City Recommends Residents Switch to ComEd

Elmhurst, IL — The City of Elmhurst is recommending residents switch to ComEd from the city's electric aggregation program with Constellation Energy Services for their home electricity.

The city's program with Constellation has a fixed rate of 7.51 cents per kilowatt-hours through August 2017, and ComEd recently released pricing of 6.19 cents per kWh for June to September, according to the city.

The ComEd rate from October to May 2017 may be 6.308 cents, though that figure is subject to change in October.

ComEd rates could also increase or decrease by half a cent per kWh, a variable known as the Purchased Electricity Adjustment (PEA).

A ComEd spokesperson said in an email ComEd's PEA is similar to other energy suppliers'. It's calculated and adjusted each month, and on average, the PEA expected to be close to zero. The PEA can add half a cent to ComEd rates, or it can deduct half a cent from rates.

So ComEd's rates for June to September could range from 5.69 to 6.69 cents per kWh, which is less than the fixed rate of 7.51 cents residents on the city's aggregation program will pay.

"Given the decrease in ComEd’s rate effective June, 2016, residents and small businesses who are part of the City’s aggregation with Constellation Energy Services should switch back to ComEd in order reduce the cost of the energy supply portion of the bill," a city news release states.

The city's agreement with Constellation Energy Services doesn't have an early termination fee. Residents can switch to ComEd by calling Constellation at 844-309-6307 with an electricity account number.

If the city gets a better price and contract in August 2017 for its aggregation program, residents, including those who switch to ComEd now, will be included again in the city's program.

Residents with questions can call the city's consultant, NIMEC, at 1-800-727-3820.

Information on rates, electric supply pricing and renewable energy can be found at pluginillinois.org 

More about the Electric Aggregation Program

Under the Electric Aggregation Program, which began in 2012, the City of Elmhurst negotiates electricity rates for the home electric bills of its residents. 

The city reports the program has lowered the average Elmhurst homeowner’s electric bill by $264, saving the whole community $3.7 million and deriving half of the city's power from renewable sources.

The fixed rate contracted with Constellation includes "50 percent support of Renewable Energy Credits," the city reports.

The ComEd spokesperson said ComEd embeds the costs of the renewable energy it purchases into the overall rate structure instead of having a standalone renewable energy price.