Chicago, Illinois: commercial energy account guide

Local service context

A Chicago building review should separate common-area electricity, tenant meters and any Peoples Gas central-plant account. For a multi-unit property, first establish whether the owner controls central plant and common-area accounts, tenant accounts, or both. A landlord cannot assume every tenant meter belongs in one procurement. Central heat, laundry and corridor lighting should be classified separately so the comparison respects account authority and billing responsibility.

Apply the Illinois eligibility rules

Competitive electric supply is available in the main investor-owned utility territories, including ComEd and Ameren Illinois. Verify the account class and applicable eligibility before enrollment. A municipal electric account should be reviewed under that provider’s own arrangement rather than assumed to operate like a ComEd account.

Gas supply choice and transportation depend on the local distribution utility and program. Record whether the account is with Nicor Gas, Peoples Gas, North Shore Gas or another utility, and compare commodity pricing in consistent billed units.

Account checks before requesting offers

For this Chicago account, resolve the service-territory and contract questions below before using a price comparison. The current invoice, exact address and account class provide the starting evidence.

• Create an owner-versus-tenant meter schedule and identify which legal entities can authorize data access.
• Separate central heating and domestic hot water from tenant electricity and confirm transfer provisions at a property sale.
• Confirm the exact service address, current bill and legal account holder before using a Chicago comparison; city boundaries and utility boundaries need not coincide.