When we first warned consumers that a 45-50 percent summer price spike was coming, Commonwealth Edison estimated the increase would be about 10-15 percent on bills, or about $10.60 a month on average over the next year. But a series of heat waves combined with the spike appears to have blown that estimate up this summer.
The Chicago Tribune reported on this bill shock, with ComEd saying the average increase from May to June was more like $67 and some customers complained of triple-digit increases.
We asked ComEd customers for their first-hand accounts of how high their electric bills had jumped this June and, as usual, got many detailed responses from CUB supporters. Consumers who submitted a story saw bills increase from 17 percent on up–including one customer who saw his bill go up from about $40 a month to more than $4,000. (Note: Many consumers are still experiencing issues with ComEd’s new billing system, so some of the more outrageous increases could be potentially attributed to a billing mistake.) The average bill increase was 184 percent when adjusted for the one outlier case.
Here’s a sample of some 20 submissions we received:
Jim H. “Our July bill is 58 percent higher than last month, 33 percent higher than last July. $162 for a one level 2BR 1000 square foot frame ranch. Although we do have Central air.”
John G. “In May, ComEd told me that I used no electricity, but charged me a $41.05 delivery fee. In June I was charged $4,060.02 for that month’s use – for a little three bedroom house. We’ve been working on getting it resolved ever since.”
Toni H. “My bill went from $10.50 to $67 and I have solar panels– 34 Solar panels on my roof. These corporations are out of control and I am tired of being nickled and dimed to death.”
William D. “My bill last month was $99. This month it is estimated at $260. How are we supposed to live like this? It’s insane.”
Peggy K. “My normal bill is approximately $80. My last bill was $170! That’s an outrageous increase!”
Craig R. “My July 22, 2024 bill was $159.82 for 1033 kWh. Supply and delivery were $67.93 and $69.35 respectively. The remainder is taxes and fees. My July 23, 2025 bill is $215.24 for 1151 kWh, an increase of 34.68 percent on my bill and 11.42 percent on my usage. My electricity supply charge is up 53.8 percent YOY.”
Vera P. “My bill is very consistent – high $70s to mid $80s. In June, my bill was $94. In July, it is $187; almost double.”
Michael R. “I have no panic stories to relate, but my bill is $92 higher than it was last month even with the new air conditioner and furnace. So I guess I’m one of the semi fortunate ones.”
Judy N. “I recently received my electric bill and was surprised. When I compared it to my bill from last year, the supply charge was twice as much, and the delivery was 55 percent more than last year. The only thing that was lower were the taxes. The difference in temperature, as indicated on the bill, was .8 degrees. I don’t know how they can continue to ask for more money.”
Elizabeth L. “My house is a two story single family built in 1948 located in the Dunning neighborhood of Chicago.On June 12 of this year my electric bill was 81.18. That’s a bit high for me, but some family friends had been staying with me the month before. Now this morning I just got my next bill which is due August 13 for $235.77. From what my neighbors are saying, that’s actually “low”.
Christine S. “My Com Ed electric bill issued on July 8 was $193.95. Previous to that, June was $117.52, May was $124.08, April was $124.90, March was $130.44, February was $138.85 and January was $111.59. I really think all of these bills are outrageous. My bills were never above $100 until July. And this increase of $76.43 is unbearable. Com Ed needs some major reforms!”
John R. “My bill went from $30 last month to $167 dollars this month. May as well stick a gun in my back!”
John D. “My bill went up 30 percent.”
Chuck S. “I have lived in the same apartment for about 8 years. During the previous summers, even when running the AC regularly as I have this summer, rarely (if ever) was my electric bill over $60. I just received my bill today and it was $119, just short of double what it has ever been before during the summer.”
Elizabeth B. “My ComEd bill went from $31.12 in June to $109.88 in July.”
David O. “My bill went up 20 dollars. I am unemployed so it hits me big time”
ComEd is not profiting off this price spike, but big power generators–the power plant owners that sell the electricity to ComEd–are laughing all the way to the bank this summer. The cause of the price spike is poor policy at the PJM power grid operator, and we are working on reforming that policy to bring more modern power plants (wind, solar and battery projects) online to bring down prices. (Read our Q&A on problems and solutions connected to the ComEd price spike.)
Even though ComEd is not profiting off this price spike, they do have an important role this summer. CUB called on the utility to work with customers to keep them connected. And we also call on ComEd to contribute more shareholder money to a relief fund. The $10 million the utility contributed earlier this summer was quickly used up.
