Ameren Illinois will charge 11.326 cents per kilowatt-hour for summer electricity supply from June through September 2026, a price that is 39% higher than it was two years ago. The change matters because it lands in the months when Illinois households are already paying more to keep up with rising summer demand.
That is why Sarah Moskowitz, speaking for the Citizens Utility Board, told consumers on Monday to read any alternative supplier pitch closely before they hand over a bill or account information. She said customers have lost too much money to alternative suppliers over the last decade and added that, even in this market, Ameren is probably the best bet for electricity supply.
The warning is not abstract. CUB said Illinois consumers lost $2 billion to alternative electricity suppliers over the last 11 years, and Moskowitz urged people to be careful about any sales visit or phone call that tries to push them into a new contract. If a representative gets an account number, CUB said, that person could sign the customer up without permission, a practice known as slamming.
For customers who already have an alternative supplier, the advice is to watch the bill closely and be ready to leave the deal if the charge climbs above the utility supply rate. Officials also suggested checking whether a community has a municipal aggregation arrangement, which can sometimes offer a better path than a private contract. The summer price from Ameren is likely to ease after the season ends, with CUB saying it should go down from Oct. 1, 2026 through May 31, 2027.
Prices are elevated for several reasons, including added demand from new and proposed data centers, but the Consumer's Utility Board says households still have ways to limit damage. Weatherizing windows and doors can help keep cool air in and warm air out, LIHEAP may help some customers trim bills, and solar panels can create long-term savings. House Bill 4313, the No More Utility Bill-Rip-Offs Customer Protection Act, would bar suppliers from charging more than 10% above the utility supply price and would require a customer signature before an automatic renewal if the rate is going up.
The next question is whether lawmakers act before more customers are locked into costly contracts. Until then, the summer rate is set, the risks are real, and Illinois households will have to decide whether to stay with the utility, shop carefully or avoid the sales pitch altogether.
