As of June 1, ComEd and Ameren are charging new prices for electricity.
It’s important that you know the price for electricity to protect yourself from bad deals being peddled by alternative power suppliers. Illinois consumers have lost more than $1 billion to these suppliers since 2015. Under these market conditions, it is likely that your best bet is to stick with your utility. As of June 1:
New prices, June 1, 2021 to Sept. 30, 2021:
- ComEd’s new electricity price is: 6.776¢/kilowatt-hour (kWh)
- Ameren’s new electricity price is: 4.821¢/kilowatt-hour (kWh)
Note: These utilities serve customers living in set geographic territories: ComEd covers the northern third of Illinois, roughly; and Ameren the southern two-thirds of the state. Their prices differ because the supply rates are set by different energy markets with different rules. People living in ComEd territory cannot switch to Ameren, and people living in Ameren territory cannot switch to ComEd.
These prices cover the electricity itself (the supply) that you use. Supply charges take up about a half to two-thirds of your bill. ComEd and Ameren are not allowed to profit from supply charges; they simply pass along the market prices with no markup. (This restriction does not apply to alternative suppliers.)
Delivery charges—fees the utilities charge you to deliver the electricity to your home—and taxes take up the rest of your bill. ComEd and Ameren are allowed to profit off of delivery charges. Those rates are set by a formula in a process overseen by the Illinois Commerce Commission.
- ComEd’s price includes a supply rate (5.399 cents per kWh) and the transmission services charge (1.377 cents per kWh).
- Ameren’s price includes a supply rate (3.375 cents per kWh); a transmission charge (1.278 cents per kWh); and a small Supply Cost Adjustment (0.168 cents per kWh).
- These rates DO NOT include the Purchased Electricity Adjustment (PEA), a per-kWh credit or debit that changes monthly.
Read more about these prices and order our FREE 37-page Gas & Electric Guide to know your rights and avoid rip-offs.
