Illinois town electric program: is it saving you money?

Many people in Illinois buy their electricity through their town and don't know it. The town picked a supplier years ago, a letter came in the mail, and life went on.

That can be fine. But a recent study found that many of these town deals now cost more than the utility's own price. Here is how the programs work, and how to check yours in a few minutes.

What is a town electric program?

In Illinois, a city, village or county can buy electricity for all of its homes at once. The state calls this municipal aggregation. Most people just call it the town program or community program.

The town picks one supplier. That is the company that sets the price for the electricity you use. Your utility, ComEd or Ameren Illinois, still delivers the power, reads your meter and fixes outages. You still call your utility when the lights go out.

The idea is that a big group can get a better price than one home alone. Sometimes it does. Sometimes it doesn't.

How did my town sign me up?

Most programs are opt-out programs. That means everyone is signed up unless they say no.

A town can't do this on its own. The state's Plug In Illinois site (opens a new tab) says an opt-out program needs "the voters of a municipality or county to pass a referendum." A referendum is a question on the ballot. So at some point, your town's voters said yes.

After that, the supplier mails an opt-out letter to homes in the town. Plug In Illinois says, "You will need to fill out and return the opt-out notice in order to be excluded." If you didn't send it back, you were signed up.

Some towns run opt-in programs instead. In those, only people who ask to join are signed up.

Are town programs cheaper than ComEd or Ameren?

Not always. It depends a lot on where you live.

In August 2026, the Citizens Utility Board (CUB), a nonprofit that watches out for Illinois utility customers, looked at 434 town offers (opens a new tab). It compared each one to the utility's own supply price. Here is what it found:

• Ameren Illinois area: "More than 9 out of 10" town offers were money-losers. 94.6% charged more than Ameren's supply price.
• ComEd area: about half of town offers charged less than ComEd's price. Another 40% were set up to match ComEd's price exactly.

So if you live in Ameren's area, there is a good chance your town deal costs you more than doing nothing. If you live in ComEd's area, your deal may save a little, or may simply match ComEd.

Prices move, too. A deal that was good when your town signed it may not be good today.

How do I check my own bill?

You need two numbers:

1. What you pay now. Look at the supply part of your bill. It shows the supplier's name and the price per kilowatt-hour (kWh). A kWh is one unit of electricity.
2. What the utility charges. This is the utility's Price to Compare, the price you would pay if you had no supplier. It changes during the year, so it helps to check it more than once.

If the town program's price is higher than the Price to Compare, you are paying extra. If it's lower, the program is helping.

Today's Price to Compare is on the ComEd page and the Ameren Illinois page. For more help reading the numbers, see the Illinois Price to Compare for ComEd and Ameren.

Not sure if you are in a town program or with a supplier you picked yourself? The supplier's name on your bill is the clue. If you never signed anything, it may be your town's supplier. See how to tell if you have an electric supplier.

How do I leave a town program?

You can leave at any time, and it won't cost you a fee.

Illinois law says home customers can end a contract with an electric supplier "at any time without any termination fees or penalties." This has been true since January 1, 2020. (220 ILCS 5/16-119 (opens a new tab)) Plug In Illinois says this covers town programs too: suppliers "are prohibited from applying early termination fees or penalties" when you switch to another supplier or go back to the utility.

To leave, CUB's advice is simple: "just call the supplier listed on your bill." Tell them you want to leave the town program and go back to ComEd or Ameren. Write down the date and any confirmation number.

One thing to know before you call. When you go back to ComEd or Ameren, the utility will not charge a fee, but Plug In Illinois says "you may have to stay with the electric utility for at least 12 months." (opens a new tab) That is usually fine. Just know it before you decide.

Your power stays on the whole time. Only the price changes.

What if I already had a supplier when the letter came?

Then you were probably left out. Plug In Illinois says if you are enrolled with a supplier when the opt-out letters go out, "you will likely not be included" in the town program.

That means your own contract still applies. Check that price the same way: compare it to the Price to Compare. If it is higher, you can leave that supplier with no fee too.

Is there any reason to stay in?

Yes, if the numbers work. Some town deals, especially in ComEd's area, are priced below the utility or set to match it. If your program's price is lower than the Price to Compare, and has no monthly fee, staying may be the right call.

Just don't assume. Check it once now, and again a few months from now, because the utility's price changes during the year.

Who to call with questions

• The supplier on your bill: to leave the program.
• Your town hall: to ask who the supplier is and when the contract ends.
• The Citizens Utility Board: 1-800-669-5556.
• The Illinois Commerce Commission: 1-800-524-0795.

What to do next

1. Find the supply section of your latest bill. Write down the supplier's name and price.
2. Look up today's Price to Compare on the ComEd page or the Ameren Illinois page, or see all of Illinois on the Illinois page.
3. Run the free bill check. I read your bill and tell you in plain words whether your town deal is costing you money.
4. For more plain answers, visit the Help page.