Municipal electric aggregation programs allow participating municipal and county governments to jointly work with an energy consultant to seek bids from "alternative retail electricity suppliers." Aggregating, or grouping, municipalities together leverages a pool of electric customers to seek savings via a fixed, bulk rate for the length of the contract period, typically up to 24 months. During that contract, your rate per kilowatt hour won't change, protecting you from utility rate hikes (while also allowing you the option to opt out). Both the City of Peoria and the County of Peoria (unincorporated area only) has had a municipal aggregation program since 2012 when a referendum was passed by Peoria voters.
Currently, Homefield Energy supplies electricity through this program. From July until early December 2025, the electricity supply price for those receiving energy from Homefield will go from 10.3 cents to about 12.9 cents per kilowatt-hour (kWh). This means the average residential customer will have a bill increase during the summer. If you have chosen to opt-out of a municipal electric aggregation program, Ameren has posted their filing for their summer rates. The rates could change in the following months. This rate takes effect June 1. Ameren BGS-1 Residential Rate is estimated to be approximately 12.2 per kWh for the summer and unknown for non-summer at this point. The rate is changing due to a capacity charge that’s recalculated annually, which triggers a required notification letter to all participants. That letter gives residents the opportunity to stay in the program or opt out.
Both the City’s and County’s current agreement with Homefield runs through December 2025. A new contract will be rebid this fall, and another round of notification letters will go out in late fall, giving City residents and unincorporated Peoria County residents a chance to review the new terms and either remain in the program or opt out. The ability to opt out is built into the state’s aggregation program and cannot be changed by the City nor the County.
To check your electric supplier, please refer to the “Electric Supply” section of your Ameren bill to see who your supplier is and what rate you’re paying. You can compare options at pluginillinois.org.
If you are with the aggregate program (Homefield) and wish to stay or are with Ameren and wish to change to Homefield – you do not need to take any action. If you are with Homefield and wish to change to Ameren or if you are with Ameren and wish to stay with Ameren – you will need to complete the opt out process either by mail, phone, or online as indicated on the letter.