Base Power launches in Chicagoland as electricity costs surge, cutting customers’ supply bills 25% below ComEd’s fixed rate

CHICAGO, IL — June 24, 2026 — Base Power launched today across the Chicagoland area, bringing homeowners in ComEd’s service area a new way to lower electricity supply costs while adding whole-home backup power.

Base installs a battery in every participating home and uses the battery to reduce the cost to serve customers during peak-demand times when the grid is most stressed and power supply is increasingly scarce. In its offering to ComEd customers, Base members will get their energy supply at rates at least 25% below ComEd’s default supply rate. The battery also provides backup power for essential household equipment, including sump pumps, during outages like those many experienced during recent severe storms which left more than 400,000 without power.

The launch comes as homeowners across the Chicagoland area face rising electricity costs. Since the beginning of last year, ComEd’s supply rates have increased more than 50%, primarily driven by a shortage in capacity in the PJM market and escalating fuel prices. Supply charges make up more than half a typical ComEd customer’s bill.

“This is our first market outside Texas, and we chose Illinois,” said Zach Dell, co-founder and CEO of Base Power. “Costs here are climbing fast and the grid is under real strain. Those are the exact conditions where a battery in every home does the most good, for the homeowner and for everyone on the grid.”

Over the past three years, Base has scaled rapidly across Texas, powering more than 20,000 homes and raising over $1 billion to expand nationally. The Chicagoland area is the company’s first market outside of Texas.

As energy prices continue to soar nationwide, Base Power’s launch in Illinois reflects our state’s innovative grid policies and our continuous efforts to deliver more affordable, reliable energy to Illinoisans. Base Power chose to expand in Illinois over other states because of the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act, historic legislation that encourages distributed energy storage and virtual power plants that will lower electric bills for working families.

Governor JB Pritzker

To support the launch and continued growth across the region, Base is opening a warehouse in Bloomingdale and is actively hiring electricians, warehouse associates, and field operations roles, with plans to add ~50 local jobs over the next year. Service is available now in communities across ComEd’s service area, including Plainfield, Arlington Heights, Rockford, Joliet, Palatine, Evanston, Oswego, and Mundelein, with additional areas expected to be added over time.

“Affordable whole home battery backup that pays for itself and more through lower energy bills! I’m so glad I heard about them coming from Texas to Illinois to be among the first to try their service. We recently lost power due to heavy storms and my Base backup battery system continued power with no issue. Very happy with their service and business model.” — Omar B., Base Member, South Elgin

“As electricity costs continue to rise, we need solutions that help families lower bills while strengthening the reliability of our energy system. Products like Base Power can reduce strain on the grid during periods of high demand, improve resilience during outages, and help households better manage their energy costs. Expanding access to these tools is an important part of building a cleaner, more affordable, and more reliable energy future for Illinois,” said Jennifer Walling, CEO, Illinois Environmental Council.

To celebrate its launch in the Chicagoland area, Base is offering the first 2,000 members whole-home backup battery installation for $95, with no ongoing battery fees, reduced from the standard $295 installation fee.