Chicago electricity rates
Compare every licensed supplier serving Chicago side by side — real per-kWh rates, no paid rankings, no sales calls. ComEd delivers the power no matter which plan you pick.
What's a good rate? The typical Chicago plan runs about 11.8¢/kWh — anything near today's 7.49¢ floor is a strong deal.
Lowest rate in Chicago right now
7.49¢/kWh
across 19 licensed IL suppliers
Enter your ZIP for plans at your address
Before you compare: check what you're actually paying
Chicago previously ran one of the largest municipal aggregation programs in the country; it was suspended in 2015, so most residents are now on the ComEd Price to Compare (the utility default) rather than an aggregation rate. That makes the ComEddefault the number a competitive offer has to beat. It's still worth a quick look at your bill first, though — some Chicago residents have since signed up with a competitive supplier on their own, so confirm whether you're on the ComEd default or an existing supplier rate before comparing from there.
See how Illinois municipal aggregation works and how electricity choice works across Illinois.
Reviewed byJohn Spencer· Updated June 2026
Independent & not affiliated with any supplier — ranked by real cost, never by who pays us.
Quick answer: The cheapest electricity rate in Chicago right now is 7.49¢/kWh, available from 19 licensed IL suppliers. Compare plans below or enter your ZIP code for personalized results.
Top 5 electricity rates in Chicago
The lowest honest per-kWh rates from Plug In Illinois, updated weekly. For context, the typical plan here runs about 11.8¢/kWh — so anything below that is a good rate.
Rank these plans for your home
Set your typical monthly usage — we'll re-rank every plan by what it would actually cost you, not just its headline rate.
Ranked by your estimated cost at 1,000 kWh/month (the typical household — change it above)
| Supplier | Rate at 1,000 kWh | Est. monthly | Term | Action |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 American Power & Gas of IL, LLC Cheapest | 7.49¢/kWh | $74.90 | 3 mo fixed | View plan |
American Power & Gas of IL, LLC 100% Green | 7.99¢/kWh | $79.90 | 3 mo fixed | View plan |
 Ecoplus Power | 7.99¢/kWh | $79.90 | 9 mo fixed | View plan |
 Santanna Energy Services | 10.33¢/kWh | $103.30 | 12 mo fixed | View plan |
 CleanChoice Energy, Inc. 100% Green | 10.40¢/kWh | $104.00 | 12 mo fixed | View plan |
Every plan, ranked by your real cost
All 45plans — including variable and bill-credit plans — sorted by what they'd actually cost at 1,000 kWh. A plan that looks cheap at 1,000 kWh can cost much more at your usage; here it sorts to where it really belongs.
| # | Supplier | Rate at 1,000 kWh | Est. monthly | Type | Plan |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | American Power & Gas of IL, LLC | 5.49¢/kWh | $54.90 | Variable · 48 mo | View |
| 2 | American Power & Gas of IL, LLC | 7.49¢/kWh | $74.90 | Fixed · 3 mo | View |
| 3 | American Power & Gas of IL, LLC | 7.99¢/kWh | $79.90 | Fixed · 3 mo | View |
| 4 | Ecoplus Power | 7.99¢/kWh | $79.90 | Fixed · 9 mo | View |
| 5 | American Power & Gas of IL, LLC | 8.49¢/kWh | $84.90 | Variable · 48 mo | View |
| 6 | Nordic Energy Services | 9.50¢/kWh | $95.00 | Fixed · 1 mo | View |
| 7 | Santanna Energy Services | 10.33¢/kWh | $103.30 | Fixed · 12 mo | View |
| 8 | CleanChoice Energy, Inc. | 10.40¢/kWh | $104.00 | Fixed · 12 mo | View |
Rates for IL licensed suppliers, ranked by estimated cost at 1,000 kWh/month. Usage-sensitive (bill-credit) plans show their true effective rate at your usage, not the 1,000-kWh headline.
Major providers serving Chicago
The big national brands serve Chicagotoo. Here's the lowest honest rate each one offers right now. Most price above the cheapest plans in our Top 5 above — we list them by name so you can compare like for like, not because they're the cheapest.
Prefer a specific provider? Check what they offer at your address.
Best plan by usage level
Your monthly bill depends on how much electricity you use.
Low usage (500 kWh)
500 kWh/month
Cheapest at this usage
5.49¢/kWh
American Power & Gas of IL, LLC
Est. $27/month for generation
Average usage (850 kWh)
850 kWh/month
Cheapest at this usage
5.49¢/kWh
American Power & Gas of IL, LLC
Est. $47/month for generation
High usage (1,200 kWh)
1200 kWh/month
Cheapest at this usage
5.49¢/kWh
American Power & Gas of IL, LLC
Est. $66/month for generation
Chicago at a glance
2.7M
Population
ComEd
Primary utility
15.22¢
Avg rate per kWh (2024)
Lock in a rate from 7.49¢/kWh
Enter your ZIP to see every licensed IL supplier at your address — switching takes minutes.
Your utility vs. your supplier
Illinois deregulated electricity generation in 1997. Your utility handles delivery; you choose who generates your power.
Distribution Utility
ComEd
- Maintains power lines and infrastructure
- Handles outages and emergencies
- Sends your monthly bill
You can't change your utility
More about ComEd & its cities →Your Supplier
You choose
- Generates your electricity
- Sets your generation rate
- Offers fixed or variable pricing
19 suppliers available in Chicago
Rates from 7.49¢/kWh
41%
of IL households have chosen a competitive supplier
100+
ICC-licensed residential electricity suppliers
1-2
billing cycles to complete a supplier switch
Active suppliers in this area
American Power & Gas of IL, LLC
6 plans
Spark Energy
4 plans
Verde Energy Usa
4 plans
Constellation Energy
3 plans
Public Power, LLC
3 plans
Dynegy
3 plans
Illinois Gas & Electric
3 plans
Inspire Energy Holdings, LLC
3 plans
IGS Energy
3 plans
Santanna Energy Services
2 plans
Just Energy Solutions Inc.
2 plans
Ambit Northeast, LLC
2 plans
How electricity choice works
Lower rates
Shop for rates below your utility's Price to Compare
Same service
Your utility still delivers power and handles outages
Price protection
Fixed-rate plans lock in your rate for 6-24 months
Green options
100% renewable plans often cost the same or less
How to switch suppliers
Find your PTC
Check your utility bill for your current Price to Compare. This is the benchmark rate to beat.
Compare rates
Use Plug In Illinois or compare suppliers here. Look at rate, term, and fees.
Enroll online
Sign up with your chosen supplier. Your utility handles the switch automatically.
Setting up electricity in Chicago
Moving to Chicago or switching providers? The mechanics are simple. ComEd delivers your electricity over the same poles and wires no matter which retail provider you pick — so choosing or changing a plan never means a service interruption, a technician visit, or new equipment. You sign up with a provider, and the switch completes within one to two billing cycles.
To enroll you'll need your service address and, if you're already a customer, a recent bill (it lists your ComEd account number and meter — handy but not always required). New to the address? You can usually start service for a future move-in date.
ZIP codes in Chicago
We track ComEd rates and providers across Chicago, Cook County, including ZIP codes 60601, 60609, 60614, 60618, 60619, 60625, 60629, 60639, 60640, 60647.
Frequently asked questions
- Who has the cheapest electricity rate in Chicago?
- The cheapest clean, fixed-rate plan (3+ months) in Chicago is currently 7.49¢/kWh — that's the honest headline we rank on. But the truly "cheapest" plan depends on your usage: many Chicago plans advertise a lower number using bill credits that only apply around 1,000 kWh a month, so they aren't actually cheapest if your home uses more or less. That's why we re-rank every plan by what you'd really pay at your usage level instead of the teaser rate.
- How does electricity deregulation work in Chicago?
- Chicago is served by ComEd, which delivers electricity to homes and businesses. Illinois deregulated electricity generation in 1997, meaning you can choose a different company to generate your power while ComEd continues to deliver it.
- Who delivers electricity in Chicago?
- ComEd is the distribution utility for Chicago and Cook County. They own and maintain the power lines, handle outages, and send your bill. Regardless of which supplier you choose, ComEd delivers your electricity.
- How do I switch electricity suppliers in Chicago?
- Three steps: Compare rates, enroll directly with your chosen supplier online, and wait 1-2 billing cycles for the switch to complete. There's no service interruption, no new equipment, and no fee from ComEd to switch.
- What is the Price to Compare for ComEd customers?
- The Price to Compare (PTC) is ComEd's default generation rate for customers who don't choose a supplier. It changes periodically based on wholesale market prices. The PTC is the benchmark suppliers need to beat.
How we collect this data
Rate data is sourced from Plug In Illinois, the official IL regulatory marketplace, and refreshed weekly. Volt Butler is an independent comparison site — we don't accept payments from suppliers to rank them higher. The ComEd Price to Compare is sourced from ComEd's most recent published rate schedule.
Ready to compare Chicago electricity rates?
Enter your ZIP code to see available suppliers and rates.
Free comparison · 19+ ICC-licensed suppliers · EIA-cited data