How to lower your electric bill in Illinois

Read your bill first

Your bill has two main parts: the electricity itself (the supply charge) and the delivery charge from ComEd or Ameren. Compare your kilowatt-hour use with the same month last year. If you signed up with an alternative supplier, check its rate and contract end date. See our guide to Illinois electric suppliers before you switch or renew.

Heating and cooling come first

• ENERGY STAR says almost half of a typical household’s energy bill goes to heating and cooling (ENERGY STAR).
• Smart thermostat. In homes with high heating and cooling bills, or homes empty much of the day, ENERGY STAR estimates a certified smart thermostat can save about $100 a year (ENERGY STAR).
• Seal ducts and air leaks. Sealing and insulating ducts can improve heating and cooling efficiency by as much as 20% (ENERGY STAR). A home energy assessment can find the leaks. ComEd, Nicor Gas, North Shore Gas and Peoples Gas customers can call 1-855-433-2700 to book one, and Ameren customers can find a program contractor (ICC). See our home energy audit guide.
• Old equipment. ENERGY STAR suggests having HVAC equipment more than 10 years old checked by a pro (ENERGY STAR). See our HVAC guide.

Appliances and lighting

• Lights. LEDs make light up to 90% more efficiently than incandescent bulbs, which give off about 90% of their energy as heat (ENERGY STAR).
• Laundry. Switching from hot to warm water can cut a washer’s energy use in half, and cold saves even more (ENERGY STAR).
• Old fridges. ENERGY STAR says a refrigerator over 15 years old could cost about $95 a year to run. Keep the fridge at 35 to 38 degrees F (ENERGY STAR).
• Standby power. Plug TVs, game consoles and chargers into a power strip you can switch off. The Citizens Utility Board has tips on this “vampire power” (DCEO, CUB).
• Buy efficient. When you replace an appliance, look for the ENERGY STAR label and check the ENERGY STAR Rebate Finder for utility rebates.

New income-based discounts

The Illinois Commerce Commission says both big electric utilities now have discounts for customers with income at or below 300% of the federal poverty level (ICC):

• ComEd began offering sliding-scale discounts of 5% to 80% a month in February 2026 (ICC).
• Ameren Illinois began a program in June 2026 designed so eligible customers pay no more than 3% of verified monthly income for electricity, or 6% for electric space heating. Enrolled customers are placed on budget billing (ICC).
• How to enroll. If you’re enrolled in LIHEAP, you qualify automatically, depending on household size and income. If your income is 201% to 300% of the poverty level and you’re not in LIHEAP, you must report your income to your utility yourself (ICC).

For 2026, the poverty guideline is $15,960 for one person and $33,000 for a family of four (HHS), so 300% is $47,880 and $99,000.

Help paying the bill

• LIHEAP. The ICC says LIHEAP money is available from October 1, 2026 for some groups, applications open November 1, 2026 for all other eligible households, and the program runs through August 13, 2027 or until funds run out. Call 1-833-711-0374 (ICC, DCEO).
• No late fees or deposits for low-income customers. Illinois law bars electric utilities from charging late fees to low-income customers, and it bars electric and gas utilities from requiring them to pay deposits. If you were charged, ask your utility for a refund (ICC).
• Budget billing and payment plans. Utilities offer budget billing to even out monthly payments and deferred payment arrangements to pay a past-due balance over time (ICC).
• PIPP. The ICC says the Percentage of Income Payment Plan isn’t accepting new applications right now because of limited funds (ICC).

Shutoff protections

• From December 1 to March 31, LIHEAP and PIPP participants, electric space heating customers, and military members and veterans can’t be disconnected for nonpayment (ICC).
• Since January 1, 2024, utilities that provide a home’s only cooling can’t disconnect for nonpayment on days forecast above 90 degrees F or during a heat warning (ICC).
• Facing a shutoff? Call your utility about a payment arrangement. For a complaint, call the ICC at 1-800-524-0795 (ICC).

More ways to save: heating bill help in Illinois, community solar and our subscriptions and bills guide.