For the tenth consecutive year, Illinois had the lowest average electricity bills in the Midwest, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA). Illinois, which at one point had the highest bills in the Midwest, has now had the lowest since 2012.
The EIA, the statistical arm of the Department of Energy, reported that Illinois’ average monthly bill, $95.86 in 2021, fell well below the national average of $121.01. In fact, Illinois had the fifth lowest average bill in the country. Utah, the cheapest, is at $80.87, and Hawaii tops the list with $177.78. Here’s how Illinois stacks up against other Midwestern states:
- Illinois: $95.86
- Wisconsin: $100.18
- Minnesota: $104.76
- Iowa: $109.63
- Ohio: $112.21
- Michigan: $117.57
- Missouri: $118.55
- Indiana: $126.51
Here’s where Illinois ranks among the states (and the District of Columbia) that have the lowest average power bills:
- Utah: $80.87
- New Mexico: $87.31
- Colorado: $91.96
- District of Columbia: $92.42
- Illinois: $95.86
- Wyoming: $96.82
Despite a decade of relatively low electric bills in comparison to other parts of the country, there is still a lot of work to be done here in Illinois. In June, the electricity prices for ComEd and Ameren skyrocketed for a number of reasons, including an over-dependence on fossil fuels in the country.
Thanks to a provision in the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act that CUB worked for, ComEd customers have actually been able to cut their electric bills by about $18-20 a month, on average. The problems are more complex in Central and Southern Illinois, and the consumer group has been seeking ways to give short-term and long-term relief to consumers there.
“10 years of the lowest power bills in the Midwest shows we’re making progress–but we’re not done yet,” CUB Executive Director David Kolata said. “There are still a lot of people who are having a hard time affording their bills. We need to keep working for them.”
