Overview
Having lights go on at the flip of a switch results from three essential processes:
- Generation – producing or supplying electricity;
- Transmission – bringing high-voltage electricity from the point of generation to groups of electricity users, such as residential neighborhoods; and
- Distribution – bringing reduced-voltage electricity to individual homes and businesses through MidAmerican Energy-owned wires.
MidAmerican provides all three essential processes as a bundled service.
The Illinois Electric Service Customer Choice and Rate Relief Law of 1997 restructured the state's electric service industry. As a result, customers have choices about who supplies their electric power and provides new services, and customers receive competitive prices for that power.
Nonresidential and residential customers became eligible to choose their electric service provider in 1999 and 2002, respectively. Electricity is available from retail electric suppliers authorized by the Illinois Commerce Commission.