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How to Read Your ComEd Supply vs Delivery Charges and Where You Can Save
Most ComEd customers spend three seconds looking at their bill: they check the total and then pay it. But buried in those line items is a critical distinction — ComEd supply vs delivery charges — that determines whether you have any power over your bill at all. And here's the thing: you have much more control than you probably realize.
Your ComEd bill isn't a single charge. It's a collection of distinct cost components, some regulated and fixed, others competitive and negotiable. The supply charge — the cost of the actual electricity you use — is entirely within your control. The delivery charges, by contrast, are set by the Illinois Commerce Commission and cannot be changed by switching providers.
Understanding which is which is the foundation of any smart energy savings strategy for Illinois residents and businesses. In this guide, we'll decode every line of your ComEd bill, identify exactly where your savings opportunity lives, and walk you through the specific steps to start capturing those savings today. By the time you're done reading, you'll never look at a utility bill the same way again.
What Are ComEd Supply vs Delivery Charges? A Simple Breakdown of Your Electric Bill
Illinois deregulated its electricity supply market in 1997, which split what used to be a single utility charge into two distinct categories. Understanding this split is the key to understanding where your money goes — and where you can get some of it back.
Delivery Charges: The Non-Negotiable Foundation
Delivery charges cover everything required to physically move electricity from power plants to your home or business. This includes:
- Maintaining the transmission lines that carry high-voltage power across long distances
- Operating the distribution system — the local poles, wires, and transformers on your street
- Reading your meter and issuing your bill
- Responding to power outages and restoring service
- Meeting state environmental and renewable energy requirements
These services are provided exclusively by ComEd and are regulated by the Illinois Commerce Commission. You cannot change your delivery provider, and these charges are identical for all customers on the same rate class regardless of which electricity supplier they choose.
Supply Charges: Your Savings Lever
Supply charges represent the cost of the electricity itself — the energy generated at power plants and purchased in the wholesale market. This component is fully deregulated in Illinois. You can choose any ICC-licensed Alternative Retail Electric Supplier (ARES) to provide this portion of your energy instead of using ComEd's default supply.
If an ARES offers a rate below ComEd's current "Price to Compare" (PTC) — the default supply rate — you save money on every kilowatt-hour you use. If you never switch, you pay ComEd's PTC by default.
How to Read Your ComEd Bill Line by Line: Decoding Every Charge You're Paying For
A typical ComEd residential bill includes the following components. Let's decode each one:
Customer Charge
A flat monthly fee currently set at $13.37 for most residential accounts (Rate DS-1). This covers the fixed costs of maintaining your account — metering, billing systems, and a baseline service connection. It applies every month regardless of whether you use any electricity. You cannot reduce this charge by using less energy or by switching suppliers.
Distribution Charge
A per-kWh charge covering the local distribution infrastructure — the poles, wires, and transformers serving your neighborhood. This is typically the largest single delivery charge component. For residential customers (Rate DS-1), the distribution charge runs approximately 3.7–4.0¢ per kWh depending on current ICC-approved rates. On a 750 kWh/month bill, this adds roughly $28–$30 per month.
Transmission Charge
A per-kWh charge covering the high-voltage transmission system that moves bulk power from generators to ComEd's distribution system. This charge is set by PJM Interconnection and passed through by ComEd. Currently approximately 1.8–2.0¢ per kWh. On a 750 kWh bill, that's $13–$15 per month.
Renewable Portfolio Standard (RPS) Charge
A small per-kWh surcharge that funds Illinois's renewable energy mandate under the Future Energy Jobs Act (FEJA) and Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA). This is currently in the range of 0.2–0.4¢ per kWh and grows incrementally as the state's clean energy targets increase through 2030.
Energy Efficiency Programs (EEP) Charge
A small per-kWh charge funding ComEd's energy efficiency rebate programs for customers. Currently approximately 0.1–0.2¢ per kWh. Note the irony: you're paying for these programs whether or not you use them — which means there's no reason not to take advantage of ComEd's rebate offerings.
Purchased Electricity Adjustment (PEA) / Supply Charge
This is the supply charge — what you pay for the electricity itself. If you're on ComEd's default service, this is billed at the current Price to Compare. If you've switched to an ARES, this section reflects your chosen supplier's rate instead. This is the only line item on your bill that you can actively negotiate and potentially reduce by 10–25%.
Illinois Electricity Distribution Tax
A state-mandated tax applied to your distribution charges. The rate varies by municipality — Chicago customers pay a higher rate than suburban customers due to the City of Chicago's additional municipal tax layer.
Typical ComEd Residential Bill Breakdown (750 kWh/month)
| Line Item | Monthly Amount | Controllable? |
|---|---|---|
| Customer Charge | $13.37 | No |
| Distribution Charge | ~$28.50 | No |
| Transmission Charge | ~$14.25 | No |
| RPS Charge | ~$2.25 | No |
| EEP Charge | ~$1.13 | No |
| Supply Charge (PTC or ARES rate) | ~$60.00 | Yes |
| Taxes & Fees | ~$8.00 | No |
| Total | ~$127.50 |
Of your approximately $127.50 total bill, roughly $60 — nearly half — is the supply charge you can actively reduce.
The Hidden Savings on Your ComEd Bill: Why Your Supply Charge Is the One You Can Control
Here's the fundamental insight most ComEd customers miss: nearly 50% of their monthly bill is the supply charge, and that's the one component that's fully negotiable in Illinois's deregulated market.
What the Price to Compare Actually Means
ComEd's Price to Compare is not some floor price — it's simply ComEd's default rate for customers who haven't exercised their right to choose. It's updated quarterly based on ComEd's own procurement of wholesale electricity. It's often not the most competitive rate available from the 70+ licensed ARES competing in the Illinois market.
During periods when wholesale electricity markets are well-supplied and prices are moderate — typically spring and fall — ARES suppliers can offer rates 10–20% below ComEd's PTC. In tight market periods (high summer demand or polar vortex events), the spread narrows, but fixed-rate contracts locked in during favorable periods continue to deliver savings throughout their term.
The Annual Savings Calculation
For a household using 9,000 kWh/year with a supply rate 1.5¢/kWh below ComEd's PTC:
9,000 kWh × $0.015 = $135/year in savings — simply from choosing a competitive supplier.
For a small business using 50,000 kWh/year with the same rate differential:
50,000 kWh × $0.015 = $750/year in savings — without changing a single light bulb or work practice.
Compounding Savings With Efficiency
Supplier savings and efficiency savings are additive, not mutually exclusive. A business that reduces consumption by 10% and switches to a supplier 15% below PTC achieves a compound savings effect. Start with supplier selection (zero capital required), then layer in efficiency investments funded partly by the supply savings you're already generating. See our guide on Illinois Small Business Energy Savings for a complete playbook.
How Illinois Businesses and Homeowners Can Switch ComEd Suppliers and Start Saving Today
Switching your ComEd supply is one of the simplest financial optimizations available to any Illinois household or business. Here's the complete process:
Step 1: Know Your Current Rate
Find the "Purchased Electricity Adjustment" or supply rate on your most recent ComEd bill, or check the current PTC at comed.com/pricetocompare. This is your benchmark. Any ARES rate below this number saves you money.
Step 2: Gather Your Billing History
Pull the last 12 months of bills (or log into your ComEd account to download usage history). This data allows ARES suppliers to accurately price your account and give you a binding quote rather than a ballpark estimate.
Step 3: Compare Offers Through a Broker
An independent energy broker can solicit quotes from 10–20 ARES simultaneously and present them side by side. This is dramatically more efficient than contacting suppliers individually, and a good broker will flag contract terms worth scrutinizing before you sign anything.
Step 4: Review and Sign
Review the contract carefully using the checklist in our Contract Red Flags guide, then sign with your chosen supplier. Notify ComEd electronically (your broker typically handles this) and the switch takes effect within one to two billing cycles.
Step 5: Monitor Ongoing Performance
Keep tabs on ComEd's PTC quarterly. When your contract nears expiration (typically 60–90 days out), start the comparison process again. The market you lock into on renewal may be materially different from when you first signed.
See How Much Your ComEd Supply Rate Could Drop
Share your recent ComEd bill details and we'll return competitive ARES quotes within 24 hours — at no cost and no commitment to you.
Compare My ComEd Supply RateFrequently Asked Questions: ComEd Supply vs Delivery Charges
What is the difference between ComEd supply and delivery charges?
Delivery charges cover maintaining the grid infrastructure (poles, wires, meters) — regulated and non-negotiable. Supply charges cover the electricity itself — deregulated and reducible by choosing a competitive ARES instead of ComEd's default rate.
Can I lower my ComEd delivery charges?
No. Delivery charges are regulated by the ICC and apply uniformly to customers on each rate class. You cannot change your delivery provider. Delivery costs can be indirectly reduced by using less electricity overall, but the per-kWh rate itself is fixed.
What is the ComEd Price to Compare?
The PTC is ComEd's default supply rate for customers who haven't switched to an ARES. It changes quarterly. If any ARES offers a rate below the current PTC, switching will save you money on your supply charge.
What is the ComEd customer charge?
The customer charge is a fixed monthly fee ($13.37 for most residential DS-1 accounts) covering metering, billing, and account administration. It applies regardless of usage and cannot be eliminated by switching suppliers or using less electricity.
How much of my ComEd bill is the supply charge?
For a typical household using 750 kWh/month, the supply charge is approximately $55–$65 — roughly 45–52% of the total bill. At higher usage levels, the supply component's share increases.
How do I switch away from ComEd supply?
Contact an ICC-licensed ARES or an independent energy broker, compare rates against the current PTC, review contract terms, sign with your chosen supplier, and notify ComEd. The transition takes one to two billing cycles with zero service interruption.