Electric utility company in Illinois
Key points:
Ameren Illinois is one of the largest utility companies in Illinois. It provides electricity to more than 1.2 million customers and natural gas to over 800,000 customers across most of the state. The company is a subsidiary of Ameren Corporation based in Carbondale, Illinois. It was founded in 2010 from a merger of three Illinois utility companies.
If you live or operate a business in the southern three-fourths of Illinois, Ameren likely provides your utility services. Major cities in its territory include Champaign, Peoria, and Springfield.
The term “deregulation” sounds complex, but it simply means that you have the power to choose your energy supplier rather than being limited to one. Illinois deregulated its energy market in 1997, allowing private suppliers to compete with utility companies such as Ameren. Over the next several years, Illinois customers could choose from many different options for power suppliers. With so many choices, it’s important to carefully compare Ameren Illinois electricity rates with those from other suppliers in your area.
Note that deregulation does not mean a lack of oversight. The Illinois Commerce Commission oversees all Illinois utility companies. You can contact the commission to resolve disputes you may have with your supplier.
Choose Energy can be a one-stop shop for all the resources you need to understand deregulation and choose the supplier or Ameren Illinois plan that meets your needs. Enter your ZIP code to get started, or visit our site to learn more about:
If you live in Ameren’s service area and you don’t choose a retail supplier, you will most likely default to service through Ameren for electric and natural gas. To find out if you’re getting a good deal, consider Ameren’s “price to compare.” This is the electricity supply rate per kilowatt hour (kWh) for service through Ameren. For January through May 2023, Ameren Illinois rates range between 9.374 and 11.833 cents per kWh.
Enter your ZIP code to see if you can beat Ameren prices by switching to a retail supplier.
One key feature of deregulation is the distinction between a utility and a supplier. Your utility is the company that delivers electricity or natural gas to your home and maintains the energy infrastructure. Your supplier is the company that sells your energy to you in the form of an electric plan. Ameren Illinois is a utility, but it also supplies service to those who choose it.
Regardless of whether you buy your electricity from Ameren or through another electricity provider, Ameren Illinois will maintain the power grid for your service. If you live in Ameren’s service area, call Ameren customer service about outages, as your utility company is responsible for maintaining power lines and infrastructure.
A wide variety of energy providers operate within Ameren Illinois’ service area. Popular suppliers include Direct Energy, Public Power, and Clearview Energy.
Others providers may also be available in your area. The easiest way to explore all the options near you is by using the free Choose Energy marketplace. You can easily browse provider reviews, compare all-inclusive rates, and estimate your monthly bills all in one place. Enter your ZIP code to see which suppliers serve your neighborhood.
To report outages, or for questions regarding your rates and bill if you choose to purchase energy from Ameren Illinois, here’s how to contact the company: