Commonwealth Edison customers will continue to pay elevated electricity prices due to soaring energy demand sparked by new and proposed data centers, CUB said in a consumer alert this week. The consumer group urged ComEd to work with customers struggling to afford their bills and called on the Illinois General Assembly to pass reforms to protect customers from unfair data center-related energy costs.
ComEd has confirmed that its new “price to compare,” October 2026 through May 2027, will be: 10.103¢ per kilowatt-hour (kWh). (This rate includes the supply price and a transmission charge.)
It’s called the “price to compare” because it’s the rate ComEd customers would compare to any competing alternative electricity supplier offer. This price is nearly 3 percent lower than this past summer’s price (10.399 cents per kWh), but still elevated. Soaring electricity demand has become a major issue in recent years, with the proliferation of data centers to manage energy-intensive artificial intelligence. In fact, ComEd’s October price is about 53 percent increase from two years ago.
A credit made possible by the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) will continue to give customers some relief. The law requires a line item on ComEd bills called the Carbon Free Energy Resource Adjustment (CFERA) to subsidize energy generated by Illinois nuclear power plants. But consumer advocates pushed for a provision that changes the charge to a credit when energy prices are high. The amount is adjusted each month. In recent months, it has ranged from a credit of about 1.6 cents per kWh in September to about 0.115 cents per kWh in October. (This benefit is set to end June of 2027.)
“We are deeply concerned that electricity prices continue to be painfully high because of skyrocketing data center-related energy demand,” CUB Communications Director Jim Chilsen said. “Although ComEd is not profiting off this price increase, the utility still has an important role: We call on ComEd to work with customers to keep them connected this year. And we will continue to work for state reforms—the POWER Act—to protect customers from the impact of data center-related energy demand on power prices. We must rein in data centers and make sure Big Tech pays its fair share of energy bills.”
The POWER Act (SB 4016/HB 5513) would implement a number of reforms, including requiring data centers to bring their own new clean power if they want firm electric service that won’t be curtailed at times of high demand. (Send a message to your legislators in favor of the POWER Act!)
CUB provided information about the price spike as well as consumer tips:
What’s the cause? The price for reserve power—called “capacity”—has skyrocketed. This has been sparked by power-hungry data centers and poor policies undertaken by the regional power grid operator in ComEd territory. For example, PJM Interconnection has been slow to fix a clogged “interconnection queue”—the line of power plants, largely wind and solar generators, waiting to connect to the grid.
What part of the bill is impacted? Supply, which is the cost of the actual electricity. ComEd does not profit off this price spike–under law the utility is required to pass supply costs onto customers with no markup. (ComEd profits off of rate hikes on the delivery side of bills, and just received one for $243 million last year.)
If ComEd doesn’t profit off this price spike, who does? Big energy companies that sell electricity to utilities stand to make a windfall.
CUB’s online resource, CUBHelpCenter.com, has tips on how to get through this price spike.
- Warning: Beware of alternative supplier rip-offs. Alternative electricity suppliers are impacted by the same market conditions that are causing utility prices to increase, so be careful about getting lured into bad deals. Since 2015, Illinois consumers have lost about $2.3 billion to alternative power suppliers. It’s likely, even in this expensive market, that your utility is your best bet. If your community has negotiated a power deal with a supplier, don’t assume the price is lower than the utility rate. Confirm the price and how it compares with the utility and find out when the offer expires.
- Practice energy efficiency. Simple actions like weatherizing windows and doors can help soften the blow of this price spike.
- Stay in contact with your utility. Consumers who are struggling should contact their utility to inquire about energy assistance, payment plans to pay off debt, and energy efficiency programs. CUB called for ComEd to offer good payment plans to help more utility customers pay off their debt and stay connected.
- See if you qualify for energy assistance. On Thursday, Oct. 1, some income-eligible households will be able to apply for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP), and on Nov. 1, all income-eligible households can apply. For information on eligibility, visit www.helpillinoisfamilies.com, call the Help Illinois Families Assistance Line at 1-833-711-0374, or read this CUB article on LIHEAP.
- Consider a community solar deal to help ease costs. Community solar offers currently guarantee savings compared to the utility’s supply price. But be a careful shopper: Get more information at our special website, SolarInTheCommunity.com.
- If you’re interested in installing solar panels, consider the next steps. Learn more about the Switch Together program, which CUB participates in, and rooftop solar in general. Also, CUB has information about income-qualified solar programs.
