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How much is the Illinois battery rebate worth?
$300 per kilowatt-hour of your battery's rated size, paid once by your utility. The size that counts is the nameplate capacity (DC rating) on the battery itself. CUB's example: an 8 kWh battery earns $2,400. A common 13.5 kWh home battery earns about $4,050. The battery must be paired with solar (or another qualifying renewable system) and a smart inverter. Illinois law (220 ILCS 5/16-107.6) sets the rebate and holds the $300 rate through December 31, 2029.
| Battery (storage) rebate, 2026 | ComEd | Ameren Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Amount | $300/kWh of battery size (nameplate, DC) | $300/kWh of battery size (nameplate, DC) |
| Rate guaranteed through | December 31, 2029, by law. After that, the law sets $250/kWh for stand-alone batteries and gives no figure for solar-paired ones. The solar rebate drops to $250/kW on January 1, 2030 | |
| Pairing requirement | Installed with solar or another qualifying renewable system, smart inverter running | Same, and Ameren says the battery must be charged by an on-site renewable generator |
| Required to get the rebate (as of June 1, 2026) | Five years in ComEd's virtual power plant, plus a Qualifying Utility Product (an hourly or time-of-day rate) for the life of the battery. The rate condition comes from ComEd's rebate terms, not the law. Hourly Pricing (Rate BESH) is one option | Five years in Ameren's virtual power plant. Your electric rate stays your choice |
| VPP dispatch commitment | 5 years, set by law (220 ILCS 5/16-107.6(e)) for both utilities. ComEd counts five Seasons; Ameren counts five Program Summer Periods. Neither states an early-exit penalty | |
| Dispatch window (from 2027) | Weekdays, 4–6pm, June–September, set by law. Both utilities' rules mirror it | |
| VPP start date | Expected March 1, 2027, per ComEd's 2026 rebate terms; ComEd is aiming for spring 2027 | No later than March 1, 2027 for anyone rebated since June 1, 2026, per its rules; launch date not set |
| VPP payment | At least $10 per kW of average dispatch, paid at the end of each program year. That's a floor in the law, and the ICC could raise it. Both utilities pay exactly the floor: $10 per kW-Season at ComEd, $10.00 per kW of seasonal performance at Ameren | |
| Payment deadline | The law says within 60 days of energization, or of a complete application. CUB describes about 90 days in practice at ComEd | |
| Community solar | Can't combine: storage-rebate customers can't also hold a community-solar subscription, per ComEd's rules | No such restriction in CUB's summary |
| Effect on pre-2025 legacy netting | None. Taking only the battery rebate keeps legacy full netting; only the solar (generation) rebate ends it. The law and CUB agree | |
| Who receives it | The owner of the equipment, under Illinois law. With a lease or solar power agreement (PPA), that's typically the provider, as part of a $0-upfront arrangement | |
13.5 kWh battery → $4,050 one-time utility rebate
What it commits you to at ComEd: five years in the Scheduled Dispatch Virtual Power Plant, and a Qualifying Utility Product for the life of the battery — Hourly Pricing is one option. Run the full ComEd rebate tool →
At the published $300/kWh rate, ComEd or Ameren. Requires solar pairing, a smart inverter, and SD VPP enrollment — ComEd also requires a qualifying supply product. Confirm the final figure on your application.
The solar side of the same program pays $300 per kW of solar capacity (measured DC) at both ComEd and Ameren. The full incentive stack is on our incentives guide, and ComEd's version is on the ComEd solar rebate guide. This page covers the battery rebate.
There's also a different path: battery "subscription" offers from Base Power and Energywell. They install a battery in exchange for a 12- or 15-year electricity-supply contract in ComEd territory. They run on their own terms, separate from the rebate, so read them before you compare offers: free home battery offers in Illinois, explained →
Which dates matter for the Illinois battery rebate?
Eight dates shape the battery rebate. Most are already set in law or in the utilities' rules.
- The federal homeowner tax credit (§25D) ended.
- Illinois' 2026 grid law took effect. Both utilities now tie the battery rebate to their virtual power plant.
- ComEd rewrote its net-metering rules. Solar-paired batteries may now charge from the grid.
- In ComEd territory, batteries without solar can start earning net-metering credit.
- Rebated batteries must be in a virtual power plant: Ameren's deadline, and ComEd's expected start.
- The first dispatch season: weekdays, 4 to 6 pm.
- The last day of the guaranteed $300/kWh rate.
- The solar rebate drops to $250/kW, and stand-alone batteries get $250/kWh.
What does the battery rebate actually commit you to in 2026?
If you read about this rebate even a few months ago, it has changed. Since June 1, 2026, both utilities require you to join their new Scheduled Dispatch Virtual Power Plant (SD VPP) to get the rebate. ComEd adds one more condition: its 2026 rebate terms require a Qualifying Utility Product (an hourly or time-of-day rate) for the life of the battery. Hourly Pricing (Rate BESH) is one option, not the only one. Ameren adds no rate condition. Per its own guidance, joining the program is the requirement, and your supply plan stays your choice.
What joining adds — and what it doesn't. Per Ameren's own bulletin, joining does not change your electric supply. You can keep Peak Time Rewards, Rider RTP, Rider PSP or standard service. What it adds is a dispatch obligation: your utility can briefly draw down your battery on weekdays, 4–6pm, June through September, starting in 2027. One gap to know about: Ameren's customer-facing solar and rebate page, checked September 29, 2026, lists the rebate's requirements without mentioning the virtual power plant. Its program bulletin and its rules both require it, so confirm with Ameren in writing.
The pay has a floor in the law: at least $10 per kW of average dispatch during those hours, paid at the end of each program year, on top of the $300/kWh rebate. Both utilities pay exactly that floor: $10 per kW-Season at ComEd and $10.00 per kW of seasonal performance at Ameren. On a typical home battery, that's tens of dollars a year, not a payback driver. The VPP guides below have the full details.
The date that decides whether you're in: the law makes dispatch mandatory for batteries rebated after its 2026 amendment took effect. That's the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act, which took effect June 1, 2026. Both utilities use the same June 1, 2026 line, and Ameren adds a deadline: a rebated battery must be in the program by March 1, 2027. A rebate paid before June 1, 2026, or no rebate at all, keeps joining voluntary.
Getting out: only voluntary participants can leave, effective December 31 of the year they give notice. Neither utility's rules give rebate-takers an exit, and neither states a penalty.
Ameren's own rate options are still worth knowing. The rebate no longer requires them, but a battery's math changes on an hourly-style rate:
| Ameren's optional supply-rate choices | What it is |
|---|---|
| Peak Time Rewards (PTR) | Ameren's demand-response program: bill credits for cutting usage during peak events. CUB calls it a limited rewards program with no extra cost, and notes you can add PSP later. Choosing PTR means you and future residents can't also join similar third-party demand-response programs. |
| Real Time Pricing (Rider RTP) | Supply priced on MISO's day-ahead hourly prices. If you're on Rider NM, those hourly prices also set what your exported power earns. |
| Power Smart Pricing (Rider PSP) | The same day-ahead hourly pricing and crediting as RTP, plus extra customer service and education, for a monthly fee, currently $2.25. |
If you're weighing one of these rates anyway, CUB's advice holds: make sure the rate fits how your household uses power, and talk to a rate specialist first. ComEd's Hourly Pricing line is 1-888-202-7787; Ameren's Power Smart Pricing line is 1-888-596-5498. An hourly rate plus a battery that shifts usage to cheap hours can pay off. An hourly rate on a household that can't move its peak-hour usage can backfire.
For ComEd homes, Hourly Pricing has a documented upside: a big enough credit balance can cover an entire bill in some months. The full Hourly Pricing + solar mechanics, with a real month-by-month example. A battery that shifts usage into cheap hours, while exports earn at high-priced ones, fits that structure. No promises, just the mechanics.
The full VPP details for each utility live in their own guides: how ComEd's VPP program works → · how Ameren's VPP program works →.
What does the law itself say — and where haven't the utilities caught up?
The rebate lives in one section of Illinois law, 220 ILCS 5/16-107.6. The Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act rewrote it effective June 1, 2026, and it was amended again effective June 26, 2026. Read directly, the law settles several things the utilities' customer pages don't say yet. In places it goes further than either utility's rules.
The $300 rate has an end date. Batteries are paid $300 per kWh "until December 31, 2029." After that, the law sets $250 per kWh for stand-alone batteries and gives no figure for solar-paired ones. The solar rebate drops from $300 to $250 per kW on January 1, 2030. The $300 tier is for homes and small businesses; larger commercial customers get $250, per both utilities' rebate terms. The Commission can also change rebate levels for new customers, on a utility's petition or its own motion.
You get the rate in force when you sign the interconnection agreement. The law says the owner "shall receive the value available at that time of execution of the interconnection agreement." So a 2029 agreement locks in $300, even if the check arrives later.
The payment deadline is 60 days. The utility "shall issue the rebate no later than 60 days after the project is energized," or 60 days after an incomplete application is completed. CUB's field guidance describes about 90 days at ComEd. If you're past 60 days with a complete application, the law is on your side.
Hourly or time-of-use pricing is an option in the law, not a requirement. The law says a rebated battery "has the option to participate in either an hourly pricing program or time-of-use rate program." What it requires is the scheduled dispatch program. ComEd's 2026 rebate terms, re-read September 29, 2026, still require a Qualifying Utility Product for the life of the battery. Until ComEd revises them, that condition governs a ComEd application, so ask ComEd in writing whether it still applies to yours.
Batteries without solar qualify on paper. The law pays for batteries "whether or not paired with distributed generation." But both utilities' rebate terms still require solar: ComEd's 2026 terms and Ameren's Rider CGR, both re-read September 29, 2026. ComEd has signaled a change. Per the Citizens Utility Board (September 14, 2026), ComEd expects the stand-alone rebate to apply to batteries connected on or after June 1, 2026, once the ICC approves the new rules. Until then, treat solar as required and get any stand-alone promise in writing.
More from the law: caps, schedule changes, equity payments, EV batteries
There are caps, but they're far above a home battery. The law limits battery payments to 25,000 kWh of rated size, and to 5 kWh for every 1 kW of the battery's participating power (the Commission can approve a different ratio). Systems with an interconnection agreement signed on or before June 1, 2026 are exempt. A 13.5 kWh battery with 5 kW or more of output sits well inside both.
The dispatch schedule can change, within limits. On a utility's petition or its own motion, the Commission may approve a different schedule, as long as dispatch events don't exceed 80 days and, for a home battery, 2 hours per event.
Equity-eligible communities can get more. Homes and small businesses in an equity investment eligible community can get an extra payment "in an amount set by tariff and approved by the Commission." It applies when the interconnection agreement is dated after the 2026 amendment took effect. Neither utility's current rebate terms list an amount yet.
An electric vehicle's battery doesn't count. The law says a vehicle storage system "is not eligible for a rebate under this Section."
Law text: 220 ILCS 5/16-107.6, subsections (c)(2), (c)(5), (e), (g), (l) and (m), as amended by Public Acts 104-0458 (effective June 1, 2026) and 104-0477 (effective June 26, 2026); re-read in full September 29, 2026. Where a utility's rules are narrower than the law, this page reports both and tells you which one governs your application today.
Can a home battery charge from the grid in Illinois?
In ComEd territory, yes, since September 14, 2026. ComEd rewrote its net-metering rules (Rider POGNM), so a battery paired with solar may charge from the panels, the grid or both. Before that, a net-metered battery could charge only from its own solar. Ameren is stricter for its rebate: its published terms say a rebated battery must be charged by an on-site renewable generator.
ComEd's rewrite added two more rules. Any battery connected on or after June 1, 2026 must stay on an hourly or time-of-day supply plan, from ComEd or a retail supplier, to keep net metering. And a battery with no solar, charging only from the grid, becomes eligible for net-metering credit on January 1, 2027. It still doesn't qualify for the rebate until the stand-alone rebate's rules are approved.
"The retail customer serviced by any Energy Storage System that interconnected on or after June 1, 2026, must take service under a QSP and remain on a QSP in order to remain eligible for service under the terms of this rider."
ComEd Rider POGNM, 4th Revised Sheet No. 295.1, effective September 14, 2026 — read September 28, 2026. A QSP (Qualifying Supply Product) is ComEd's Hourly Pricing, its Time of Day Pricing, or a retail supplier's time-of-use product.How those rules play out for a rebated ComEd battery: the ComEd battery rebate's grid-charging rules. The three ways to get a battery in ComEd territory, side by side: solar + battery, battery only, or a supplier bundle.
Want the real numbers for your home? The free eligibility check looks at your roof, your usage and your utility together — and it says so if solar plus a battery isn't a fit.
Does the battery earn Illinois Shines money or a federal credit?
Mostly no, which is exactly why the rebate matters. Illinois Shines pays for renewable energy credits (RECs), and a REC counts a megawatt-hour of generation. Your solar earns them; your battery doesn't. On the federal side, the homeowner credit (§25D) ended December 31, 2025. It can't be claimed on cash or loan purchases in 2026, batteries included.
Leases and solar power agreements (PPAs) are the exception. A battery owned by the provider can still carry a separate federal business credit. The 2025 tax law gave batteries a longer timeline than solar for that credit, under stricter sourcing rules. The provider claims it, and it's part of how these offers price a battery with no upfront cost. What expired and what didn't: did the solar tax credit end?
Bottom line: for an Illinois homeowner buying in 2026, the $300/kWh utility rebate is the battery incentive, with the VPP's $10-per-kW payment as the only recurring money on top. Everything else attaches to the solar. Illinois has no state battery or solar tax credit either: does Illinois have a state solar tax credit?
Which rebate ends legacy net metering — and which doesn't?
The law and CUB draw the same line, at both utilities. Taking the solar (generation) rebate on a pre-2025 system ends full-retail netting for good. Taking only the battery rebate doesn't. If you installed before 2025 and still have full netting, the battery rebate is the one piece of this program you can take without touching that status.
So the clean play for legacy owners: battery rebate yes; solar rebate only after you've run the math on what full netting is worth over your system's remaining life. The utility-specific traps, including Ameren's second way to lose legacy status, are in the net-metering guides: ComEd · Ameren Illinois.
Why do batteries pencil better under the 2026 rules?
Because the 2025 net-metering rules changed what an exported kilowatt-hour is worth. Systems connected on or after January 1, 2025 no longer get full retail credit for exports. ComEd credits the supply side only; Ameren credits supply plus transmission. So solar you export is worth less than solar you use. A battery turns midday exports into evening use, which is exactly what the new rules reward.
- Using your own power is the whole game: stored solar used at 7pm avoids the full cost of a kilowatt-hour. Exported solar earns the smaller export credit.
- An hourly-style rate cuts both ways. Charge when power is cheap or sunny; use it when it's expensive. Whether that pays depends on your usage pattern, not a brochure.
- No payback promises here, ever. Battery math depends on your rate, your usage, the battery's size and how you run it. Ask any bidder for their assumptions (rate path, cycling, self-use share), not just their conclusion.
The supply price sets most of what an exported kilowatt-hour earns, and it just reset. From October 1, 2026 through May 2027, ComEd's is 10.103¢ per kWh, and Ameren's is 10.441¢ for the first 800 kWh a month and 8.262¢ beyond: what the October reset changed. Why Ameren's price moved: why is my Ameren bill so high? What stays on the bill either way: will I still get an electric bill after solar?
This page covers the incentives only. Whether a battery is worth adding to your system, including backup value and cycling trade-offs: is a home battery worth it in Illinois? →
What does a battery actually do in an outage?
It's the only thing that keeps your lights on. Standard grid-tied solar shuts off in an outage, even in full sun. That's anti-islanding, a required safety feature that protects utility line workers. Backup needs a battery (or islanding-capable hardware) plus a transfer setup that isolates your backed-up circuits from the grid.
Size the goal honestly. A typical home battery, around 10–15 kWh, runs selected essential circuits for hours, not the whole house for days. If backup is why you're buying, say so at design time and get a circuit-by-circuit backup plan in the quote; it changes the equipment list. And remember the rebate rule as the utilities apply it today: a battery with no solar doesn't qualify under either utility's terms. Ameren says a rebated battery must be charged by an on-site renewable generator, even though the law now reads more broadly (see above).
The virtual power plant doesn't take backup away. Dispatch covers only 4 to 6 pm on summer weekdays, and neither utility's rules address outages or backup reserve. How much charge you hold back is a setting you choose with your installer. What to ask about backup reserve before you sign. For storms and snow: how solar handles an Illinois winter.
How do you actually claim the rebate?
Under Illinois law, the owner of the solar, battery and inverter applies for and receives the rebate. Own the system with cash or a loan, and that's you. With a lease or solar power agreement (PPA), the provider typically owns the equipment and claims the rebate. That's part of how solar and a battery come with no upfront cost. How the three routes compare over the full term: solar lease vs. PPA vs. buying. Already have a quote? Here's how to check it's a fair one before you sign anything.
- Before you sign: confirm in the contract who files the rebate application and who gets the payment. While you're there, confirm the installer is an Illinois Shines Approved Vendor and, if you're financing, check the loan for dealer fees.
- Confirm the required enrollments: the virtual power plant at both utilities, plus ComEd's qualifying supply product. The rebate isn't approved without them, so get each one handled and documented.
- Smart inverter, in operation: the program's qualifying equipment. One inverter can serve both the solar and the battery, per Ameren.
- Sign the interconnection agreement. Under the law, the rebate value you get is the one in force that day, and you can apply at that point.
- After energization: the law requires the utility to pay within 60 days of energization, or of a complete application. CUB reports about 90 days in practice at ComEd; a complete application is what protects the clock.
Illinois battery incentive FAQ
Tap a question to see the answer.
How much is the Illinois battery rebate in 2026?
$300 per kilowatt-hour of the battery's nameplate capacity (DC rating), paid once by ComEd or Ameren Illinois. CUB's example: an 8 kWh battery earns $2,400. The battery must be paired with a qualifying renewable system, usually solar, and a smart inverter.
How big is the rebate on a typical home battery?
About $4,050. A typical full-size home battery is 13.5 kWh, and 13.5 kWh at the $300 rate comes to $4,050, paid once by your utility. Use the estimator on this page for your exact size, and confirm the final figure on your rebate application.
Does the Illinois battery rebate expire or step down?
The law sets the $300 per kWh rate through December 31, 2029. After that, it sets $250 per kWh for stand-alone batteries and gives no figure for solar-paired ones. The solar rebate drops from $300 to $250 per kW on January 1, 2030. You get the rate in force when you sign your interconnection agreement, and the Illinois Commerce Commission can adjust rebate levels for new customers.
Do I have to change my electric rate to get the battery rebate?
Not necessarily; this changed June 1, 2026. ComEd's rebate terms require a Qualifying Utility Product for the life of the battery. Hourly Pricing (Rate BESH) is the common route, not the only one. Ameren doesn't require a specific rate: per its own guidance, you can keep Peak Time Rewards, Rider RTP, Rider PSP or standard service. What both utilities now require is joining their Scheduled Dispatch Virtual Power Plant. The amended law itself makes an hourly or time-of-use rate optional; ComEd's life-of-battery condition comes from its own rebate terms.
What does Scheduled Dispatch VPP enrollment commit me to?
Five years, set by law for both utilities. Your utility can draw down your battery during scheduled events: weekdays 4–6pm, June through September, starting in 2027. Both utilities pay the legal floor on top of the rebate: $10 per kW-Season at ComEd and $10.00 per kW of seasonal performance at Ameren. Joining doesn't change your electric supply rate. Neither utility's rules give rebate-takers an early exit, and neither states a penalty. Both also require the battery to be fixed in place, and neither says what happens if you sell the home mid-term, so get that answer in writing: selling a house with solar in Illinois.
What if I received the battery rebate before June 1, 2026?
Then joining the virtual power plant is your choice, not a requirement. The law's mandate covers batteries rebated after the 2026 amendment took effect on June 1, 2026. Both utilities use the same line: rebates received on or after that date make joining mandatory. Earlier rebates, or no rebate at all, leave it voluntary.
Can I get the rebate for a battery without solar?
Not under either utility's terms as of late September 2026. Both require the battery to be paired with a qualifying renewable system, and Ameren says a rebated battery must be charged by an on-site renewable generator. The amended law goes further: it pays for batteries "whether or not paired with distributed generation." Per the Citizens Utility Board, ComEd expects the stand-alone rebate to apply to batteries connected on or after June 1, 2026, once the ICC approves the new rules. Until then, solar is required. A battery without solar can still join either utility's virtual power plant, and in ComEd territory it can earn net-metering credit from January 1, 2027.
Can a home battery charge from the grid in Illinois?
In ComEd territory, yes, since September 14, 2026. ComEd's rewritten net-metering rules let a battery paired with solar charge from the panels, the grid or both. Ameren's published rebate terms still say a rebated battery must be charged by an on-site renewable generator.
Do I need a special rate to keep net metering with a battery in ComEd territory?
If the battery was connected on or after June 1, 2026, yes. ComEd's rewritten net-metering rules require an hourly or time-of-day supply plan, from ComEd or a retail supplier, to keep net metering. That's separate from the rebate's own rate condition, though ComEd's Hourly Pricing or Time of Day Pricing satisfies both.
Can I add a battery to solar I already have and still get the rebate?
Generally yes, if the existing system qualifies with a conforming smart inverter. ComEd's rebate page says its rebates are available to customers who connected after August 11, 2022; confirm your date with ComEd. Ameren homes should confirm the same point with Ameren before buying a battery for the rebate. In both territories, the battery itself must then meet the smart-inverter and VPP conditions.
Does taking the battery rebate end legacy full net metering?
No. Per the law and CUB, customers who installed before January 1, 2025 and have full netting keep it when they take only the battery rebate. Only the solar (generation) rebate ends it. That applies at both ComEd and Ameren Illinois.
Does a battery earn Illinois Shines RECs?
No. Illinois Shines pays for renewable energy credits, and a REC counts a megawatt-hour of generation. The solar earns them; the battery doesn't. The $300/kWh utility rebate is the battery's incentive.
Does an electric vehicle's battery qualify for the rebate?
No. The law behind the rebate says a vehicle storage system "is not eligible for a rebate under this Section." The rebate is for a stationary home battery, and both utilities' rebate terms define the battery as fixed in place.
Is there a federal tax credit for home batteries in 2026?
Not for a battery you buy with cash or a loan: the federal homeowner credit (§25D) ended December 31, 2025. A battery owned by a lease or PPA provider can still carry a separate federal business credit. The 2025 tax law left that credit on a longer timeline for batteries than for solar, under stricter sourcing rules. The provider claims it.
What does a home battery cost in Illinois?
There's no trustworthy public benchmark for what a home battery costs installed, so we don't publish one. Get the battery priced as its own line item, in dollars per usable kilowatt-hour, and compare quotes against each other. The utility rebate takes $300 per kWh off: about $4,050 on a 13.5 kWh battery. How to weigh the rest: is a home battery worth it? and is my solar quote a good deal? Because the rebate needs solar, the solar's own price matters too: how much solar costs in Illinois.
Who receives the rebate on a lease or PPA?
The owner of the equipment, under Illinois law. With a lease or solar power agreement (PPA), the provider typically owns the battery and claims the rebate, which is part of how these offers come with no upfront cost. Ask how it's reflected in your monthly payment or rate.
Which company offers the best home battery subscription in Illinois?
There's no single best; it depends on what you want. Two companies, Base Power and Energywell, offer battery "subscriptions" in ComEd territory. They install a battery in exchange for a 12- or 15-year electricity-supply contract, and rooftop solar is effectively off the table for the term. The alternative is solar plus a battery, bought outright or through a lease or solar power agreement, which is the route the $300-per-kWh rebate supports. We compare both subscription contracts line by line in free home battery offers, explained.
Can I have community solar and the ComEd battery rebate?
No. Per ComEd's rules, customers who receive a battery storage rebate can't also hold a community-solar subscription. If you have one, factor canceling it into the battery decision.
Related answers
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Sources
Show all 16 sources, with the date each was read
- 220 ILCS 5/16-107.6 — Distributed generation and storage rebate (ilga.gov), as amended by Public Acts 104-0458 (effective June 1, 2026) and 104-0477 (effective June 26, 2026); re-read in full September 29, 2026: rebate rates and the December 31, 2029 date, the 60-day payment deadline, the interconnection-agreement lock, the "whether or not paired" language, the capacity caps, the hourly-or-time-of-use option, the five-year scheduled dispatch program with its $10/kW floor, the equity-community payment and the vehicle-storage exclusion
- ComEd Rider SDVPP — Scheduled Dispatch Virtual Power Plant Program, ICC filing 399541 (five-year program term, dispatch window, $10/kW-Season rate, June 1, 2026 cutoff)
- ComEd Schedule of Rates, Ill. C.C. No. 10 (PDF) — Rider POGNM (Sheets 294–295.1, effective September 14, 2026; read September 28, 2026): grid charging for solar-paired storage, the Qualifying Supply Product rule for storage connected on or after June 1, 2026, and net-metering compensation for stand-alone storage from January 1, 2027
- CUB — Solar and Storage Rebates in Illinois fact sheet (March 2026, PDF)
- ComEd — Distributed Generation Rebates (rebate rates, the SDVPP participation condition, the August 11, 2022 interconnection rule)
- ComEd — Distributed Generation Rebate Terms and Conditions, 2026 edition (PDF) (re-read in full September 29, 2026), for the Qualifying Utility Product life-of-facility requirement, the SDVPP participation condition, the anticipated March 1, 2027 SDVPP effective date, and the solar-pairing requirement
- Citizens Utility Board — Upcoming CRGA Programs (September 14, 2026; still the latest update as of September 29, 2026), for ComEd's expected stand-alone-rebate applicability to batteries interconnected on or after June 1, 2026, the spring 2027 ComEd VPP launch target, and Ameren's unscheduled launch
- ComEd Hourly Pricing — About · Hourly Pricing — Solar
- Ameren Illinois — Rider SD VPP, Ill. C.C. No. 1 Sheet Nos. 68–68.005 (PDF) (effective July 16, 2026; re-read in full September 29, 2026): the $10.00 per kW seasonal-performance rate, the five-summer minimum, the exit rules and absence of any early-termination penalty, the March 1, 2027 service deadline, and standalone-storage eligibility for the program itself
- Ameren Illinois — Rider CGR, Customer Generation Rebate (Ill. C.C. No. 1 Sheet Nos. 59–59.005) (re-read in full September 29, 2026): the rebate amounts, the 60-day payment term, the storage co-location definition and the rate-program clause
- Ameren — Customer-Owned Solar (checked September 29, 2026: the $300/kW-DC and $300/kWh rebates, ownership, and the on-site-renewable charging requirement for rebated storage)
- Ameren — DER Bulletin 2026-04 (PDF) (re-read September 29, 2026): the SD VPP enrollment requirement for storage rebates from June 1, 2026, and the statement that enrollment doesn't change your supply
- Ameren Illinois — Rebate Application (PDF)
- Illinois Shines — DG Disclosure Form guide
- Illinois Shines — Consumer FAQs
- IRS — FAQs on P.L. 119-21 (§25D expiration)
How to cite: The Day Company Editorial Team, "What battery incentives can Illinois homeowners actually get in 2026?," The Day Company, updated September 29, 2026. https://theday.company/answers/battery-incentives-illinois
Changelog · last updated September 29, 2026 · 7 updates
- September 29, 2026 — v9: rewrote the page in plainer English, with shorter sentences and fewer legal terms; added a key-numbers strip, a key-dates timeline and a "which guide fits you?" router; made the comparison tables readable on phones without sideways scrolling; made the FAQ answers, the deeper law details, the sources and this changelog tap-to-open. No facts, figures or sources changed.
- September 29, 2026 — v8: re-read the statute and every utility source this page cites. Ameren's virtual power plant tariff is now published, so every Ameren line this page carried as unpublished is sourced: $10.00 per kW of seasonal performance, a minimum of five summers, no early-termination penalty, and service by March 1, 2027 for anyone rebated since June 1, 2026. From the statute: recorded that the amended law makes hourly or time-of-use pricing an option rather than a requirement (ComEd's life-of-battery supply condition comes from its own rebate terms), corrected the cap wording, and added the second 2026 amendment (Public Act 104-0477), the Commission's power to change the dispatch schedule, and the exclusion of vehicle batteries. Added ComEd's September 14 net-metering changes (grid charging for solar-paired batteries, the supply-plan rule for batteries connected on or after June 1, 2026, and net metering for batteries without solar from January 1, 2027) with a new section on charging from the grid; corrected the economics section, where Ameren credits exports on supply plus transmission; added October supply prices, a VPP start-date row, five FAQs (grid charging, the rate rule, what a battery costs, battery subscriptions and vehicle batteries), a mid-page eligibility check, and the gap on Ameren's customer page; reworded the lease, PPA and federal-credit answers; linked the storage rebate's grid-charging and backup sections and thirteen more guides: winter, October rates, the state tax credit, ComEd net metering, Illinois Shines, the ComEd solar rebate, lease vs. buying, vendor verification, dealer fees, solar cost, selling with solar, Ameren bills and the bill after solar.
- September 15, 2026 — v7: recorded the first on-record movement on the stand-alone rebate — per CUB's September 14 program update, ComEd expects it to apply to batteries interconnected on or after June 1, 2026 once the ICC approves the tariffs, while pairing still governs today; refreshed the status box with ComEd's anticipated March 1, 2027 VPP effective date and CUB's spring-2027 launch target; linked ComEd's 2026 rebate terms directly.
- September 3, 2026 — v6: read the amended statute directly and upgraded the five-year term, dispatch window and $10/kW floor from industry reporting to statutory citations; added the December 31, 2029 rate date, the 60-day payment deadline, the interconnection-agreement lock, the capacity caps, and the gap between the law's "whether or not paired" language and both utilities' published pairing requirement; added a dated status box, a utility toggle on the estimator, and three FAQs; re-verified every other figure with no change.
- August 7, 2026 — v5: added an interactive rebate estimator and a typical-battery FAQ; corrected ComEd's supply requirement — its 2026 rebate terms require a Qualifying Utility Product for the life of the storage facility, with Hourly Pricing (Rate BESH) as one route, not the requirement itself.
- August 7, 2026 — v3: corrected Ameren's battery-rebate requirement, which changed June 1, 2026 from a rate election (Peak Time Rewards/RTP/PSP) to mandatory Scheduled Dispatch VPP enrollment, matching ComEd's existing requirement; added the VPP dispatch window, commitment length, and compensation floor; linked the Ameren VPP and battery-worth-it guides.
- July 21, 2026 — v2: added the ComEd Battery Storage Rebate sibling down-link and the ComEd VPP participation note.