Illinois · electricity shopping guide
Illinois Energy Ratings: how to use IL's official electricity comparison tool
Last reviewed: June 29, 2026 · Independent — no supplier commissions, ever.
ILEnergyRatings.com — run by the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) — lists every licensed Alternative Retail Electric Supplier (ARES) in Illinois and shows their rates next to your utility's default supply rate. Illinois has been deregulated since 1997, and every residential customer of ComEd or Ameren Illinois can use it.
But before you open the tool, there's one thing most Illinoisans don't know — and it changes the entire conversation depending on which utility serves you.
Independent — no supplier relationships
RateWatchdog tracks ICC filings and PJM/MISO capacity market results. We earn nothing from ARES companies. If we recommend ILEnergyRatings.com, it's because that's the right source.
The most important thing Illinois residents don't know: ComEd and Ameren are on different grids
ComEd (northern Illinois, Chicago) is on the PJM grid. Ameren Illinois (central and southern Illinois) is on the MISO grid. These are separate regional electricity markets with completely separate capacity auctions.
The 2024 PJM capacity auction cleared at $269.92/MW-day — roughly 9× the prior year — and drove large supply-cost increases for ComEd customers (+$10.60/month), plus every utility in Ohio, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Maryland. That auction has no direct effect on Ameren Illinois customers. Ameren's MISO-area supply rate (9.706¢/kWh) reflects a calmer market.
| Illinois utility | Grid | Service area | Supply rate |
|---|---|---|---|
| ComEd (Exelon) | PJM | Chicago, northern IL, I-80 corridor | 10.399¢/kWh |
| Ameren Illinois | MISO | Peoria, Springfield, Champaign, central/southern IL | 9.706¢/kWh |
Supply-only rates. Delivery charges (~4–6¢/kWh) are additional. ComEd PTC: summer 2026. Ameren BGS: summer 2025. Verify current rates at ILEnergyRatings.com.
Bottom line: if a supplier salesperson tells an Ameren customer that 'PJM is about to explode your bill' — that's not your grid. It's a sales tactic, not a risk.
How to use ILEnergyRatings.com: 4 steps
- 1
Go to ILEnergyRatings.com and select your utility
The tool asks whether you're a ComEd or Ameren Illinois customer. If you're not sure which serves your address, it's the company name on your electric bill. Note: Ameren Illinois is listed as 'Ameren Illinois Electric' in the tool.
- 2
Note your utility's current default supply rate — that's the only fair benchmark
ComEd's Price to Compare (PTC) resets quarterly and is shown at the top of the tool. Ameren's Basic Generation Service (BGS) resets on its own schedule. If you've never switched, you're paying this rate for supply. If you have switched, find your current ARES rate on your bill and compare it to today's default — you may be paying above it.
- 3
Filter for fixed-rate offers only — then check three things
Rate type: fixed means locked for the term; variable means it can float above the default rate mid-contract. Contract length: how long the rate is guaranteed. Monthly and cancellation fees: any monthly fee reduces or eliminates the effective savings. A clean offer is: fixed rate below the PTC/BGS, 12+ months, no monthly fee, no cancellation fee.
- 4
Do the math before committing
Savings = (default rate - ARES rate) × monthly kWh. Average Illinois residential usage is about 700 kWh/month (lower than the national average). At 700 kWh, a 1¢/kWh savings is $7/month — $84/year. A 0.5¢ saving is $42/year. Factor in cancellation fees against expected savings. If the offer beats the default by less than 0.5¢ and has any fees, it's not worth the contract.
When switching makes sense — and for whom
ComEd customers (PJM)
PTC is ~10.4¢/kWh — elevated by the PJM capacity spike. More ARES fixed-rate offers may fall below the PTC than in prior years. Worth checking ILEnergyRatings.com now. Variable-rate offers are riskier than usual — PJM capacity is at record highs and could push variable rates above the PTC quickly.
Ameren Illinois customers (MISO)
BGS is ~9.7¢/kWh — lower than ComEd and lower than most comparable states. The spread between the BGS and competitive ARES offers is narrower, so the math works out less often. Check ILEnergyRatings.com, but don't switch just because a salesperson invoked the PJM capacity story — that's not your grid.
How to spot an ARES scam in Illinois
Illinois has one of the highest rates of electricity supplier complaints in the US. Common patterns:
- ⚠
Using PJM headlines to scare Ameren customers
Ameren is in MISO. If a salesperson says 'PJM just spiked and your Ameren bill is about to explode,' they're either uninformed or deliberately misleading you.
- ⚠
Introductory or teaser rates
An offer that starts at 7¢ for 2 months, then rolls to a variable rate, is not a 10.4¢ baseline beater — it's a loss leader.
- ⚠
Door-to-door urgency
'This rate is only available today.' Legitimate ARES offers are listed on ILEnergyRatings.com any time — there is no legitimate daily expiration.
- ⚠
Can't find them on ILEnergyRatings.com
Every licensed Illinois ARES must register with the ICC and appear in the database. If they're not there, don't sign anything.
If shopping isn't enough — Illinois bill help programs
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LIHEAP (Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program)
Federally funded one-time utility bill assistance for income-qualified Illinois households. Apply through your county's Community Action Agency. Also covers crisis situations (shutoff notices).
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PIPP (Percentage of Income Payment Plan)
Illinois's income-based program caps monthly utility payments as a percentage of household income. After 12 on-time payments, a portion of arrears is forgiven. Available through ComEd and Ameren Illinois.
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ComEd CARE / Ameren Warm Neighbors Cool Friends
Both utilities offer utility-funded weatherization and energy efficiency programs for income-qualified customers — permanent usage reductions, not just bill credits.
Full guide: Illinois electric bill help programs →
Frequently asked questions
- What is ILEnergyRatings.com?
- ILEnergyRatings.com is Illinois's official electricity supplier comparison tool, operated by the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC). It lists every licensed Alternative Retail Electric Supplier (ARES) in Illinois, shows their current rates and contract terms, and displays them alongside ComEd's or Ameren Illinois's default supply rate. Illinois deregulated its electricity market in 1997 under the Electric Service Customer Choice and Rate Relief Law.
- What is Illinois's electricity rate for 2026?
- Illinois has two major electric utilities with different rates and different grid memberships. ComEd (northern IL, PJM grid) has a Price to Compare of approximately 10.399¢/kWh (summer 2026). Ameren Illinois (central/southern IL, MISO grid) has a Basic Generation Service (BGS) of 9.706¢/kWh (summer 2025). These are supply-only rates — delivery charges are additional. Verify current rates at ILEnergyRatings.com or your utility's website.
- Can I switch electricity suppliers in Illinois?
- Yes — Illinois is fully deregulated. Both ComEd and Ameren Illinois customers can choose a licensed Alternative Retail Electric Supplier (ARES) for the supply portion of their bill. Your utility (ComEd or Ameren) continues to handle delivery, outage response, and billing. The official comparison tool is ILEnergyRatings.com, operated by the Illinois Commerce Commission. Only shop with ARES companies listed there.
- Is ComEd electricity deregulated?
- Yes — ComEd's supply (generation) is deregulated; ComEd does not own power plants and passes the wholesale supply cost through to customers as the Price to Compare (PTC) with no markup. ComEd customers can choose a licensed ARES at ILEnergyRatings.com for their supply. ComEd retains the monopoly on delivery — wires, poles, meters, outage response — regardless of which supplier you choose.
- Why did ComEd rates go up so much in 2025?
- ComEd is in the PJM grid, and its supply costs are set by PJM's capacity market. In July 2024, the PJM 2025/2026 capacity auction cleared at $269.92/MW-day — roughly 9× the prior year's $28.92/MW-day. That spike flowed into ComEd's supply costs starting June 2025, adding approximately $10.60/month to a typical residential bill. The July 2025 auction cleared at $329.17/MW-day (the FERC price cap), keeping upward pressure on ComEd supply costs into 2026/2027. ComEd passes supply costs through with no markup — the increase is a wholesale market event.
- Why didn't Ameren Illinois rates go up as much as ComEd?
- Ameren Illinois is in the MISO grid — not PJM. MISO and PJM are separate regional grid operators with separate capacity markets and separate auction results. The 2024 PJM capacity auction that drove ComEd's +$10.60/month supply increase did not directly hit Ameren Illinois customers. Ameren's BGS rate reflects MISO-area market conditions, which have been substantially calmer. This is the most important and most misunderstood distinction in Illinois electricity — if an ARES salesperson tells Ameren customers that 'PJM is about to spike your bill,' that's inaccurate.
- What are ComEd's off-peak hours?
- ComEd's standard Price to Compare (PTC) is a flat rate — no built-in off-peak discount. However, ComEd offers an opt-in Hourly Pricing program (Rider PRISM) through hourlypricing.comed.com, where customers pay the actual real-time wholesale price each hour. Off-peak wholesale prices can drop below 3¢/kWh on mild overnight or spring/fall periods. Hourly pricing benefits customers who can shift EV charging and major appliances to overnight hours. ComEd also offers a standard time-of-use (TOU) rate for customers with smart meters.
- What is a good kWh rate in Illinois?
- Supply rates in Illinois: ComEd PTC is ~10.4¢/kWh, Ameren-IL BGS is ~9.7¢/kWh (both supply only, 2025–2026). All-in Illinois residential rates (supply + delivery) average about 14–16¢/kWh — below the national average of ~16–17¢. A good ARES offer is: fixed rate genuinely below your utility's current PTC/BGS, with no monthly fee, no cancellation fee, and a minimum 12-month term. Variable-rate offers are higher risk — they can move above the PTC/BGS mid-contract.
- What is ComEd's Price to Compare?
- ComEd's Price to Compare (PTC) is the default supply rate for customers who haven't chosen an ARES — the wholesale electricity cost ComEd passes through with no markup. The PTC resets quarterly. For summer 2026, it's approximately 10.399¢/kWh. Check the current PTC at comed.com/PriceToCompare before comparing ARES offers — the PTC is the only fair benchmark.
- How do I know if an Illinois electricity supplier is legitimate?
- Every legitimate Illinois ARES is licensed by the Illinois Commerce Commission and listed at ILEnergyRatings.com. If an ARES company — regardless of how you heard about them — can't be found at ILEnergyRatings.com, do not sign anything. Common red flags: door-to-door sales with high-pressure urgency, offers that don't state the rate in writing, variable-rate offers framed as 'introductory' pricing, and offers that mention 'PJM' to scare Ameren customers (Ameren is in MISO, not PJM).