Understanding the Energy Options for Your Illinois Home

Since 2008, Illinois residents have been able to choose the energy company they like most for their Illinois home or business. And during the preceding 10 years, Illinois slowly but surely went through the difficult process of deregulating the energy markets so that average, everyday consumers just like you would have the power to do what’s right for you – NOT the utility company.

The History of Energy Deregulation in Illinois

Because it wasn’t always this way. The utility companies used to have a monopoly on the Illinois energy market, which meant each of them could set the electricity and natural gas prices for the specific area of the state they controlled, and consumers couldn’t do anything about it. You had to pay exactly what the utility company said to pay and do so completely on their terms.

But in 1997, after reports showed that Illinois residents were paying some of the highest rates for electricity and natural gas in the country, legislators passed “The Illinois Electric Service Customer Choice and The Rate Relief Law.” In short, it told the utility companies that they would only be in charge of transmitting and distributing energy and allowed for independent energy companies (known as Alternate Retail Energy Suppliers or ARES) to compete for customers.

Thankfully, you now have the ability to sign up for service with whichever ARES you think is best for you. You can shop around the different Illinois energy companies that are competing for your business by determining the combination of rates, customer service quality, and incentives that appeal most to you.

The power truly is yours, and it’s easy to use it to your benefit.

Shopping for Illinois Energy

We recommend starting your search for the right Illinois energy company for your home or business at an aggregator site. Such places let you see all the available electricity and natural gas offers in your area combined on one page, which helps you compare and contrast on your terms. While each site can differ slightly in terms of user interface, the overall process is rather simple:

1. 1. Enter your ZIP code.
   2. Choose residential or commercial.
   3. Select electricity or natural gas.
   4. Click the filtering variables that matter most to you, including: plan type, term length, energy type, and more.

Once you find a few companies that interest you, we encourage you to visit the websites of each ARES you like. There, you can gain a clearer glimpse into the promises, terms, and details of the plans you feel would be best for your home or business.

After you determine the energy plan that’s right for you, simply click on the appropriate “Order Now” button or call the customer service number for that ARES. Be sure you have your utility company account number handy for the signup process, as this tells your new energy company how to communicate with your utility company so you don’t lose power during the switch.

To be clear – it can take between 4-8 weeks for your service to switch to your new energy company, as your utility company will only complete the switch after the end of your current billing cycle.

Energy choice in Illinois gives you the power to do what’s best for your home or business. Take charge of your energy bills today and switch to Vista Energy!