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Cheapest Electricity in Chicago? No Year-Long Supplier Plan Beats ComEd's 10.103¢ (October 2026)
analysis10 min read

Cheapest Electricity in Chicago? No Year-Long Supplier Plan Beats ComEd's 10.103¢ (October 2026)

Ryan Cook•

For anyone who wants a price that lasts a year or more, ComEd's own default supply is the cheapest posted option for Chicago homes this fall. ComEd's Price to Compare is 10.103¢ per kWh from October 1, 2026 through May 31, 2027. On October 8, 2026, the state's Plug In Illinois list carried 28 fixed-price supplier plans for ComEd customers with terms of 12 months or longer, and not one was below 10.103¢. The cheaper offers on the list are teasers: one to nine months, or a variable rate that floats after an intro price.

I pulled the full list tonight, all 47 residential offers from 20 suppliers, because "cheapest electricity in Chicago" is a question I get every fall when the supplier mailers start showing up with the October bill. Here's what the state's own data says, what most comparison sites get wrong, and the one case where switching makes sense.

Key facts: ComEd supply prices and supplier offers, October 2026

Item Figure Period / source date
ComEd Price to Compare 10.103¢/kWh (8.413¢ supply + 1.69¢ transmission) Oct 1, 2026 – May 31, 2027 (transmission piece changes again in January 2027); Plug In Illinois
ComEd Price to Compare, summer 10.399¢/kWh June 1 – Sept 30, 2026
ComEd Purchased Electricity Adjustment −1.551¢/kWh credit (ComEd supply customers only) October 2026; ICC
Supplier offers posted for ComEd homes 47 offers from 20 suppliers (42 fixed-price) Pulled Oct 8, 2026; ICC
Year-long-or-longer fixed plans below 10.103¢ 0 of 28 (lowest 10.31¢, gas-and-electric bundle only) Pulled Oct 8, 2026; ICC
Middle of the 42 fixed-price offers (median) about 11.9¢/kWh Pulled Oct 8, 2026; ICC
Chicago municipal aggregation Expired August 2015 ICC aggregation list, Oct 8, 2026

What the state's list actually shows

The Illinois Commerce Commission runs the Plug In Illinois offers list. Suppliers post their own prices there, and the ICC says participating suppliers "are required to honor prices listed here." It's the closest thing to a full price board for ComEd territory.

Here's the cheap end of it, at the state's own 1,000 kWh example:

Offer (as posted Oct 8, 2026) Price Term At 1,000 kWh vs. ComEd 10.103¢
ComEd default supply (Price to Compare) 10.103¢ Through May 31, 2027 $101.03 —
Santanna Energy Services, Choice 12-Month 10.31¢ 12 mo, gas + electric bundle only $103.10 +$2.07
Just Energy, Rate Guard Plan - 12 10.49¢ + $9.99/mo admin fee 12 mo $114.89 +$13.86
CleanChoice Energy, Clean Shopper 12 Months 10.70¢ 12 mo $107.00 +$5.97
AEP Energy, 12-Month Energy Fixed Price 10.80¢ 12 mo $108.00 +$6.97
Constellation, 12 Month 11.39¢ 12 mo $113.90 +$12.87
Median of all 42 fixed offers about 11.9¢ various about $119 about +$18

The 1,000 kWh column is supply only. Delivery stays with ComEd either way. In the state's words, delivery charges "are the same regardless of your choice of electric supplier."

One 12-month listing posts its price as "0.1790" with no monthly cost estimate. Read as dollars, that's 17.9¢ per kWh, and that's how I counted it. It also "becomes a variable rate thereafter."

At the cheapest electric-only plan with no monthly fee, a 1,000 kWh home pays about $6 a month more than staying with ComEd. At the median offer it's about $18. That isn't a scam on its face. It's just a price, and right now ComEd's is lower.

The three offers that do beat ComEd, and the catch on each

Three fixed offers on the list were under 10.103¢ on October 8. None of them lasts long.

  • 7.99¢ for 9 months (EcoPlus Power). The listing shows $29.00 under "Additional Monthly Fees." If that's monthly, a 1,000 kWh home pays about 10.9¢ all-in, and a 500 kWh apartment about 13.8¢. Ask what the $29 is before you sign.
  • 9.79¢ for 3 months (American Power & Gas, new customers only). Three months, then a new price.
  • 9.499¢ for 1 month (Nordic Energy Services). The listing says it "then defaults to a variable rate."

The variable "intro" plans work the same way. The lowest price on the whole list, 7.49¢, is an intro rate "with a variable rate thereafter," on a 48-month term. The listing doesn't say how long the intro lasts. That's the pattern I've seen behind most of the supplier horror stories in Illinois: a low first number, then a price nobody re-checks. I wrote up the state's numbers on what supplier switching has cost Illinois homes.

One more to understand rather than avoid. A "Winter Break" plan at 16.49¢ for 12 months takes 50% off energy charges for bill cycles from November 1 through the end of February. That's about 8.25¢ for four months and 16.49¢ for the other eight. Unless nearly all your use is in winter, it averages out well above ComEd.

What most comparison sites get wrong

I checked the pages that rank for this search. Choose Energy's Illinois rates page, last updated July 22, still gives ComEd's price to compare as 9.66¢, the price that ended May 31. ElectricityRates.com has the right 10.10¢ in its table but labels it as the June through September price in its summary. Neither one lines up the posted supplier offers against the October price.

Even the state's own comparison table was behind tonight. On October 8, its ComEd row still showed 10.399¢, labeled "in effect from June 1, 2026 through September 30,2026." Against that stale number, the 10.31¢ bundle looks like a deal. Against the real October price, it isn't. Use the 10.103¢ on the ComEd Price to Compare page, and read what the Price to Compare covers and leaves out.

The honest case for a supplier: ComEd's monthly adjustment

ComEd's price isn't perfectly flat, and this is where a supplier's fixed price can earn its premium.

Every month, ComEd supply customers get a Purchased Electricity Adjustment, a credit or charge that trues up what ComEd actually paid for power. It isn't in the Price to Compare. If you switch, you don't pay it, and you don't get it either.

ComEd adjustment, recent months ¢ per kWh
October 2026 −1.551 (credit)
May 2026 +8.166
November 2025 −1.721 (credit)
Last 12 months (Nov 2025 – Oct 2026), simple average about +0.55

From January 2017 through July 2023, this adjustment never moved more than half a cent either way. Since then it has swung from −1.785¢ to +8.166¢. October's credit puts this month's net ComEd supply price near 8.55¢, well below every year-long supplier plan. May 2026 went the other way and added more than 8¢ for a month. The state still expects it to "average near zero for the planning year."

My take: if one ugly month would wreck your budget, paying about half a cent more for a 12-month price is a defensible choice. Paying 2¢ more is not. And any contract signed now runs past June 1, 2027, when ComEd's price resets to a number nobody knows yet.

If you live in the suburbs: check your town first

Chicago's aggregation program is listed as expired in August 2015, so Chicago homes are on ComEd supply unless someone signed with a supplier. A lot of suburbs still have programs, and in ComEd territory they're mostly decent this fall:

  • 164 active aggregation deals in ComEd territory on the state list (October 8, 2026)
  • 77 of 96 fixed-price deals are below 10.103¢. The average is about 9.63¢, and Sterling is at 8.53¢ through September 2027.
  • 19 are above. Lake Zurich and Riverside are highest at 10.9¢ (Riverside's term ends October 31, 2026).
  • 67 towns, including Evanston, Oak Park, Skokie and Aurora, simply match ComEd's price plus its monthly adjustment.

That's close to the reverse of Ameren territory, where most town deals cost more than the utility. Find your town on the ICC's aggregation list and compare its rate and end date to 10.103¢.

Renters and apartments: same rules

Renters can choose a supplier too, and the math is the same. It's actually worse for small users, because a flat monthly fee costs more per kWh when you use 400 kWh instead of 1,000. If a door-knocker in your building offers "a lower rate," ask for the price per kWh, the term, any monthly fee and what happens after the term. Then hold it up against 10.103¢.

If you want to cut ComEd's supply cost without a supplier, ComEd's own optional rates can do it for the right household. I compared ComEd's time-of-day and hourly pricing by usage pattern.

Where solar fits

Every option above, ComEd or supplier, is still a price per kWh set by the power market, and supply is only about half of a ComEd bill. The rest is mostly delivery, which isn't part of the October 1 supply price change.

Solar on your own roof replaces part of what you buy in the first place. If you own the system, you also keep the Illinois Shines REC value that comes with it. If you'd rather not buy, a $0-down lease bills the power your panels make at a predictable rate as low as $0.10 per kWh, with a battery included and the full 25-year rate schedule set in your contract before you sign. Neither one is a fit for every Chicago roof, especially with shade or a condo board involved. Plenty of two-flats and bungalows work fine, though.

Want me to check whether your current supplier is costing you money? Send me a photo of your ComEd bill and I'll tell you who supplies your power, what you pay per kWh and how it compares to 10.103¢. Call (618) 217-2001, run your numbers through the savings calculator, or get in touch here. For the full October rate picture, see the Ameren and ComEd October 2026 rates and the ComEd rates page.

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Frequently Asked Questions

For anyone who wants a price that lasts a year or more, ComEd's own default supply is the cheapest posted option this fall. Its Price to Compare is 10.103 cents per kWh from October 1, 2026 through May 31, 2027. On October 8, 2026, the state's Plug In Illinois list carried 28 fixed-price supplier plans for ComEd homes with terms of 12 months or longer, and not one was below 10.103 cents. The lowest, 10.31 cents, is only for customers who bundle gas and electric. The lowest electric-only plan with no monthly fee was 10.7 cents. Three short fixed offers were lower, from 7.99 to 9.79 cents, but they last one to nine months, and one lists a $29 monthly fee. Chicago has no city aggregation deal, because its program expired in August 2015. Offers change often, so check the live list and do the math before you sign anything.
For most ComEd homes this fall, no, at least not for a year-long contract. Switching only changes the supply part of your bill. ComEd still delivers the power, and the state says delivery charges are the same whichever supplier you choose. So a supplier saves you money only if its price beats ComEd's Price to Compare of 10.103 cents per kWh, which runs from October 1, 2026 through May 31, 2027. On October 8, none of the 28 year-long fixed plans on the state's list did. The cheapest electric-only plan without a fee, 10.7 cents, would cost about $6 a month more at 1,000 kWh. The fair case for switching is protection from ComEd's monthly Purchased Electricity Adjustment, which hit plus 8.166 cents in May 2026. Over the last 12 months that adjustment averaged about half a cent, so paying a premium for protection can make sense for some homes.
ComEd doesn't sell a contract plan, but its default supply price is set for each period and posted by the state. For October 1, 2026 through May 31, 2027, ComEd's Price to Compare is 10.103 cents per kWh. That's an 8.413-cent electric supply charge plus a 1.69-cent transmission services charge, and the state says the transmission piece will change again in January 2027. From June 1 through September 30, 2026 it was 10.399 cents. Each month, ComEd supply customers also pay or receive a Purchased Electricity Adjustment, which isn't in the Price to Compare. October's is a credit of 1.551 cents, which brings this month's net supply price to about 8.55 cents. The adjustment moves every month: plus 8.166 cents in May 2026 and minus 1.721 cents in November 2025. The state expects it to average near zero over a planning year. Delivery charges come on top of all of this, and they don't change if you switch suppliers.
No. The Illinois Commerce Commission's aggregation list shows Chicago's program as expired in August 2015, so Chicago homes are on ComEd's default supply unless someone in the household signed with a supplier. Many suburbs still have programs. On October 8, 2026, the state list showed 164 active aggregation deals in ComEd territory. Of the 96 with a fixed price, 77 were below ComEd's 10.103-cent Price to Compare and 19 were above, with Lake Zurich and Riverside the highest at 10.9 cents. Another 67 towns, including Evanston, Oak Park, Skokie and Aurora, have deals that simply match ComEd's price plus its monthly adjustment, so they move with the utility. That's close to the opposite of Ameren territory, where most fixed aggregation deals cost more than the utility. If your suburb is on the list, check its rate, its end date and whether it beats 10.103 cents.

Related City Guides

Chicago, ILEvanston, ILOak Park, ILSkokie, ILAurora, IL

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What the next IL rate hikes mean for you.What Solar Panels Really Cost in Illinois in 2026 (Honest Numbers, No Lead-Selling)What solar panels actually cost in Illinois in 2026 — real per-watt and per-system numbers, what changed this year, and why we don't sell your info to five callers.Illinois Electric Rates Keep Climbing — Does Solar Finally Make Sense in 2026?Ameren and ComEd rates are up ~90% in five years and still climbing. Here's how to see what you're on track to overpay — and whether solar finally makes sense.Illinois Net Metering Changed in 2025 — What It Costs You and How to Protect Your SavingsIllinois ended full retail net metering on Jan 1, 2025. Here's what the switch to net billing actually costs solar owners — and how to protect your savings.The 30% Solar Tax Credit Ended — Here's How Illinois Homeowners Still Get It in 2026The 30% federal tax credit ended for homeowner-owned systems on Dec 31, 2025. Here's how Illinois homeowners can still capture federal solar value in 2026.How Much Does a Solar Lease Cost Per Month in Illinois? (2026)What does a solar lease actually cost per month in Illinois? Real 2026 numbers, what's included, and how a predictable lease rate compares to a rising utility bill.Ameren vs ComEd 2026: Which Costs More Per kWh? (ComEd Runs ~1.5¢ Higher)ComEd averages ~17¢/kWh, Ameren Illinois ~15.5¢/kWh. See the full 2026 breakdown: supply charges, delivery fees, summer spikes, and how much it costs per month.Ameren Rate Increase 2026: Summer Rate Ends — Oct 1 Price to Compare Is 10.441¢ (ComEd 10.103¢)Updated September 30, 2026: the Ameren rate increase put the summer Price to Compare at 11.326¢/kWh (ComEd 10.399¢) through September 30; from October 1 it is 10.441¢ (ComEd 10.103¢). See the average Illinois electric rate now, why bills jumped June 1, and what changed October 1.The Iran War Is Sending Oil Prices Through the Roof — Will Your Illinois Electric Bill Follow?Oil is at $112/barrel after the Strait of Hormuz blockade. Here's how the Iran conflict could push Illinois electricity rates even higher — and what you can do now.Why Your Ameren Bill Keeps Going Up (and What MISO Has to Do With It)Ameren bills jumped 18-22% in summer 2025 and rose again June 1, 2026. Here's why MISO capacity auctions are driving your rates up and what you can do about it.The Real Cost of Solar Panels in Illinois: 2026 BreakdownWhat do solar panels actually cost in Illinois in 2026? Real numbers for cash purchase, lease, and Solar for All — from an installer who gets prices below the state average.Selling a House With Leased Solar Panels in Illinois (2026 Guide)Selling a house with leased solar panels in Illinois? Here's how the lease transfer works, what buyers actually think, and why it's not the problem most people expect — owned systems too.Solar Lease vs Buying Panels: I Did the Math for IllinoisShould you lease or buy solar panels in Illinois? I broke down the real numbers for both paths using current 2026 prices, incentives, and Ameren/ComEd rates.Data Centers = 70% of Illinois's Rate Spike (Here's What It Costs You)Data centers drove 70% of Illinois's capacity-cost spike in 2026. See the PJM/MISO mechanism, the per-household cost impact, and what to do to protect your bill.ComEd Rate Increase 2026: Oct 1 Supply Drops to 10.103¢, but Delivery Didn'tUpdated Oct 2026: ComEd's 2026 rate increase put the Price to Compare at 10.399¢/kWh through September 30; from October 1 it is 10.103¢/kWh. What changed June 1, what reset October 1, the ICC delivery increases that didn't reset, and your all-in cost per kWh.Illinois Electricity Rates Have Nearly Doubled Since 2021 — Here's What That Means for Your BillIllinois electricity rates have surged 90%+ since 2021. Here's what's driving the increases, what to expect next, and how to protect your household.Illinois Solar Incentives 2026: 7 Programs Worth $12,000-$18,000+Illinois solar incentives 2026: Illinois Shines RECs, the new $20/REC customer-owned adder, $300/kW DG rebate, battery rebate, net metering, and property tax exemption — worth $12,000-$18,000+ on an owned system. Plus no-cost Solar for All for income-eligible households.Solar Battery Backup in Illinois — What It Actually Powers and Whether It's Worth ItWhat does a solar battery actually run during an outage? How much does it cost with the $300/kWh rebate? Here's the honest breakdown for Illinois homeowners.
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