Illinois Electricity Rates
Illinois deregulated its electricity market in 1997, with full residential choice available since 2002. With rates averaging 18.82¢/kWh—near the national average—Illinois residents can often find competitive plans that beat their utility’s default rate. The state is the nation’s largest nuclear power producer, providing abundant baseload generation that keeps wholesale prices competitive. Over 700 municipalities have also adopted Community Choice Aggregation programs, giving residents additional ways to save. Below you’ll find current rates, utility breakdowns, and everything you need to find the best plan.
Key Takeaways
Illinois Avg Rate
U.S. National Average
How Illinois Electricity Deregulation Works
Illinois passed the Electric Service Customer Choice and Rate Relief Law of 1997, which restructured the state’s electricity market by separating generation from delivery. Full residential choice became available in 2002. Today, Alternative Retail Electric Suppliers (ARES) compete for customers across all three utility territories.
Identify Your Utility
Check your bill to see if you’re served by ComEd (northern IL), Ameren Illinois (central/southern IL), or MidAmerican Energy (Quad Cities). Your utility determines which suppliers serve your area.
Compare Suppliers
Browse certified ARES suppliers and compare supply rates, contract terms, and plan features. The Illinois Commerce Commission’s Plug In Illinois tool and ElectricChoice.com both offer comparison resources.
Select & Enroll
Choose a plan and sign up online or by phone. Your new supplier handles notification to your utility. Illinois law provides a 10-business-day rescission period after enrollment.
Start Saving
The switch completes within 1–2 billing cycles with zero service interruption. Your utility continues to deliver power. Only the supply charge on your bill changes.
Municipal Aggregation: Illinois’s Unique Advantage
Illinois is the national leader in Municipal Aggregation (Community Choice Aggregation). Over 700 communities have voted to negotiate electricity supply contracts on behalf of their residents, leveraging bulk purchasing power for lower rates. If your municipality has an aggregation program, you’re automatically enrolled unless you opt out. You always retain the right to choose your own supplier independently—aggregation is a default, not a mandate.
Illinois Electric Utility Territories
Illinois is served by three major investor-owned utilities. Your utility determines the delivery charges on your bill and which competitive suppliers serve your area.
ComEd (Commonwealth Edison)
Illinois’s largest utility, serving approximately 4 million customers across the Chicago metro area and northern Illinois. An Exelon subsidiary. ComEd territory has the most active supplier competition in the state due to the large customer base. Outage line: 800-334-7661.
Ameren Illinois
Serves approximately 1.2 million electric customers across central and southern Illinois, including Springfield, Peoria, Champaign, and East St. Louis. A subsidiary of Ameren Corporation. Outage line: 800-755-5000.
Types of Illinois Electricity Plans
Illinois’s competitive market offers several plan structures through certified ARES suppliers. Understanding the options helps you match your plan to your usage and budget.
Fixed-Rate Plans
Your supply rate stays locked for the contract term, protecting against seasonal volatility. Valuable in Illinois where both summer cooling and winter heating can drive price swings.
- Rate locked regardless of market conditions
- Protection from summer and winter spikes
- Terms typically 6–24 months
- Early termination fees may apply
Variable-Rate Plans
Your rate adjusts monthly based on PJM/MISO wholesale prices. Can deliver savings during mild months but carries risk during extreme weather.
- No contract or cancellation fees
- Rates may drop during mild seasons
- Risk during extreme weather months
- Cancel or switch anytime
Green Energy Plans
Support Illinois’s clean energy transition with plans sourced from renewable energy. The Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) mandates 100% clean energy by 2050.
- Support IL’s clean energy goals
- Often competitively priced
- Wind, solar, and nuclear sourced
- Same grid reliability
Short-Term Plans
Try a supplier with a 1–3 month commitment. Illinois’s 10-business-day rescission period gives additional protection when trying a new supplier.
- Minimal commitment
- Low or no cancellation fees
- 10-day rescission period by law
- Typically converts to variable after term
Illinois Energy Profile
Illinois is a national energy powerhouse. The state’s electricity generation portfolio is dominated by nuclear power—Illinois has more nuclear capacity than any other state—supplemented by growing wind capacity and natural gas.
Illinois operates six nuclear generating stations with 11 reactors—more than any other state. This massive nuclear fleet provides reliable, carbon-free baseload power that keeps wholesale electricity prices competitive. The state is also a top-10 wind energy producer, with over 6,000 MW of installed wind capacity concentrated in central and western Illinois. The Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) of 2021 mandates a path to 100% clean energy by 2050, with coal plant closures by 2030 and natural gas phase-outs by 2045.
Two Grid Operators: PJM and MISO
Illinois is split between two regional grid operators. ComEd territory (northern IL) operates within PJM Interconnection, while Ameren territory (central/southern IL) operates within MISO (Midcontinent Independent System Operator). This means wholesale electricity prices can differ between northern and southern Illinois, and supplier availability may vary by territory.
Illinois Business Electricity Rates
Illinois’s commercial rate of 14.01¢/kWh positions the state competitively for business operations. Chicago’s status as a major business hub and the state’s central location make competitive electricity procurement valuable for companies of all sizes.
Financial & Professional Services
Chicago’s Loop and surrounding business districts are home to major financial institutions, law firms, and corporate headquarters. Office buildings benefit from fixed-rate plans that stabilize operating costs.
Manufacturing & Logistics
Illinois’s central location and extensive transportation network support a robust manufacturing and logistics sector. Energy-intensive operations can negotiate custom supply agreements through ARES suppliers.
Data Centers & Technology
Chicago is a major data center market, anchored by proximity to key internet exchange points. Illinois’s competitive rates and nuclear baseload make it attractive for power-hungry data center operations.
Best Time to Shop for IL Electricity
Illinois electricity prices follow seasonal patterns driven by wholesale market dynamics across PJM and MISO. Understanding these patterns helps you time your switch for maximum savings.
Spring: Mar–May
Mild weather reduces both heating and cooling demand. Wholesale prices drop across PJM and MISO, and suppliers compete aggressively for new customers with their lowest fixed rates of the year.
Summer: Jun–Aug
Air conditioning demand peaks in Chicago and across the state. MISO and PJM wholesale prices rise, especially during heat waves. If your contract expires in summer, try to lock in a rate before June.
Fall: Sep–Nov
Cooling demand fades and winter hasn’t arrived. An excellent window to lock in a fixed rate that protects against winter price volatility.
Illinois’s Major Cities
All of Illinois’s major cities fall within deregulated utility territories. Many also participate in municipal aggregation programs that provide an additional layer of savings.
| City | Utility |
|---|---|
| Chicago | ComEd |
| Aurora | ComEd |
| Naperville | ComEd |
| Joliet | ComEd |
| Rockford | ComEd |
| Elgin | ComEd |
| Springfield | Ameren Illinois |
| Peoria | Ameren Illinois |
| Champaign | Ameren Illinois |
| Bloomington | ComEd / Ameren |
| Decatur | Ameren Illinois |
| Waukegan | ComEd |
Frequently Asked Questions About Illinois Electricity
Everything you need to know about shopping for electricity in Illinois, answered in plain language.
Is Illinois a deregulated electricity state?
Yes. Illinois deregulated its electricity market through the Electric Service Customer Choice and Rate Relief Law of 1997. Full residential choice became available in 2002. Customers served by ComEd, Ameren Illinois, and MidAmerican Energy can choose their electricity supplier.
What is the average electricity rate in Illinois?
The average residential rate is 18.82¢/kWh—roughly at the national average of 18.05¢/kWh. The commercial rate averages 14.01¢/kWh. Rates vary between ComEd territory (northern IL) and Ameren territory (central/southern IL).
What is Municipal Aggregation?
Municipal Aggregation (or Community Choice Aggregation) allows Illinois municipalities to negotiate electricity supply contracts on behalf of their residents. Over 700 Illinois communities have approved aggregation programs through local referendums. If your community participates, you’re automatically enrolled in the aggregated rate unless you opt out. You always retain the right to choose your own supplier.
How do I switch electricity suppliers in Illinois?
Switching takes about 10 minutes. Compare suppliers using your ZIP code, choose a plan, and enroll online or by phone. Your new supplier notifies your utility, and the switch completes within 1–2 billing cycles. Illinois law provides a 10-business-day rescission period after enrollment, during which you can cancel without penalty.
Why is Illinois a major nuclear power state?
Illinois has more nuclear generating capacity than any other state, with six stations and 11 reactors producing approximately 54% of the state’s electricity. This massive nuclear fleet provides reliable, carbon-free baseload power that keeps wholesale prices competitive. The Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) of 2021 provided subsidies to keep nuclear plants operating as part of the state’s clean energy transition.
Who do I call for power outages in Illinois?
For power outages, contact your utility—not your supplier. ComEd: 800-334-7661. Ameren Illinois: 800-755-5000. MidAmerican Energy: 888-427-5632. Your utility maintains delivery infrastructure regardless of which supplier you use.
What consumer protections exist in Illinois?
Illinois provides strong consumer protections: a 10-business-day rescission period for new contracts, mandatory disclosure of all rates and fees before enrollment, prohibition of deceptive marketing practices, and oversight by the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC). You can file complaints with the ICC at 800-524-0795.
About this Data
Rate data is sourced from the U.S. Energy Information Administration (EIA), the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC), the Plug In Illinois comparison tool, and the ElectricChoice.com electric rate marketplace. The inclusion, exclusion, ranking, or naming of any rate, plan, or provider on this page does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation. Listed rates reflect averages and do not include all utility-specific delivery charges. You should review each plan’s terms of service before enrolling. Last data refresh: April 2026.
