Homes in Illinois pay an average of 19.89¢ per kWh, 8% above the national average of 18.34¢. Enter your bill to see where you stand.
Illinois ranks 36th cheapest of 51 (50 states plus D.C.) for residential electricity. At 19.89¢/kWh, it sits 8% above the national average of 18.34¢, and prices are up 8.7% over the past year.
The typical Illinois household uses about 694 kWh a month and pays around $138. Among Midwest states, Nebraska, North Dakota and South Dakota have lower rates.
Illinois lets households buy the electricity itself from a alternative retail electric supplier (ARES), while ComEd and Ameren Illinois keep delivering power, reading meters and handling outages. The program is overseen by the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC).
If you've never shopped, you're on the utility's supply rate, shown as the Price to Compare. ComEd and Ameren Illinois publish their Price to Compare, so you can check any offer against it before signing.
Many Illinois cities and villages use municipal aggregation to choose a supplier on behalf of residents, with the right to opt out.
With a typical Illinois bill of about $138, supply is roughly $76 of it. A supply price 10% below your current default rate would save about $8 a month ($91 a year); delivery charges don't change.
Have your utility account number ready, compare offers on Plug In Illinois (pluginillinois.org), the ICC's consumer site, and sign up with the supplier you choose. The supplier arranges the switch with your utility and your power isn't interrupted. Note when any fixed rate ends, because many suppliers then move you to a variable rate.
Your utility delivers the power and stays the same whichever supplier you choose. Its name is at the top of your bill.
| Utility | Main service area |
|---|---|
| ComEd | Chicago and northern Illinois |
| Ameren Illinois | Central and southern Illinois |
Illinois introduced choice with the Electric Service Customer Choice and Rate Relief Law of 1997. Today the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) oversees the market.
The average residential rate in Illinois is 19.89 cents per kWh as of September 2026, 8% above the national average of 18.34¢, and about $138 a month for a typical home.
If you haven't chosen a supplier, you're on the utility's supply rate, shown as the Price to Compare. It's the price any supplier offer needs to beat.
The Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC). You can compare offers on Plug In Illinois (pluginillinois.org), the ICC's consumer site.
Many Illinois cities and villages use municipal aggregation to choose a supplier on behalf of residents, with the right to opt out.
Averages are EIA residential revenue divided by kWh sold, September 2026. Your rate depends on your utility, plan and season. See average rates for all 50 states.