Compare Champaign Electricity Rates

Champaign Electricity Rates

Contents

1 Champaign Electricity Rates
2 Ameren Illinois is the Utility Company in Champaign
3 Contact Ameren for Power Outages
4 Choosing an Electric Supplier
5 Read the Terms and Conditions!
6 What is the Price to Compare?
7 Is There an Early Cancellation Fee?
8 Long Term vs. Short Term Plans
9 What Happens at the End of my Plan?
10 View by City
11 Clean Energy
12 Electricity Rates

Residents living in Champaign, IL can enjoy lower electric bills by shopping for a competitive electric supplier. Champaign electricity rates fall under the Ameren utility service area. Legislation passed in 1997 unbundled the responsibilities of Illinois utilities, allowing energy companies to provide generation services in the city. The increase of energy companies entering the market has pushed down energy prices. Illinoisans now have more choices when it comes to choosing a provider. More residents are switching from Ameren to a new energy provider to save money on their electric bills.

The city of Champaign is located 135 miles south of Chicago and has a population of just under 90,000. The city has a climate that is common among midwestern states that include warm to hot summers and cold winters.

Ameren Illinois is the Utility Company in Champaign

Ameren is the utility company that is responsible for maintaining the power lines to safely deliver the electricity to its customers. If you’re moving to the city, then you will be receiving the electric bill from Ameren. The cost to deliver the power shows up on the electric bill as the delivery charge. This is a regulated charge and is overseen by the Illinois Commerce Commission. The utility company is also required to offer a default rate for generation services to customers who do not switch over to another electric supplier.

Contact Ameren for Power Outages

If you recently changed electric suppliers and experience a power outage, then you will need to contact Ameren and not the electric supplier. Thanks to advancements in technology, power outages can be detected and fixed within hours.

Ameren Illinois contact information: 1-800-755-5000

Choosing an Electric Supplier

Living in a deregulated electricity market has many advantages compared to regulated markets. Allowing energy companies to compete for your business will push down energy prices. Energy choice also allows consumers more options when it comes to choosing an energy plan. A plan that is right for you may not be the same plan that is right for your neighbor. Knowing what you want is the first step in selecting a provider. Below are a few things to keep in mind while you make your decision.

Read the Terms and Conditions!

The most obvious thing to do while choosing a provider is to read the terms and conditions. This can save you from any surprises that show up on the electric bill. The terms and conditions will lay out the details including the energy rate, term length, early cancellation fees, and any other charges that are included.

What is the Price to Compare?

Ameren is required to provide generation services to customers that do not change providers. Ameren’s default rate is also known as the price to compare. Customers can use the price to compare while comparing energy providers. If a company is offering a rate lower than the price to compare, then the customer will save money by switching.

Is There an Early Cancellation Fee?

Most energy plans will come with an early cancellation fee. If you switch energy providers before the end of your old agreement expires, then you may be hit with a large cancellation fee. Early cancellation fees can come in the form of a flat fee or a dollar amount multiplied by how many months were left in the agreement. These fees can range up to $300 so make sure you complete the term before switching to a new provider!

Long Term vs. Short Term Plans

Most people are comfortable with locking in a long-term plan and forgetting about it for a few years. Long-term fixed-rate plans can protect a customer through a volatile market. However, if the market drops, then the customer might be stuck paying a higher rate. Short term plans give more flexibility to the customer to change energy providers without having to worry about being charged a high cancellation fee. However, short term plans expose customers to market volatility. If the market spikes, you might end up paying a high rate.

What Happens at the End of my Plan?

Most energy suppliers will switch their customers to a month-to-month variable plan once the initial plan expires. Once this happens the energy supplier can change the rate at their sole discretion. Don’t be surprised to have the electric bill double or even triple in a single billing period. We recommend locking in a new energy plan a month before the old plan expires.