Retail competition in Illinois has increased significantly since 2006, the Illinois Commerce Commission concluded in its Triennial Report on Retail and Wholesale Competition in the Illinois Electric Industry issued this week. During a transition period in the state, which ended in 2007, competition was largely confined to the largest commercial and industrial customers of the state’s two largest utilities, Commonwealth Edison and Ameren. The new data shows substantial numbers of medium and small non-residential customers switching to competitive power suppliers.
Nearly all (93%) of the largest commercial and industrial customers of both ComEd and Ameren are buying power in the competitive market. The Commission found that the level of switching activity is noticeably increasing for small and medium-sized customers — 55% of ComEd’s and 38% of Ameren’s customer load under 1 megawatt is provided by a competitive supplier.