Illinois Energy Savings

Energy consumers in Illinois are quickly learning that they now have the ability to find savings by shopping for competitive electricity and natural gas prices. The Illinois Electric Service Customer Choice and Rate Relief Act of 1997 opened up the energy supply component in the state to choice, allowing alternative suppliers to offer service to customers.

Over the last several years the majority of large businesses serviced by Commonwealth Edison and Ameren shopped for competitive power supply contracts in order to get off high default rates. With falling energy prices, now competitive energy companies are moving in and offering low electricity rates to Illinois residential customers.

Though the supply side of the power business has been deregulated, the utility distribution side is still regulated. This means that no matter which competitive supplier the consumer chooses, the electricity is still delivered by the same regulated utility company that has always serviced them, which in Illinois is either ComEd or Ameren. The Illinois utility companies also continue to manage and maintain the power lines and wires, take the monthly meter read, respond to power failures and other power related emergencies, and send out the monthly electric bill to their customers.

The end result of shopping simply allows for the consumer to find a lower electric rate, or choose to buy a specific generation source for the power they consumer such as wind power. They also have the choice to lock in a fixed rate for a specific term offered by the competitive electric company or choose to ride a monthly variable electric rate. The competition is resulting in abundance of savings for Illinois energy customers.

If you are a ComEd customer, you can find competitive electric rates below (rates updated daily):