SHOCK: ComEd Sees Large Decrease in Residential Customers on Competitive Supply

Commonwealth Edison recorded a significant decrease in the number of residential customers on competitive electric supply from April 30, 2013 to May 31, 2013, according to new stats published by the Illinois Commerce Commission.

Specifically, from April 30 to May 31, ComEd saw the number of residential customers on competitive supply decrease by 17,000. In contrast, residential shopping had grown by 22,000 accounts from March 31 to April 30.

Dating back to the initial growth of the residential market in early 2010, ComEd has never seen a monthly decrease in residential shopping until now.

The residential shopping decrease, which came in advance of ComEd's lower price to compare which took effect June 1, again raises questions regarding the viability of the Illinois residential market outside of municipal aggregation.

As of May 31, 2013, ComEd had 2,312,654 residential customers on competitive supply, versus 2,329,911 as of April 30, 2013.

All three Ameren rate zones saw residential shopping increase during May, though at a slower pace than the April growth in zones I & III (zone II saw marginal growth in May after a loss of residential shoppers in April).

Specifically, the growth in residential shopping at each rate zone was as follows from April 30 to May 31:

Ameren Rate Zone I, CIPS: 2,252

Ameren Rate Zone II, CILCO: 414

Ameren Rate Zone III, IP: 3,820

As of May 31, residential customers who have switched to a competitive supplier and have completed at least one billing cycle on competitive supply were as follows:

Ameren Rate Zone I, CIPS: 147,513

Ameren Rate Zone II, CILCO: 138,163

Ameren Rate Zone III, IP: 277,229

As previously reported, the ICC migration statistics discussed in this story reflect customers who have switched to a competitive supplier and have completed at least one billing cycle on competitive supply. Accordingly, the data lags completed enrollments.