Illinois residents to face higher utility bills in June

ILLINOIS (WTVO) — ComEd is alerting customers that their bills will increase, starting in June.

According to ComEd, “Energy prices are driven by supply and demand. Large power generators sell this electricity supply to ComEd and we pass this cost directly to you. Because of factors like extreme weather, spikes from high energy users like data centers, and other factors, demand is outpacing supply, so costs are getting more expensive. Due to these factors, starting in June 2025, the Capacity Charge will increase for all ComEd customers.”

With the capacity auction price spike, Citizens Utility Board (CUB) Communications Director Jim Chilsen told 

The Center Square a customer who uses 500-kilowatt hours (kWh) of electricity a month would pay $7.50 to $10 extra each month, from June 1st, 2025 to May 31st, 2026.

Capacity prices are extra payments consumers pay power plant operators to have enough reserve electricity available in the event of a sudden spike in demand.

According to the CUB, capacity prices jumped 830% when power grid operator PJM Interconnection announced the results of its Base Residual Auction last year.

ComEd said it will not make money off the increased cost but will pass it along to consumers.

Governors from five states, including Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker, sent a letter to PJM in October to address the increasing costs after prices surged to almost 10 times higher than the previous year at the capacity auction.

To lessen the impact of the supply price increase, ComEd recommends practicing energy efficiency at home, considering a community solar deal to help ease costs, or installing solar panels.