Are You Missing Out on Hundreds in ComEd Electricity Savings

Our home has never had gas heat, but we only recently learned how we could save a significant amount of money on our electric bill -- and you can, too, especially if you have all-electric heat here in Northern Illinois.

This discovery is a classic example of something our utility, ComEd, isn't exactly shouting from the rooftops. For the latest episode of The Electric Home Show, I  highlighted an excerpt from a webinar I did with the GreenHome Institute, where I broke down a little-known secret: The ComEd All-Electric Heat Distribution Rate.

Most consumers focus on the supply side of their electricity bill, looking at rates like ComEd's Hourly Pricing (which has been very advantageous for electric vehicle charging and electric heating). But there’s an entire deliveryor distribution side that holds a major, overlooked opportunity for savings.

If you have all-electric heat within the ComEd electrical grid, you need to check your bill right now. I would encourage every homeowner, builder, and architect to look into the electric heat delivery rates that are available.

As my colleague Brett rightly pointed out during the webinar, this isn't just an Illinois thing—if you're anywhere in the country, you may be surprised at what special rates your utility offers for electric heat!

Here is the unbelievable part about the ComEd all-electric heat distribution rate: when I called to request this rate, the representative tried to talk me out of it!

“Are you sure you want this rate?” they asked, “Because your monthly customer charge is going to increase by $2.”

My response? Absolutely, yes.

Why? Because while my monthly customer charge goes up by two dollars, I save over 50% in the distribution facility charge.

• The Change: Your Distribution Facility Charge will drop from around 6 cents per kilowatt-hour to less than 3 cents per kilowatt-hour.
• The Customer Charge: The monthly fee changes by only $2.

This isn't just about the supply side, or net metering for your solar panels; it's about checking your delivery rates.

If you have all-electric heat on ComEd, call them and request the electric heat distribution/delivery rate charge.

For everyone else: Be sure to check your local electric utilities for similar special savings if you're using electric heat. Ask specifically about special delivery or distribution rates.

Special thanks to the Citizens Utility Board (CUB) for publishing this critical information and to the Northbrook homeowner who brought this to my attention.

Are you using all-electric heat? Are you getting special savings from your utility? 

1. Call ComEd at 1-800-334-7661
2. Once you verify your account number and get a representative on the phone, tell them you want to switch to the all-electric heating distribution rate. They may not know what this is, but you can cite this Citizens Utility Board article if needed: https://www.citizensutilityboard.org/blog/2025/01/10/new-electric-rates-for-comed-and-ameren-customers-in-2025/
   
   Single family home owners can mention that you want the C-B90Rclassification, known as the ComEd Electric Residential Single with Space Heat.
   Multi-family home owners should ask for the C-B91R classification, or ComEd Electric Residential Multiple with Space Heat.
3. ComEd will make this change by phone, but reserves the right to schedule someone to visit your home to verify you have electric heating. If they do require a visit, they should credit your bill from the date you call to request the change.
4. If ComEd does not respond or change the rate, you should file a complaint with the Citizens Utility Board here:https://www.citizensutilityboard.org/complaintform/
5. Once completed, your future bills will get this lower rate of 2.924¢ per kWh. (as of January 10, 2025). Future rates may vary.

Want to learn more about making your home healthy, energy-efficient, and all-electric? Reach out to us at ElectricHomeCompany.com to schedule your free virtual coffee today!