Utility Space Heating Rate

Some residential customers use electricity to heat their homes. Typically, these "space heating" customers, sometimes also called "all-electric" customers, consume more than 800 kWh of electricity per month in the non-summer months (October to May). The space heating rate is not a currently available choice as only those customers currently on that rate are allowed to continue to take utility service at that rate.

When the rate freeze resulting from the Electric Service Customer Choice and Rate Relief Law of 1997 expired in January 2007, space heat or all-electric customers saw a dramatic increase in their electric bills. In the summer of 2007, rate relief actions were ordered by the Illinois General Assembly. The rate relief credits have since expired but the discounted power rates applicable to space heat customers have not been entirely eliminated. Because of this discounted rate structure applicable to all-electric or space heating customers, Retail Electric Suppliers (RES) often are unable to offer a lower price than the utility price.

Therefore, the space heating rate customers may not save money by switching to a RES for electric supply. If you are considering a switch of electric supply, it is important that you evaluate your annual usage and the rate being offered to you in order determine what electric supply option best suits your needs. If you are in the Ameren Illinois service territory, log in here to see your annual usage. If you are in the ComEd service territory, log in here to see your annual usage.