Illinois Solar Incentives, Net Metering & Programs (2026)
Written by Aditya Patil · Last updated 2026-09-24
Illinois continues to be one of the most dynamic solar markets in the Midwest thanks to the state's ambitious Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA). With robust SREC payouts through Illinois Shines and recent expansions to battery storage rebates, going solar remains highly attractive—even as the state transitions away from simple 1:1 net metering for new customers.
$143
Avg. monthly bill
19.89¢/kWh
Avg. rate
6.03 kW
Est. system size
for avg usage
+7.1%
Electricity cost change
vs 12mo ago
Illinois Solar Incentives & SRECs
The cornerstone of Illinois solar policy is the Illinois Shines program, which provides a substantial financial return by paying you for the clean energy your system generates. There are also state property tax protections ensuring your assessment won't increase due to adding solar.
| Program | Amount / Benefit | Status |
|---|---|---|
| Illinois Shines (Adjustable Block Program) -- Small Distributed Generation REC purchase, residential 0-10 kW | For the 2026-27 Program Year (effective June 1, 2026): $70.37 per REC in Group A (Ameren Illinois territory) and $80.77 per REC in Group B (ComEd territory) for Small DG systems sized 0-10 kW AC; $60.92 (Group A) / $79.21 (Group B) per REC for >10-25 kW AC. A project's total incentive equals its expected REC production over a 15- or 20-year REC contract multiplied by the REC price locked in at contract signing. A $20/REC 'Small DG Customer-Owned Project Adder' is also available for the 2026-27 Program Year for customer-owned (non-leased, non-PPA) systems that forgo the ITC/residential clean energy credit. | open |
| Illinois Solar for All (ILSFA) -- Residential Solar sub-program | No direct cash figure -- income-eligible households get rooftop solar installed at little or no upfront cost, structured so guaranteed monthly energy savings exceed any subscription/loan payment (no-cost or low-cost financing rather than a fixed dollar rebate). | waitlist |
| Solar Energy System Alternate Property Tax Valuation | No fixed dollar amount -- the county assessor values the property both with and without the solar (or solar heating/cooling) system and applies whichever value is LOWER, so adding solar cannot increase the property's assessed value for tax purposes. | open |
Net Metering: 2025 Changes
As of January 1, 2025, the landscape for solar compensation in Illinois has shifted. Early adopters who interconnected their systems before 2025 were grandfathered into simple 1:1 full-retail net metering. However, new customers now fall under modernized export tariffs that vary heavily depending on your utility.
For instance, new ComEd customers are enrolled in "Smart Solar Billing," where exported power is credited at the supply rate rather than the full delivery and supply rate, or tied to real-time hourly prices if enrolled in ComEd's Hourly Pricing plan. Ameren Illinois requires new solar owners to permanently choose between a strict kWh-netting structure (that carries forward indefinitely) and a current-pricing dollar credit model.
| Statewide Policy | Varies by utility (new rules post-Jan 1, 2025) |
| System Size Cap | 5 MW per system (statewide aggregate cap removed) |
| Grandfathering | Pre-2025 interconnections maintain full retail rate net metering |
| ComEd (Post-2025) | Smart Solar Billing (supply-only credit or real-time hourly pricing) |
| Ameren (Post-2025) | Choice between kWh netting or direct monetary credits |
Pre-2025-interconnection customers: exports credited near full retail rate (supply + delivery + most riders), 1:1 kWh basis. Post-2025-interconnection customers on ComEd: exports credited at the supply-rate component only on standard fixed-price service (roughly half of full retail), or at real-time hourly wholesale-linked prices if enrolled in ComEd Hourly Pricing (Rider BESH) -- reporting suggests hourly-priced solar customers have saved more on average than fixed-rate solar customers, though we could not independently verify an exact blended cents/kWh figure from a primary ComEd tariff document (WebFetch on ComEd's own net-metering and rate-rider pages returned HTTP 403). Post-2025-interconnection customers on Ameren Illinois choose either kWh-for-kWh netting (no expiration) or a monetary credit tied to current pricing. Treat any single 'X cents/kWh export rate' figure for Illinois with caution -- it depends on utility, rate plan, and interconnection date.
Battery Rebates & Virtual Power Plants
Because net metering rates have been reduced for new installations, adding a battery to store and self-consume your own solar power is becoming more advantageous. Illinois supports battery adoption through the DG Rebate for Storage, which offers a robust $300/kWh capacity upfront incentive for participating in a Virtual Power Plant (VPP) program.
Battery Storage Programs
Illinois DG Rebate -- Storage (CRGA-expanded)
$300/kWh upfront rebate for residential/small-commercial battery storage installed before Dec 31, 2029 (see incentives list for full detail), conditioned on 5-year VPP participation and enrollment in a qualifying demand-response or real-time pricing plan. Administered jointly by the Illinois Power Agency (program design) and the utilities (ComEd, Ameren) via ICC-approved tariffs.
Ameren Illinois Peak Time Rewards (Rider PTR)
Ameren's residential demand-response program; customers who receive Ameren's Energy Storage System / DG storage rebate must enroll in one of a small set of qualifying options, of which Peak Time Rewards is one -- earning bill credits for reducing usage during high-demand summer afternoon events, with no penalty for not reducing usage.
Virtual Power Plant (VPP) Programs
ComEd Scheduled Dispatch Virtual Power Plant (SDVPP)
ComEd's first VPP program, approved by the ICC under the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act (CRGA, Public Act 104-0458) and expected to launch for customers in spring 2027. Enrolled residential battery owners let ComEd dispatch stored energy back to the grid during 30-60 scheduled peak-demand events per year (typically 3-6 PM, weekdays, May-October). In exchange, participants get the $300/kWh upfront DG storage rebate plus ongoing dispatch compensation (CRGA sets a floor of at least $10/kW of average dispatch), in return for a 5-year VPP participation commitment.
ComEd Hourly Pricing (Rider BESH) interaction with solar/storage
Not a VPP in the aggregator sense, but ComEd's real-time pricing rate plan is the required enrollment for customers claiming the battery storage DG Rebate, and it changes how solar export credits are calculated (hourly wholesale-linked price instead of a flat supply-rate credit). We were unable to fetch ComEd's own Hourly Pricing/solar page in full (partial content retrieved) to confirm exact average savings figures.
Top Utilities in Illinois
| Utility | Residential rate | Customers |
|---|---|---|
| Commonwealth Edison Co | 15.22¢/kWh | 2,922,223 |
| Ameren Illinois Company | 15.26¢/kWh | 520,498 |
| MC Squared Energy Services, LLC | 6.79¢/kWh | 244,008 |
Residential rates and customer counts are sourced from EIA data. Your specific rate will depend on your local provider and chosen plan.
Estimate your own numbers
The system size estimates above are based on Illinois's average household electricity usage. Use the solar calculator with your own specific usage to see customized estimates.
FAQ
What is the Illinois Shines program and how does it work?
Illinois Shines (the Adjustable Block Program) pays you for the solar energy you generate. For a residential rooftop system up to 10 kW installed in 2026, the program purchases your Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SRECs) at a locked-in rate over a 15- or 20-year contract. This incentive is paid through an Approved Vendor and often acts as a significant offset to your initial installation cost.
Do I get simple 1:1 net metering in Illinois?
It depends on your utility and when your system was interconnected. If your system was interconnected before January 1, 2025, you are grandfathered into full retail rate net metering. For those connecting in 2025 or later, utilities have transitioned to new export-credit tariffs. ComEd customers are on "Smart Solar Billing" with credits based on the supply rate, while Ameren customers choose between kWh-netting and dollar credits.
Are there incentives for home solar batteries in Illinois?
Yes. The Illinois DG Rebate provides an upfront rebate of $300 per kWh for residential battery storage installed before the end of 2029. To be eligible, you need to enroll in a qualifying demand-response or time-of-use electric rate plan and commit to a Virtual Power Plant (VPP) program for five years.
Data sources
Last updated 2026-09-24
- U.S. Energy Information Administration — Electricity Data Browser — accessed 2026-09-24
- NREL PVWatts — accessed 2026-09-24
- NREL Solar Resource Data — accessed 2026-09-24
- LBNL Tracking the Sun (public data file, host-owned residential systems) — accessed 2026-09-24
Written by Aditya Patil