Since the start of the Town of Normal and City of Bloomington’s Municipal Electricity Aggregation programs, the Ecology Action Center has recommended that residents who are Ameren customers stay in the aggregation programs. Municipal aggregation provides a flat electricity rate (negotiated by both municipalities) that protects residents from sudden price fluctuations and spikes that Ameren rates are subject to. According to EAC modeling, at least since 2021, staying “opted-in” for municipal electricity aggregation for both municipalities has resulted in overall lower utility bills than Ameren’s rates while remaining stable and predictable.
However, in 2026, the new aggregation rate for Normal and Bloomington is 12.76 cents per kilowatt-hour from June 2026-August 2027[1]; in contrast, Ameren’s summer rate for 2026 is anticipated to be 11.326 cents per kilowatt-hour, making aggregation a more expensive option.
The Ecology Action Center modeled the expected usage of an average single-family home in the Bloomington-Normal area for 2026. Over the course of the year, this home would pay $870.83 for electricity with Ameren’s rate; with the aggregation rate, this home would pay $1,077.38 for electricity. Note that this model uses a high estimation for Ameren’s fall rate, which will not be published until later in the year.
Because of this price increase, the EAC is now recommending that residents opt-out of the aggregation program and take advantage of the cheaper Ameren rate. While this rate is still subject to fluctuations and spikes, it would take an unprecedented spike for the annual Ameren bill to exceed the aggregation bill. Unless residents value stability and predictability over all else, Ameren’s rate will be the most cost-effective option for the rest of the year.
The cheapest energy is still that which you do not use – please consider signing up for a low cost home energy audit from the Ecology Action Center for Bloomington and Normal residents through BNEnergyBright.org. Or if this might be the time to look into solar for your home, check out the 2026 Grow Solar Bloomington-Normal group purchase program for a solar installation from a vetted installer at below market rates.
EAC modeling is shown below.
Historic Aggregation vs Ameren Rate (2017-2025)
| Year | Bloomington Agg. Rate | Normal Agg. Rate | Ameren Summer Rate | Ameren Spring Rate | Ameren Fall Rate |
| 2017 | $0.057/kWh | $0.057/kWh | $0.05369/kWh | $0.06519/kWh | $0.0612/kWh |
| 2018 | $0.0507/kWh | $0.0498/kWh | $0.04658/kWh | $0.0612/kWh | $0.0538/kWh |
| 2019 | $0.0507/kWh | $0.0498/kWh | $0.04561/kWh | $0.05026/kWh | $0.04715/kWh |
| 2020 | $0.0507/kWh | $0.0498/kWh | $0.04369/kWh | $0.04707/kWh | $0.04542/kWh |
| 2021 | $0.043/kWh | $0.0424 kWh | $0.04821/kWh | $0.04553/kWh | $0.05407/kWh |
| 2022 | $0.043/kWh | $0.0424 kWh | $0.10628/kWh | $0.05478/kWh | $0.12236/kWh |
| 2023 | $0.0786/kWh | $0.0786/kWh | $0.0787/kWh | $0.11833/kWh | $0.08107/kWh |
| 2024 | $0.0786/kWh | $0.0786/kWh | $0.08136/kWh | $0.0863/kWh | $0.0809/kWh |
| 2025 | $0.1089/kWh | $0.1089/kWh | $0.1218/kWh | $0.0827/kWh | $0.08402/kWh |
Notes:
- Historic Ameren rates are sourced from the registry at Plug In Illinois, the electric choice website of the Illinois Commerce Commission.
- Aggregation rates are sourced from historic press releases from the Town of Normal and City of Bloomington.
- Ameren’s Fall and Spring rates assume monthly usage is below 800 kWh; an Illinois home averages 739 kWh of electricity usage per month according to the Energy Information Administration[2], which is why this rate was used. If monthly usage exceeds 800 kWh, then Ameren charges a lower rate.
Annual Electric Supply Cost Models – Ameren vs Bloomington and Normal Municipal Electricity Aggregation (note supply rate only, delivery fee, taxes, fees, etc. not included)
| Month | Usage (kWh) | Ameren Rate ($/kWh) | Agg Rate ($/kWh) | Ameren Monthly Bill | Aggregation Monthly Bill |
| Jan-26 | 687 | 0.08769 | 0.1089 | $60.24 | $74.81 |
| Feb-26 | 547 | 0.08769 | 0.1089 | $47.97 | $59.57 |
| Mar-26 | 405 | 0.08769 | 0.1089 | $35.51 | $44.10 |
| Apr-26 | 404 | 0.08769 | 0.1089 | $35.43 | $44.00 |
| May-26 | 558 | 0.08769 | 0.1089 | $48.93 | $60.77 |
| Jun-26 | 698 | 0.11326 | 0.1276 | $79.06 | $89.06 |
| Jul-26 | 1299 | 0.11326 | 0.1276 | $147.12 | $165.75 |
| Aug-26 | 1096 | 0.11326 | 0.1276 | $124.13 | $139.85 |
| Sep-26 | 979 | 0.11326 | 0.1276 | $110.88 | $124.92 |
| Oct-26 | 674 | 0.11326 | 0.1276 | $76.34 | $86.00 |
| Nov-26 | 481 | 0.11326 | 0.1276 | $54.48 | $61.38 |
| Dec-26 | 448 | 0.11326 | 0.1276 | $50.74 | $57.16 |
| Total Estimated Ameren Supply Rate 2026 | Total Estimated Aggregation Supply Rate 2026 | ||||
| Annual Estimated Cost | $870.83 | $1,007.38 | |||
Notes:
This estimate incorporates 2024 annual usage from a 1,465 square feet home in the Bloomington-Normal area, assuming electricity usage remains the same. From a sample of 16 homes the EAC has performed energy audits in, the average square footage of a BN home is 2,026 square feet. This smaller area was used to illustrate price differences in an ideal home. Usage patterns in this home also line up with weather patterns; i.e., usage peaks in the summer and declines in the winter.
The Ameren fall rate is an estimation. In 7 out of the past 9 years, the Ameren fall rate (when monthly usage is below 800 kWh) has exceeded the summer rate; because of this, our estimation assumes a rate similar to, or higher than, the summer rate. Even assuming a high fall rate, Ameren’s annual bill would still undercut an aggregation bill by a significant amount. Note that bill estimates are for electricity supply only, and does not include delivery fees, account fees, or any other fixed charges that Ameren users typically pay.
[1] Town of Normal & City of Bloomington, 2026
[2] Energy Information Administration (2026)
