Side by side (IL, EIA-861)
| Metric | Ameren Illinois Company | MidAmerican Energy Co |
|---|---|---|
| 2024 average price, ¢/kWh | 15.26 | 9.99 |
| 2023 average price, ¢/kWh | 17.04 | 9.90 |
| Annual cost at 10,800 kWh, $/yr | $1,648 | $1,079 |
| Residential customers (2024) | 520,498 | 73,564 |
| Ownership | Investor-owned | Investor-owned |
| Counties served in IL | 81 | 3 |
Average price = residential revenue ÷ sales (bundled service): the all-in price customers actually paid, including supply, delivery and riders. Profiles: Ameren Illinois Company · MidAmerican Energy Co · Illinois overview.
Where the territories meet
Both utilities file EIA-861 service territory in: Henry · Mercer counties (IL, 2024).
Adjoining or overlapping territory in a county does not mean households there can pick between the two — service maps are parcel-level and fixed. The county overlap mainly matters when choosing where to live or comparing town-level costs.
Can you actually choose between them?
No — not for delivery. Distribution territories are exclusive and set by address; Ameren Illinois Company and MidAmerican Energy Co do not compete for the same meters. Illinois does have retail supply choice: customers of either utility may buy the supply portion from a licensed third-party supplier, or stay on the utility's default supply rate. An offer only saves money if it beats your utility's price to compare (printed on the bill); compare offers at pluginillinois.org. The price gap above mainly matters when choosing where to live, comparing towns, or benchmarking your bill.
Questions people ask
- Is Ameren Illinois Company cheaper than MidAmerican Energy Co?
- No — in 2024 Ameren Illinois Company customers averaged 15.26 cents/kWh versus 9.99 for MidAmerican Energy Co (EIA-861). MidAmerican Energy Co was cheaper by 5.26 cents, about $569 per year at 10,800 kWh.
- Can I switch from Ameren Illinois Company to MidAmerican Energy Co?
- No — distribution territories are exclusive and set by address; you cannot pick between the two wires companies. Illinois does allow supply choice: either utility's customers can shop the supply portion at pluginillinois.org if an offer beats the utility's price to compare.
- Why is Ameren Illinois Company more expensive than MidAmerican Energy Co?
- EIA-861 averages reflect everything customers actually paid — supply costs, delivery rates, riders, and surcharges across each territory. Differences in generation mix, grid investment, storm costs, and customer density between Ameren Illinois and MidAmerican Energy territory all feed the 5.26-cent gap.