Electricity Costs: Illinois ComEd Bills Are Going Up In June

Just as you were figuring out how to handle the new increase in Illinois' motor-fuel tax at the pump that takes place on July 1st, we get the news that ComEd bills here in Illinois are also set to increase starting next month in June.

You'll probably remember back in 2019 when newly-elected Governor JB Pritzker effectively doubled Illinois' motor fuel tax from 19 cents per gallon to 38 cents per gallon to help pay for a $45 billion capital infrastructure plan.

The governor wasn't done after doubling the motor fuel tax in Illinois. He went ahead and built in annual increases that we've been having to deal with year after year. This year, when the tax goes up again in July, Illinois drivers, on average, are looking at spending an extra $143 every year because of it.

The motor fuel tax increase doesn't happen until July, but you're going to start paying more on your electric bill starting in June.

Why Are Illinois' ComEd Bills Going Up? You Can Blame Something Called The "Capacity Charge"

So, what exactly is a "Capacity Charge?" That's a great question, and one I asked myself as I was trying to figure this out.

From everything that I could gather, a Capacity Charge is happening because of a significant jump in the capacity auction price, which is a price that utilities pay to ensure they have enough electricity generation capacity to meet demand. The auction price goes up, which brings about the Capacity Charge on your bill.

MyStateline.com:

Capacity prices are extra payments consumers pay power plant operators to have enough reserve electricity available in the event of a sudden spike in demand.

According to the CUB, capacity prices jumped 830% when power grid operator PJM Interconnection announced the results of its Base Residual Auction last year.

ComEd said it will not make money off the increased cost but will pass it along to consumers.

Okay, Illinois' Motor Fuel Tax Increase Will Cost The Average Illinois Driver Around $140 More Per Year--How Much Will ComEd's Capacity Charge Cost?

The answer to that is: Probably more than the motor fuel tax increase will cost you.

A customer using 500 kilowatt-hours of electricity per month can expect to see an increase of approximately $7.50 to $10.00 per month, according to Citizens Utility Board (CUB). Some recent estimates suggest an average increase of about $10.50 a month, from June 1st, 2025 to May 31st, 2026, according to ElectricityRates.com.