Electricity competition saved Illinoisans up to $218 million in 2012, but power suppliers get an overall grade of “incomplete” for reports of misleading pitches, a lack of innovation, and the looming question of whether they can offer savings after a major market shift this summer, the Citizens Utility Board (CUB) said Monday.

“It’s good news that power shoppers have saved money in the short term, but Illinois is still in the honeymoon phase of electric competition,” CUB Executive Director David Kolata said at a news conference unveiling the watchdog group’s report card for Illinois’ electricity market. “The Land of Lincoln power market is about to undergo a big test, and alternative electric suppliers should make key improvements.”

Illinois restructured its electricity market in 1997, but alternative suppliers didn’t begin competing for residential customers until more than a decade later, sparked by higher utility rates and a new state rule that allowed companies to add their charges to ComEd and Ameren bills. Now, consumers can choose an alternative supplier themselves, or, if their community passes a referendum, have local leaders choose one for them through a process called “municipal aggregation.”

Since 2010, 1.7 million residential customers have switched to alternative suppliers, most in 2012, which saw a 562 percent increase in participation. That increase, unmatched in the nation, was largely fueled by 467 communities that have launched aggregation programs. CUB’s report card graded the electric market in three areas.

Short-term Savings, A-: With some exceptions, alternative suppliers have beaten utility rates, because Ameren and ComEd have been locked in higher priced power contracts. In general, municipal aggregation has offered the lowest rates—an average price of 4.85 cents per kilowatt-hour in ComEd communities, and 4.08 cents per kWh in Ameren communities. Compare that to ComEd’s current supply rate of 8.3 cents per kWh, and about 5.4 cents per kWh for Ameren. CUB estimates that competition sparked $92 million to $218 million in savings in 2012.

The big question facing Illinois’ electricity market is how it will change on June 1, when the last of higher priced utility contracts expire and ComEd and Ameren rates are expected to drop.

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