BESH is a supply rate program for residential electric customers where the price you pay for electricity varies hour by hour based on actual market prices.

Customers with a Retail Electric Supplier (RES) would switch to ComEd.

Supply rates will change every hour every day of the year. In general prices will be the highest during summer weekdays from 1-8pm. In general, prices will be lower overnight, weekends, and most hours in the winter months.

Any excess solar exported to the grid will be credited at the hourly supply and transmission rates that the kWh is exported

ComEd's Hourly Pricing FAQs

RTP is a supply rate program for residential electric customers where the price you pay for electricity varies hour by hour based on actual market prices.

Customers with a Retail Electric Supplier (RES) would switch to Ameren.

Supply rates will change every hour every day of the year. In general prices will be the highest during summer weekdays from 1-8pm. In general, prices will be lower overnight, weekends, and most hours in the winter months.

Any excess solar exported to the grid will be credited at the hourly supply and transmission rates that the kWh is exported

PSP uses the same hourly pricing charges and crediting structure as RTP.

The difference is Rider PSP customers receive enhanced customer service and education in exchange for a monthly fee, which is currently $2.25.

Ameren's PowerSmart Pricing Details

PTR is Ameren’s demand response program

It doesn’t require customers to change their Retail Electric Supplier or hourly supply prices

During peak demand events, customers will receive alerts from Ameren to reduce their electric usage. 1-20 events will occur each year.

PTR customers can receive credits for usage that they reduce during the events compared to their baseline usage. In 2024, the credits were ~$1 per kWh reduction.

Events often occur on summer weekday afternoons when temperatures are high

Adjusting thermostats and/or consuming stored energy from the battery will make the most impact.

Ameren's Peak Time Rewards Details

In general, TOU pricing in Illinois is at its highest during summer afternoons and early evenings (1-8pm) due to air conditioning increasing demand on the grid.

Ameren states, “Prices are generally lower on weekends and holidays and on days when the weather is cool.”

Weather plays a significant role in peak prices. When it’s hot, demand on the grid increases, which in turn increases prices.

When on a TOU rate, shift any controllable loads to off-peak times with particular attention in the summer

Sign up for Ameren and ComEd’s day-ahead hourly pricing projections and alerts

Installers should understand how best to program the customer's energy storage device to optimize for maximum energy savings. This could include storing solar production or off-peak energy for use during on-peak periods (ie. arbitrage), maximizing solar self-consumption (ie. limited export), participating in a peak reduction program or some combination.

New solar and solar+storage customers are placed on a net metering program called Supply-Only Export Credits where any solar exported to the grid is credited the Supply rate instead of the full retail rate. A Self-Consumption mode limiting solar exports is beneficial in this credit mechanism.

Air conditioning can account for 50% or more of a consumer's total summer energy costs. Consider installing a programmable or smart thermostat to automatically control the air conditioner and furnace or heat pump.

During the summer, consumers could consider setting their thermostat to 85 degrees when they're away from home. For every degree raised on the thermostat above 80, can save 2-3% on cooling costs.

NOTE: Some thermostats offer advanced features that will achieve the set temperature by the time programmed instead of starting at the time programmed. Check the instruction manual or manufacturer's website to verify advanced features.

Advise customers with an electric vehicle, to charge it overnight during off-peak hours.

Typical households wash and dry nearly 400 loads of laundry each year. Advise operating the washer and dryer during off-peak hours with cool water to save money.

Install and set a timer for the electric water heater to prevent on-peak heating. Turning down the thermostat to 120 degrees can save up to $7 a month.