Homes served by a supplier
20.7%
1,122,430 homes, 2025
Average price
17.67 cents
3% above the US average
Average monthly bill
$126.59
Illinois, 2025
Choice status
Yes
Open to households
How choice works in Illinois
Customers of ComEd and Ameren Illinois can choose an alternative supplier, and many communities buy power for residents through municipal aggregation.
ComEd and Ameren Illinois set a default supply price that most households pay unless they choose another supplier or live in a community that has chosen one for them.
- What a supplier changes: the price and terms of the energy you buy, and often the company that sends the bill.
- What it does not change: your delivery utility, your meter, outage service and the poles and wires.
Illinois next to the other choice markets
In 2025, 20.7% of Illinois homes bought from a retail supplier. Among the 15 choice markets on this site, that ranks 6th of 15 for the share of homes with a supplier. The average price was 17.67 cents per kWh, 3% above the US average, and the average bill was $126.59.
| State | Homes with a supplier | Cents per kWh | Monthly bill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Massachusetts | 61.8% | 30.41 | $181.08 |
| Texas | 55.1% | 15.40 | $170.95 |
| Ohio | 49.8% | 16.90 | $147.74 |
| Rhode Island | 24.8% | 29.48 | $165.62 |
| Pennsylvania | 22.4% | 19.29 | $161.90 |
| Illinois | 20.7% | 17.67 | $126.59 |
| New Hampshire | 17.8% | 24.53 | $156.94 |
| Connecticut | 15.3% | 29.31 | $206.46 |
| District of Columbia | 8.8% | 21.92 | $140.05 |
| Maine | 7.3% | 27.69 | $147.67 |
| New York | 7.1% | 26.39 | $154.75 |
| New Jersey | 6.1% | 22.48 | $150.59 |
| Delaware | 5.6% | 17.15 | $157.80 |
| Maryland | 5.6% | 19.53 | $184.42 |
| Michigan | 0.0% | 20.03 | $127.17 |
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Form EIA-861 (final 2025 data), residential. A higher share of homes with a supplier does not mean lower prices.
Who delivers your power
Delivery utilities in Illinois are regulated, and the largest by residential customers in 2025 were:
| Utility | Type | Homes served |
|---|---|---|
| ComEd | Investor-owned | 3,753,924 |
| Ameren Illinois | Investor-owned | 1,062,810 |
| City of Springfield | Municipal | 59,366 |
| City of Naperville | Municipal | 57,225 |
| Corn Belt Energy | Cooperative | 34,952 |
| Southwestern Electric Cooperative | Cooperative | 24,414 |
| Southeastern Illinois Electric Cooperative | Cooperative | 22,607 |
| Norris Electric Cooperative | Cooperative | 18,163 |
Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration, Form EIA-861 (final 2025 data). Cooperatives and municipal utilities may sit outside the choice program. Check who sends your bill.
Not sure who serves you? Use the find my electric company tool or check the top of your bill.
How to compare offers in Illinois
Use Plug In Illinois, and check whether your town has an aggregation program before you sign a contract.
The official comparison site is Plug In Illinois. Start there, because it is run for consumers.
Ready to switch? Read the Illinois switching guide for the steps, the rules we checked and what to confirm first.
- Find your current default price and the date it will next change.
- Ask each supplier for the price, the type, the term, every fee and the early termination fee in writing.
- Compare over a full year, not one month.
- Check what happens when the term ends.
The Illinois Commerce Commission runs Plug In Illinois, which lists current offers and shows the utility price to compare. Supplier offers must be compared with that price, not with an old bill.
Many Illinois towns and counties run municipal aggregation programs. Residents are enrolled by default and can opt out. If you were enrolled, your bill will show the aggregator’s supplier.
Five questions to ask before you sign
- What is the price per kWh, and is it fixed or variable?
- How long is the term, and what is the fee for leaving early?
- Are there monthly charges, minimum usage fees or conditions on credits?
- What happens when the term ends, and how will I be told?
- How long do I have to cancel after signing?
Your rights and where to complain
Suppliers are licensed or registered with the state, and the Illinois Commerce Commission handles complaints. Keep a copy of your contract and any call or email confirmation. If you think you were switched without permission, tell your utility and your regulator right away.
Illinois electricity provider questions
Can I choose my electricity provider in Illinois?
Yes. Customers of ComEd and Ameren Illinois can choose an alternative supplier, and many communities buy power for residents through municipal aggregation.
Who delivers electricity in Illinois?
Your local utility delivers it. By residential customers in 2025, the largest delivery and utility companies were ComEd, Ameren Illinois. You cannot change your delivery company.
What happens if I do not pick a supplier in Illinois?
You receive utility supply price, also called the price to compare. ComEd and Ameren Illinois set a default supply price that most households pay unless they choose another supplier or live in a community that has chosen one for them.
How many Illinois homes use a retail supplier?
In 2025, retail suppliers served about 20.7% of Illinois residential customers, or 1,122,430 homes (EIA Form EIA-861).
Is a supplier cheaper than the utility in Illinois?
It can be, and it can also be more expensive. Compare an offer against the current default price over a full year, and read the term, the fees and what happens at renewal.