Plain answers about changing the price on your electric and gas bills in Illinois. Changing your price never turns off your power or your gas.
See today’s prices in Illinois
If someone calls or knocks and says any of these, you can hang up or close the door.
Judy Saves will never call you or knock on your door.
No. Your lights and heat stay on.
ComEd or Ameren still delivers your power. Nicor, Peoples Gas or North Shore Gas still delivers your gas.
They still send your bill. Only the price part changes.
Where this comes from:
Not always. Savings are not promised.
Many Illinois plans start low and then change each month. Some have monthly fees.
That is why we check the math for you, fees included.
Where this comes from:
You call the company that will set your new price, or sign up on its website. You don't call your utility.
That company tells your utility for you.
Your utility mails you a letter to confirm the change and name the new company.
Have your bill ready. The company will ask for a number from it.
Only give that number to a company you have decided to switch to.
Many Illinois towns choose one company for everyone. This is called a town program (municipal aggregation).
You can leave it. The letter from the program tells you how.
Town programs don't always save money. We compare your price like any other.
Where this comes from:
Yes. Your utility mails you a letter about the change.
Electric: you have 10 days after the utility handles your sign-up to cancel for free.
Gas: you have 10 business days after the gas company's letter. Weekends and holidays don't count.
Gas plans also let you cancel for free within 10 business days after your first bill from the new company.
Yes. Call your utility and ask to go back to its standard price.
ComEd and Ameren don't charge a fee for this. You may have to stay with them for 12 months.
Your electric bill calls the standard price the Price to Compare. It usually changes on June 1 and October 1.
The gas companies' own price changes every month.
If an electric plan starts again on its own, the company must mail you a separate notice 30 to 60 days before it ends.
The notice must show your old price next to the new one.
A fixed electric price can't turn into a price that changes each month unless you say yes in writing.
Come back to Judy Saves when the notice comes. We will check your choices again.
Where this comes from:
Electric: no. Illinois law lets you leave a home electric plan at any time with no fee.
Gas: a plan can charge a fee to leave early, but never more than $50.
Some plans start low for a month or a few months, then change each month.
Ask what the price will be after the start.
When we compare plans, we look past the starting price.
"I'm with ComEd" or "I'm with Ameren." A company selling price plans is not your utility.
"Read me your account number." That number lets someone switch you. Don't share it unless you have decided to switch.
"You're guaranteed to save." No one can promise that.
"This low price is just for the first month." That is a starting price. Ask what it will be after that.
"You have to decide today." You never have to decide on the spot.
"There is a fee to leave." Home electric plans in Illinois can't charge a fee to leave. Gas plans can charge at most $50.
"You can't cancel." You can. You have 10 days for electric, or 10 business days for gas, after your utility's letter.
Where this comes from:
No. Judy Saves never calls you or knocks on your door.
If someone says they are from Judy Saves, hang up.
Call 1-800-524-0795.
Call them about pushy sellers, a switch you did not ask for, or other problems.
Where this comes from:
Call 1-800-669-5556.
This group speaks up for people who pay utility bills. Its help is free.
Call your utility if the power or gas goes out, or to go back to its standard price.
Its number is on your bill.
Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC)
The state office that oversees electric and gas companies. Call with a complaint or a question. Check their website for the hours to call.
Citizens Utility Board (CUB)
A group set up by Illinois law that speaks up for people who pay utility bills. Its help is free. Check their website for the hours to call.
ComEd
Your electric company. Call about outages, your bill, or going back to the standard price. Check your bill for the hours to call.
Ameren Illinois
Your electric company. Call about outages, your bill, or going back to the standard price. Check your bill for the hours to call.
Nicor Gas
Your gas company. Call about your gas, your bill, or going back to the standard price. The number is on your bill.
Peoples Gas
Your gas company. Call about your gas, your bill, or going back to the standard price. Check your bill for the hours to call.
North Shore Gas
Your gas company. Call about your gas, your bill, or going back to the standard price. The number is on your bill.