GAS METER: An Ameren Illinois meter. (Capitol News Illinois photo by Jennifer Fuller)
August 24, 2026 – Ameren Illinois residential customers have paid more than $1 billion above the utility’s supply rates to alternative electricity suppliers since 2015, according to a review of state data by the Citizens Utility Board.
CUB says Ameren customers paid more than $100 million above the utility’s supply rate during the most recent year covered by the Illinois Commerce Commission’s Office of Retail Market Development report, which runs from June 2025 through May 2026.
Illinois law allows customers to choose an alternative company to supply their electricity, while Ameren continues to deliver the electricity through its power lines.
As of May, about 40 percent of Ameren Illinois residential customers—more than 421,000 households—were enrolled with alternative electricity suppliers. CUB says 62 percent of those customers were part of municipal aggregation programs, in which communities negotiate electricity supply contracts for residents.
CUB’s review found that Ameren customers with alternative suppliers paid an average of 3.05 cents more per kilowatt-hour than Ameren’s supply rate.
The Illinois Commerce Commission also identified alternative supplier rates as high as 38 cents per kilowatt-hour in Ameren territory. CUB says that was roughly three to four times Ameren’s default supply price at the time.
CUB is urging consumers to check the “Supply” section of their electric bills and compare their current rate with Ameren’s “Price to Compare.” Ameren’s current supply price is 11.326 cents per kilowatt-hour, although the utility’s supply rate is expected to decrease October 1.
CUB is also supporting legislation that would limit alternative suppliers to rates no more than 10 percent above the utility’s supply price and require customers to approve automatic contract renewals when rates increase.
