Update: Illinois Adopts Price To Compare Language To Be Included On Utility Consolidated Bills Of Retail Supplier Customers

Note: This story was first published on Dec. 5 with an alert to our email subscribers

The Illinois Commerce Commission has issued a written order setting forth the language that Commonwealth Edison is to include on all utility bills to residential and small commercial (under 15,000 kilowatt-hours annually) customers, including utility consolidated bills provided to customers of retail suppliers, concerning the Price to Compare

The ICC "recommends" that the following language be used on the ComEd bills, including utility consolidated bill:

PRICE TO COMPARE: The ComEd electric supply price to compare is x.xxx cents per kWh. This price does not include a monthly purchased electricity adjustment factor that may range between +$0.005 and -$0.005 per kWh. For more information and supplier offers visit https://www.pluginillinois.org/fixedrate.aspx. For more information on ComEd bill line items go to ComEd.com/UnderstandBill.

The ICC requested that the Office of Retail Market Development and the parties to continue workshops to discuss how the PTC language can be improved.

The ORMD was directed to file a report to the Commission within 180 days and, should the parties suggest changes to the language described above, ComEd should file a petition in a new docket to litigate the matter.

The ICC ruled that providing the PTC information is considered the type of "legitimate consumer education effort" expressly authorized by the Commission Rules, rather than the type of promotion, advertising, and marketing in which ComEd is not permitted to engage (83 Ill. Adm. Code 452.240(a), (b)(4)).

Docket 18-1623