By: Jordan Hobfoll, Co-Founder and CEO, Energy Simply LLC

Unlike in states like Texas, when you switch power plans in Illinois you don’t start your new plan right away (in Texas, you can either wait up to 7 business days or pay extra fees for a switch sometimes as fast as same day). So what gives?

You thought you signed up for your new plan, so where are your savings?

The answer lies in the rules for how ComEd and Ameren switch your provider. There are two restrictions that create this gap.

1. There is an 18 day waiting period from when ComEd or Ameren receive the request from your new provider until when they generate the order to switch your service.
2. A generated order to switch service isn’t completed until your next meter read date

So for example, if your next meter read date is in 15 days, and you sign up for service with a cheaper provider today (assuming the new provider immediately submits your request), then ComEd won’t generate the order to switch you until 3 days after that meter read date. And you won’t actually get switched until the following meter read date 27 days later, for a total of 45 days from when you signed up until you are switched. Additionally, you won’t see your new supplier on your bill until 30 days more after that, when you get the bill from that billing period.

So it could take 75+ days before you physically see a cheaper bill. No wonder it sometimes feels like it take forever. It sort of does…

So what if you sign up for a 6-month fixed term contract that is set to expire 11/15. How do you know when to sign up for another plan so you don’t get charged month-to-month variable rates by the supplier?

Well in this case, your expiration should also be your meter read date. So you want to choose a new provider at least 18 days before that date, or before 10/28. But at Energy Simply we recommend that you be even more conservative and choose your provider 2 weeks even before then, or 10/14 in this case. That way you minimize the possibility that a delay in a provider’s submission to ComEd or Ameren, or a slip up from ComEd or Ameren causes you to miss the deadline.

If it sounds complicated and a lot to keep track of, that’s because it is. However, you can simplify this process very easily. How? Let Energy Simply manage it for you! We keep track of all the dates for you and use our proprietary analysis to make sure you are always in the best plan.

Jordan Hobfoll is the Co-Founder and CEO of Energy Simply. He previously worked at McKinsey & Company, where he was a consultant for some of the largest electric utilities in the United States. Jordan also holds an MBA from the University of Texas at Austin and a B.S. in Finance with High Honors from the University of Illinois.

By: Jordan Hobfoll, Co-Founder and CEO, Energy Simply LLC

One of the first questions people in Illinois ask us is, “If I let you switch my power provider, will I get an additional bill or will I have to change my auto pay.” In Illinois, the answer is: No and No.*

Your power bill will still be sent to you by ComEd or Ameren. You will still be able to go online and access your account. Your auto-pay will not change at all.

Only two things will change; your new power provider supplier will now be listed by the supply section of the bill. And IF you choose wisely (or use Energy Simply) the amount you pay for supply will also go down. How much can it go down? For some people as much as 50% or more, but for most people the supply charge reduction will be in the 10-25% range.

ComEd or Ameren will still deliver your power and your bill.  If there are any issues with your power such as outages or surges, you still call them not your new power provider.  You only need to contact your new supplier if you have a problem what they have charged you.

As an added benefit of this structure, there are no new credit checks and therefore no sensitive personal data is required to switch power suppliers in Illinois.

It’s easy so what are you waiting for.

1. Let Energy Simply make sure that you are always in the best provider-offered plan, based on their research and knowledge of all the retail electric providers and plans.
2. Figure out what you are paying now on your power bill, Then go to Plug In Illinois and choose a plan that saves you money. Make sure you choose a Fixed rate plan. And make note of when the plan will expire so you can switch to a new plan at that time

Happy Savings–
–Jordan

Jordan Hobfoll is the Co-Founder and CEO of Energy Simply. He previously worked at McKinsey & Company, where he was a consultant for some of the largest electric utilities in the United States. Jordan also holds an MBA from the University of Texas at Austin and a B.S. in Finance with High Honors from the University of Illinois.

*There are two minor exceptions, AEP Energy and Champion Energy Services send out their own bills.  So far Energy Simply has not recommended these to any customers as having the cheapest or cheapest 100% renewable power plans