What drives electric bills in Illinois
Residential electricity in Illinois averaged 19.2¢ per kWh in January–July 2026, up 10.7% from 17.4¢ in the same months a year earlier (the U.S. average went up 6.9%). In July 2026, the latest month available, it was 19.2¢. The typical home here used 693 kWh a month in 2024, 20% less than the U.S. average, so a high bill usually points to the price per kWh or to one big appliance.
- Capacity costs. Grid operators pay power plants to be available on the hottest days, and those costs rose sharply. ComEd customers saw it starting in June 2025.
- Summer air conditioning. Hot, humid summers are when Illinois homes use the most power and when supply costs are highest.
- Supplier and aggregation plans. Many Illinois towns buy power for residents in bulk, and many homes have signed up with alternative suppliers. Their prices can be higher than the utility’s.
Who supplies your power
ComEd serves Chicago and northern Illinois, and Ameren Illinois serves most of central and southern Illinois. Many smaller cities and co-ops, such as Springfield’s CWLP, have their own utilities.
Ways to pay less in Illinois
- Compare your supplier’s price with the utility’s price to compare on Plug In Illinois, the state’s official site, and look for your town’s aggregation price.
- ComEd and Ameren both offer hourly pricing plans. If you can shift laundry, dishwashing and car charging to nights and weekends, they can lower your bill.
For example, a 1,500 W space heater running 8 hours a day costs about $70 a month at Illinois prices. Check what your appliances cost to run in Illinois.
Shopping for a cheaper plan in Illinois
Illinois lets many homes choose who supplies their electricity. Before you switch, compare offers at your own usage, not just the advertised price: at the 693 kWh a typical home here uses, every 1¢ per kWh is worth about $83 a year. Prefer fixed-rate plans of 12 months or more, check the early cancellation fee, and note when the contract ends.
Compare plans on Plug In IllinoisHelp paying your bill in Illinois
- Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP): income-eligible households pay a fixed share of their income for utility bills, and part of past-due balances is forgiven.
- Low-income discount rates: ComEd and Ameren Illinois both offer discounted rates for qualifying households. Ask your utility or your local LIHEAP agency.
Statewide help is in addition to the federal programs, such as LIHEAP and weatherization, that the bill checker above lists. Call 211 to find the agency that handles them near you.
Is solar worth it in Illinois?
A typical 7 kW rooftop system in Illinois produces roughly 8,750 kWh a year, about 100% of what an average home here uses. At the state’s average price of 19.2¢, that power is worth about $1,682 a year. What you actually save depends on your roof, the price you pay for the system, the 30% federal tax credit rules in effect when you buy, and how your utility credits the power you send to the grid. Get at least three quotes before you decide.
How Illinois compares with nearby states
| State | Price per kWh | kWh a month | Typical bill |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois | 19.2¢ | 693 | $133 |
| Missouri | 14.0¢ | 1,001 | $140 |
| Iowa | 14.2¢ | 832 | $118 |
| Indiana | 17.0¢ | 901 | $154 |
| Wisconsin | 19.0¢ | 645 | $123 |
| U.S. average | 18.2¢ | 863 | $157 |
Price: average residential price, January–July 2026, U.S. Energy Information Administration (Electric Power Monthly, tables 5.6.A and 5.6.B). Usage: average monthly consumption per home, 2024, EIA form EIA-861. Typical bill = typical usage × current average price. Solar output is a rough estimate for a south-facing roof.