Illinois Auction Timeline

Nine years ago, as part of the "Customer Choice Law" that initiated customer choice in a power supplier and restructured Illinois' electric power industry, electric rates were frozen. The Customer Choice Law provided for a transition period toward delivery service unbundling and greater reliance on market forces. That transition period ends December 31, 2006.

During this transition period, Illinois utilities (ComEd and the three Ameren Utilities, namely AmerenCILCO, AmerenCIPS, and AmerenIP) supplied customers on the basis of long-term power supply contracts. Additionally, ComEd and Ameren shed their generation and no longer own generation in Illinois. As a result, ComEd and Ameren requested an auction process to procure power supply at "just and reasonable rates". On January 24, 2006; the ICC approved the auction to be held in September 2006.

  • 12/1997
    Customer Choice Act enacted
     
  • 01/2006
    ICC approves rate auction for 09/2006
     
  • 09/05/2006
    Illinois electric utility load auction
     
  • 09/08/2006
    Illinois Auction completed
     
  • 09/15/2006*
    Illinois Commerce Commission estimated confirmation of auction results
     
  • 09/26/2006*
    Illinois electric utilities publish rates based on auction results
     
  • 10/31/2006*
    ComEd customers 400KW – 3MW choice deadline1
    Ameren customers 1MW and greater choice deadline1

1ComEd and Ameren customers may choose between auction price or purchase from an ARES energy marketer.

Ameren customers smaller than 1MW may choose between the auction price and an ARES supplier at any time.

ComEd customers 3MW and greater may buy hourly indexed power or buy from an Alternative Retail Electric Supplier (ARES).

ComEd customers less than 400KW may choose between auction price and an ARES supplier at any time.

* Tentative dates