TL/DR –
ComEd customers in Illinois will see an average $19 monthly reduction to their electricity bills due to a policy in the state’s landmark climate bill, the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act. The policy was enacted to support unprofitable nuclear power plants with customer surcharges for Carbon Mitigation Credits (CMCs); excess revenues from the company, either via federal subsidies or higher market prices, are returned to customers. The program has provided a net benefit to ratepayers exceeding $1.8 billion since 2022, with ratepayers contributing $795 million to keep nuclear plants running but seeing over $2.6 billion flow back to them.
A law originally designed to maintain profitability in the nuclear fleet of Illinois has offered energy customers a surprising respite from rising power costs. The law, coupled with increased federal subsidies for nuclear generators, has resulted in significant savings for ComEd customers across the state.
As part of the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act of 2021, Exelon Corporation, then the nuclear operator, conveyed to policymakers that three of the state’s six nuclear stations were struggling to maintain profitability. If forced to operate at a loss, Exelon would have chosen to shut down these plants, which would have posed a significant challenge to Governor JB Pritzker’s carbon-neutral ambitions.
Lawmakers Broker an Energy Deal
To prevent a potential energy crisis, policymakers agreed to a novel plan. A small monthly charge on ratepayer bills was introduced to support the purchase of Carbon Mitigation Credits (CMCs) to subsidize nuclear plants. This move promised Exelon, now operating under the name Constellation, a stable revenue stream that would cover its operational costs and guarantee the delivery of carbon-free energy to the residents of northern Illinois.
The agreement also established a cap. If the company’s revenue exceeds a predetermined threshold due to federal subsidies or higher market prices, the surplus is returned to ComEd customers. Over recent years, as energy market prices have surged, northern Illinois’ nuclear plants have found that they no longer require the state’s financial assistance.
Consequently, the program has delivered a net benefit to ratepayers of over $1.8 billion since 2022. According to data from the Illinois Power Agency, which manages the procurement of these credits, this initiative has saved ComEd’s 3.8 million residential customers an average of $177 each.
Affordability Takes Center Stage
Brian Granahan, the Director of the Illinois Power Agency (IPA), lauded the credits as the fruits of effective public policy. He credited the collaboration between lawmakers and nuclear plant operators for the program’s success.
As energy rates across the PJM Interconnection region surge due to increasing data center demand, the CMC initiative has partially shielded Illinois customers from these rising costs. “We’re seeing something in Illinois that other states in the PJM region may not be seeing, in affordability being prioritized through this crediting coming through,” Granahan said.
As of early 2026, the federal subsidy returned to customers has translated into a credit of roughly $13 per month for residential ComEd customers.
Impact on User Bills
Over the first two months of 2026, ComEd customers have already benefited from more than $580 million credited back on their energy bills, according to IPA data. This trend is expected to continue until May 2027, when the credits are set to conclude as per statute. The credits will be automatically applied to customer bills, and no additional action is required to avail these benefits.
ComEd spokespersons have indicated that customers should expect to see a credit of around $19.40 on their April bill. While the exact amounts for May are not yet available, they are expected to be even more significant due to high energy and capacity prices and the federal subsidy.
Customers can locate these credits under the ‘Taxes, Fees & Other Credits’ section of their bills as ‘Carbon-Free Energy Resource Adjustment’. The exact amount will depend on their energy consumption. Most ComEd electric delivery customers, including those who purchase energy from an alternate energy supplier, will receive these credits.
Consumer advocates have welcomed this development, with Sarah Moskowitz, executive director of the Citizens Utility Board watchdog agency, praising the credits as “a testament to the value of thoughtful, pro-consumer energy legislation.”
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