In 2007, important changes will take place to your electric bill.  Following is what you should expect and how you can manage your energy options.
 

Your electric bill is comprised of two major components: (1) electricity supply and (2) transmission and distribution, or delivery, costs. ComEd no longer owns power plants and must purchase power from the wholesale market on behalf of its customers.
 

After an 11-month proceeding to develop the best power procurement plan for Illinois electric utility companies, the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) concluded that a statewide auction to buy power would serve consumers best. The Illinois Auction provides the utilities’ customers with the lowest available market price for electricity.
 

The auction process allows for successive rounds of competitive bidding by qualified wholesale energy suppliers which drive the price for energy lower. The process is open and transparent, and the lowest bidders win.
 

The auction also consists of several features to protect business customers and promote competition. For example, a diverse portfolio of suppliers is assured because no single supplier can win more than 35 percent of ComEd’s load at auction. In the first auction, more than 20 potential suppliers participated and 16 won contracts. Also, the staggered three-year contracts offered at auction reduce exposure to volatility in the wholesale market.
 

The ICC recently declared a successful result to the first auction.  ComEd has created a Bill Estimator Tool to help you estimate how the auction results will affect your 2007 monthly bills if you choose to purchase electricity from ComEd.
  

You are not obligated to continue to receive electric supply from ComEd.  Illinois businesses have the ability to purchase their electricity from an alternative Retail Electric Supplier (RES).  If you choose to purchase your electricity from a RES, ComEd will continue to reliably deliver electricity to your business.