ComEd Coverage Area, Rebates, and Outage Tools

Discover 2026 rates, plans, and customer reviews to see if ComEd is the right electricity provider for your Illinois home.

Moving to a new home in Northern Illinois or simply looking to lower your monthly utility bill? Navigating your electricity options starts with understanding Commonwealth Edison, better known as ComEd. Operating within a deregulated energy market, this massive utility gives you the freedom to choose your energy supply while continuing to handle the physical delivery of your power. Whether you are considering the standard fixed rate, exploring dynamic hourly pricing, or comparing third-party suppliers, we have broken down everything you need to know about ComEd to make a smart, money-saving choice for your household.

What Is ComEd?

Commonwealth Edison (ComEd) is the primary electricity delivery company for Northern Illinois and a major subsidiary of the Exelon Corporation. Serving over 4 million customers, the provider maintains the sprawling network of power lines, poles, transformers, and electrical grid infrastructure that keeps the lights on in Chicago and its surrounding suburbs.

Because Illinois operates a deregulated energy market, ComEd’s role is uniquely divided into two distinct parts: delivery and supply. ComEd is legally mandated to deliver electricity to your home and handle grid maintenance regardless of who generates your power. However, you can choose to purchase your actual electricity supply directly from ComEd at their default rate, or you can shop around for an alternative supplier. This setup prevents utility monopolies and ensures you always have the flexibility to find the best possible rate for your budget.

ComEd Coverage Area in Illinois

ComEd’s expansive footprint covers roughly 70% of the state’s population, blanketing 11,400 square miles from the Wisconsin border down to Pontiac, and stretching from the Indiana border west to the Mississippi River. If you reside in the northern half of Illinois, ComEd is almost certainly your designated utility for energy delivery.

The provider powers customers across 25 different counties. The vast coverage zone includes major metropolitan hubs such as Aurora, Rockford, Naperville, and Joliet. To highlight the densest and most populated parts of the territory, the top five major counties served by ComEd include:

• Cook County
• DuPage County
• Lake County
• Will County
• Kane County

ComEd Plans, Pricing, and Rates

When you set up electricity service with ComEd, you essentially have two main in-house supply choices: the default fixed-rate plan or the ComEd Hourly Pricing program. Opting for fixed-rate plans provides budgeting stability, as the supply rate only adjusts twice a year (summer and non-summer seasons). As of early 2026, the standard non-summer residential supply rate hovers at an average of 9.66 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh).

Conversely, the Hourly Pricing program charges you the real-time wholesale market price for electricity. Because the wholesale electricity market is dictated by the PJM interconnection grid, extreme weather events can cause these rates to surge or plunge based on regional demand.

Feature	Default Fixed-Rate Plan	Hourly Pricing Program
Rate Structure	Set rate per kWh, adjusted twice a year	Changes hourly based on real-time PJM market demand
Best For…	Customers who want predictable bills and simplicity	Energy-conscious users who can shift heavy appliance use to off-peak hours
Cost Risk	Low (locked in for the season)	Higher (prices can spike during summer heatwaves)
2026 Average Rate	9.66 cents/kWh (Non-Summer)	Highly variable (can drop below 2 cents/kWh at night)

Understanding the ComEd Price to Compare

If you are exploring the deregulated energy market, you will frequently encounter the term “Price to Compare” (PTC). The ComEd Price to Compare is the exact combined rate per kWh that ComEd charges for the generation and transmission of your electricity. It acts as your primary benchmark when shopping among competitive retail electric providers (REPs).

When you evaluate third-party Alternate Retail Energy Suppliers (ARES) — such as Constellation, Direct Energy, or Ambit Energy — you must weigh their offered promotional rate against ComEd’s default PTC. If a competitor offers a rate lower than 9.66 cents per kWh, you will save money on the supply portion of your bill by switching. If their rate is higher, you are better off sticking with ComEd’s default supply.

Ready to see what is currently available? Search your ZIP code to find and compare competitive local rates in your area.

Deals, Discounts, and Ways to Save

Managing utility costs shouldn’t be a struggle, and ComEd offers a robust lineup of programs designed to help you save energy and reduce your monthly overhead. Taking advantage of these incentives can noticeably lower your delivery and supply charges over time.

• Financial Assistance Programs: Income-eligible households can apply for the Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program (LIHEAP) and ComEd’s CARE programs to receive discounted delivery rates and past-due balance relief.
• Hourly Pricing Savings: By shifting energy-intensive tasks (like running the dishwasher or doing a load of laundry) to off-peak nighttime hours, Hourly Pricing participants can significantly cut their energy bills.
• Smart Appliance Rebates: ComEd issues cash rebates for upgrading to ENERGY STAR-certified smart thermostats, energy-efficient heat pumps, and modern home appliances.

ComEd Power Outages: How to Search and Report

Severe weather in the Midwest can trigger unexpected grid disruptions, but tracking ComEd power outages is incredibly straightforward. If you experience an outage, do not assume your neighbors have already reported it. Promptly notifying the utility helps dispatch crews faster. Before reaching for your phone, always check your circuit breakers to ensure the issue isn’t localized to your own electrical panel.

Here are the quickest ways to handle an electrical outage:

• Call Customer Service: Dial the official ComEd customer service number at 1-800-EDISON-1 (1-800-334-7661) to report an outage securely through their automated system.
• Use the Text Alert System: Text the word OUT to 26633 to instantly report a service drop. You can also text STAT to check the estimated crew restoration time.
• View the Outage Map: Visit the interactive ComEd power outage map on their website to see the scope of affected areas, active crew statuses, and localized restoration timelines based on colored incident icons.

Features and Accessibility: The ComEd Mobile App

For modern homeowners, maintaining full control over your utility account from a smartphone is practically essential. The ComEd app is completely free and available for download on both iOS and Android platforms, streamlining the way you interact with your energy provider.

The app offers three primary functions that make account management a breeze:

• Mobile Bill Pay: Securely view your monthly statements, schedule one-time payments, or manage your autopay settings without logging into a desktop computer.
• One-Tap Outage Reporting: Bypass the phone queues entirely and report a localized power outage directly through the app interface.
• Hourly Energy Usage Tracking: Monitor your real-time electricity consumption data to identify habits that drive up your monthly costs — an invaluable tool for Hourly Pricing enrollees trying to maximize savings.

Sustainability and Green Energy Initiatives

ComEd places a heavy emphasis on grid modernization and reducing the carbon footprint of Northern Illinois. The utility continuously invests in sustainable infrastructure, aiming to distribute an increasingly high percentage of decarbonized, clean energy throughout its territory.

One of the most accessible environmentally mindful choices is ComEd’s community solar initiative. This setup allows customers to opt into solar power without the high upfront costs or hassle of installing residential roof panels. By subscribing to a local, third-party solar farm, your generated power is fed directly into the local grid, and ComEd rewards you with solar credits that lower your supply charges. Additionally, eco-conscious consumers can support green energy by purchasing Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) or shopping around for 100% renewable plans from competitive retail suppliers.

ComEd Reviews and Customer Ratings

When researching utility providers, checking third-party sentiment often reveals the reality behind the marketing. Across platforms like Consumer Affairs, the Better Business Bureau (BBB), and local discussion boards like Reddit’s r/chicago, ComEd reviews show a mixed bag typical of massive regional delivery networks.

On the positive side, users consistently praise ComEd for its impressive speed of outage restoration and reliable grid stability. The text alert system and mobile app also receive high marks for ease of use. However, frequent complaints tend to center around unexpected billing spikes, particularly during intense summer heat waves. Many users express frustration when the variable Purchased Electricity Adjustment (PEA) fee fluctuates, leading to frustrating sticker shock on their July and August statements.

Why Choose or Avoid ComEd

Because you have the power to choose your energy supply in Illinois, you must weigh the benefits of sticking with the utility’s default rates versus exploring the deregulated market. Here is a quick breakdown to help guide your decision.

Pros of Sticking with ComEd:

• Default Convenience: You skip the hassle of shopping around and managing a secondary supplier contract.
• Stability: ComEd is heavily regulated by the Illinois Commerce Commission, keeping drastic, long-term price gouging in check.
• Flexible Plans: You gain seamless access to the innovative Hourly Pricing option if you want granular control over your daily energy habits.

Cons of Sticking with ComEd:

• Missed Promotional Savings: Third-party suppliers often offer cheaper introductory rates or bill credits that the default utility simply cannot match.
• Lack of 100% Green Plans: If you want your home powered entirely by wind or solar, you must typically switch to a specialized retail supplier.

Ultimately, users prioritizing sheer simplicity should stick with ComEd for both delivery and supply. However, if you are a savvy homeowner wanting locked-in, long-term rates to protect against summer inflation, or if you desire guaranteed green energy, it pays to shop around.

Securing Your Ideal ComEd Energy Plan

ComEd remains an undeniably strong, reliable utility backbone for Northern Illinois. Their investments in grid modernization and robust customer service tools like the mobile app make them an excellent choice for everyday energy delivery. While their default supply rate is perfectly adequate for the average user, we strongly recommend evaluating your current ComEd bill to locate your personalized Price to Compare.

If you are moving in or currently setting up new service, allow ComEd to establish your baseline connection. From there, take five minutes to cross-reference their current per-kWh rate against competitive retail suppliers in your ZIP code. By staying vigilant, you can utilize ComEd’s dependable physical grid delivery while consistently securing the most cost-effective supply rate possible.

Frequently Asked Questions About ComEd