In 2009, the Illinois Legislature passed the Illinois Power Agency Act which allowed the aggregation of municipal electric load. In doing so, the legislation enabled residential and small business customers to secure potentially less costly electricity supply from designated Retail Electricity Suppliers.
Beginning last year, consumers started to receive information regarding alternative electricity providers offering potentially lower prices for the supply component of their electric bill. Several companies began marketing campaigns as a result of an Illinois Commerce Commission decision that made it easier for alternative suppliers to bill for services through Commonwealth Edison (Com Ed). As a result, customers have the option of continuing to receive the supply of electricity through Commonwealth Edison, or choose an alternative supplier.
When choosing to obtain electricity from a different supplier, Com Ed is still responsible for the transmission of that electricity to your business and home. As a result, Com Ed will still bill the customer, maintain the service lines, and respond to power outages as in the past. The only change is a potential reduction in the cost of the electricity supply charge on your Com Ed bill.
Clean Air Counts, a campaign created by the Metropolitan Mayors Caucus (of which La Grange is a member), launched an Energy Savings program to provide lower rates to residents through Integrys Energy Services at a competitive rate that is currently 19.82% less than Com Ed on the supply component of the bill. Through this program, electricity supply rates are guaranteed to remain no higher than Com Ed’s “Price to Compare” through June, 2013. For more information regarding this program, please view the Frequently Asked Questions.
Because reducing energy use is central to the mission of the Clean Air Counts program, all participating households are entitled to 4 CFL light bulbs so that not only are participants paying less for energy, less energy is being used.
Customers should have their ComEd bill in hand when signing up for the program because the bill includes important information such as the customer’s account number. The Energy Savings Program package includes the option of either receiving 4 compact fluorescent light bulbs or choosing to donate them to Energy Choices program that distributes the high efficiency bulbs at Chicago area food pantries. The online enrollment form to participate in the program is available here.
The Illinois Commerce Commission and the Citizens Utility Board have developed comprehensive lists of other alternative programs that are currently available. The information is presented in a format that allows customers to compare different program rates and contract terms. Customers are encouraged to fully investigate the offers before making a decision to select an alternate supplier.
The Village is providing this information to residents as a public service.
For more information regarding electricity rate savings programs, please contact Andrianna Peterson, Assistant Village Manager at (708) 579-2315.