In this comparison, based on CWLP residential customers who average 864 kWh/mo usage, they paid $105.34 per month or $1,264.13 for the year in electric costs, while the average of other Illinois utility customers for that same usage paid $156.77 per month or $1,881.25 for the year. Over the review period this is a 33% savings for CWLP customers or an average of $51 per month lower.
**Data compiled for comparison is from the latest published to the US Energy Information Administration https://www.eia.gov/electricity/monthly/. Showing May 2025 to April 2026 compiled.
See the details in our cost analysis showing the cost per kilowatt hour (kWh). The average cost that residential State of Illinois utility customers pay is 18.24¢ per kWh, while CWLP customers pay 12.20¢ per kWh.
Notably, the average cost of residential electricity sold in Illinois (in the month of April 2026) was 20.47¢ per kWh. This is the highest average residential electricity price in reporting history. A chart detailing the history of Illinois residential retail electric cost per kWh from 2002 to April 2026:
CWLP’s electric rates remain affordable in our latest 12-month review with local ownership and control of generation. This reduces Springfield's need to buy as much power from external sources, shielding CWLP customers from higher market prices. We’ve also been protected from higher capacity auction prices being driven by tightening energy reserve margins and the early retirement of many U.S. power plants.
Commercial electric rates in a recent survey indicated CWLP’s cost per kWh matches or is lower than most peer utilities as well.
Over previous years the value trend for CWLP rates was similar. As an example, from July 2022 to July 2025, CWLP residential customers paid an average of 25% or $35 lower per month as compared to what customers of other Illinois utilities paid.
MORE ON CWLP ENERGY RESOURCES
In addition to CWLP’s total owned generation, Dallman Unit 4, three peaking units and one solar installation, CWLP holds a number of long-term power purchase agreements to fulfill energy and capacity requirements that include a 15-year wind capacity contract and two newly signed solar agreements for new projects to be developed: 25 MW solar capacity and energy contract for 25 years from Sangamon Solar from a project to be located in south Sangamon County near Chatham and a 125 MW solar capacity and 20MW of energy contract for 20 years from from Lincoln Capital Land for a project being developed in north Sangamon County near Abraham Lincoln Capital Airport. These agreements reduce CWLP customer exposure to higher prices that can occur in capacity auctions and energy markets while diversifying the energy mix.
