and the Chicago region, while Ameren Illinois serves large portions of central and southern Illinois. These utilities operate the delivery networks for their territories. Alternative suppliers do not replace them. Some communities purchase supply through aggregation programs, and customers should determine whether participation is opt-in or opt-out and what options exist for returning to utility supply or selecting another supplier.

ComEd and Ameren Illinois cover the principal competitive-choice territories, but their delivery charges and utility supply prices differ. Local aggregation can overlay those territories with community-selected supply. That means the utility, municipality and current supplier shown on the bill can all be relevant to a correct Illinois comparison.

Electricity rates and what affects your bill

Illinois shoppers should separate the utility delivery charge from the electricity supply price. Utility supply costs are procured under state-supervised processes, while alternative supplier prices come from private contracts. Compare the supply price on the bill with the competitive offer and include monthly fees, promotional rates, contract term and termination provisions. An apparently small rate difference can be outweighed by recurring fees or by changes after a promotional period.

Illinois supplier savings should be calculated only on the supply portion of the bill. Utility delivery charges remain regardless of supplier. Compare the current utility or aggregation supply price with the alternative contract using several months of consumption, and account for monthly fees, promotional periods and any price change after the initial term.

Fixed, variable and renewable electricity plans

Alternative retail suppliers may offer fixed pricing, variable pricing, renewable products and other incentives. Local aggregation programs can also use different contract structures. A fixed rate provides more price certainty during the stated term but still requires a renewal review. Variable offers need closer monitoring. Renewable plans should be evaluated on the supplier’s actual product description rather than a broad environmental label.

Alternative retail suppliers and aggregation programs can use fixed, variable or renewable structures. A fixed rate should be compared with the relevant utility supply period, while variable pricing requires close review of the reset mechanism. Renewable products should disclose the environmental attributes behind the claim, not just use a green label.

For an Illinois decision, write down the current supplier source—utility, aggregation or alternative retailer—before looking at new offers. Save the proposed contract and note the term, cancellation rule and expected meter-read start. This helps prevent accidental double-switching when a community aggregation program is already active.

How to compare and choose an Illinois electricity plan

Identify whether the household currently receives utility supply, an alternative supplier product or community aggregation. Then compare the current supply rate with active offers available in the correct utility territory. Read the contract for rate type, term, monthly charges, early termination terms, renewable content and renewal. Keep delivery charges out of the supplier comparison because they remain with ComEd or Ameren regardless of the selected supply option.

An Illinois move can change both the delivery utility and participation in a municipal aggregation program. Verify the new address before trying to transfer a supplier contract. At an existing address, read the current agreement before switching and continue to report outages to ComEd or Ameren Illinois as applicable.

Moving, switching and consumer considerations

Moving between Illinois communities can change the utility territory and can also change whether a municipal aggregation program applies. Establish the new delivery account, identify the default supply arrangement and then compare alternatives. An existing supplier agreement may require a separate transfer or cancellation. When switching at the same address, confirm the effective date and any exit fee. The local utility remains the outage contact after any supply change.

Illinois households can combine Plug In Illinois information with our guides to retail supplier versus utility roles, variable-rate plans and renewable electricity products.

Frequently asked questions

Can Illinois residents choose an electricity supplier?

Many residential customers in ComEd and Ameren Illinois territories can choose an alternative retail electric supplier, subject to local eligibility and aggregation arrangements.

What is municipal aggregation in Illinois?

A municipality, township or county can arrange electricity supply for participating residents under a local program, with participation rules that may be opt-in or opt-out.

Does switching suppliers change ComEd or Ameren Illinois?

No. The local utility continues to deliver power, maintain the network and respond to outages.

What should I compare on an Illinois electricity offer?

Compare the supply rate, contract term, monthly fees, cancellation terms, renewal pricing and renewable claims. Delivery charges remain with the utility.