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How does the ComEd battery storage rebate work?

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Published July 21, 2026 · Facts verified July 2026 · By The Day Company Editorial Team

How much is the ComEd battery storage rebate?

The ComEd battery storage rebate pays $300 per kWh of nameplate capacity for residential and small commercial customers — a one-time check calculated purely on your battery's size, not its cost. A 10 kWh battery earns $3,000; a 20 kWh battery earns $6,000. Larger commercial and industrial systems (outside the residential/Small C&I class) receive $250/kWh instead.

That's the whole formula — nameplate battery capacity, in kWh, times the applicable rate. You don't have to also claim ComEd's separate $300/kW solar rebate to collect the storage rebate; the two are filed independently, though your solar system still has to qualify as an eligible distributed generation facility either way.

Typical residential sizes — your rebate = nameplate kWh × $300:

Illustrative math on ComEd's published rate — your actual rebate is based on your equipment's nameplate capacity, not the examples above.

Who qualifies for the ComEd battery storage rebate?

Your battery must be paired with a qualifying solar (or other renewable) system, include a smart inverter installed and in operation, and be owned by the applicant or installed with the property owner's permission. Standalone battery storage — installed without solar — doesn't meet ComEd's definition of an eligible energy storage facility, so it isn't eligible on its own.

If your battery is leased or financed through a PPA, the rebate follows equipment ownership — typically the leasing or finance company, not you. Ask for the pass-through value in writing before you sign, the same way you'd ask an Illinois Shines Approved Vendor how REC value shows up in your contract price.

Is there a rate-plan requirement for the ComEd battery rebate?

Yes — ComEd requires storage-rebate recipients to enroll in Rate BESH (Basic Electric Service Hourly, also called Hourly Pricing) and stay on it for the life of the battery. Hourly Pricing charges a supply rate that changes hour to hour instead of a fixed price, so ComEd recommends calling its Hourly Pricing line before committing.

That's a bigger commitment than it sounds: your ComEd supply charge moves with wholesale prices hour to hour instead of the flat rate most customers are on, for as long as you keep the battery. If you also have solar, switching to Hourly Pricing changes how your export credits get calculated — see our net metering guide for how that works before you switch.

How do you apply, and when does the check arrive?

You (or your installer, with your authorization) submit a signed DG Rebate application to ComEd with an itemized contractor invoice or purchase receipt after your system is energized and inspected. ComEd can request a post-installation inspection. Once approved, the rebate arrives as a single check — CUB's guidance describes a typical window of about 90 days from energization, though ComEd sets no guaranteed date.

An incomplete application — a missing invoice, missing documentation — delays payment or gets it denied outright, so double-check the paperwork before you submit. ComEd also reserves the right to inspect installed equipment for up to a year after paying the rebate.

What does taking the ComEd battery rebate cost you?

Taking the storage rebate bars you from a ComEd Community Solar subscription, according to ComEd's tariff — you can't have both. The good news: unlike the separate solar generation rebate, taking the storage rebate does not cost pre-2025 solar owners their full-retail net metering. And if your battery is leased or under a PPA, the rebate likely belongs to whoever owns the equipment, not you.

Weigh the Rate BESH commitment carefully too — it's not a one-time decision like the check itself; you're agreeing to hourly pricing for as long as the battery is in service. Not sure whether solar-paired storage fits your home? A two-minute eligibility check can model that against your own roof and usage before you talk to an installer.

Does the battery rebate stack with other Illinois incentives?

Yes. The storage rebate stacks with ComEd's separate $300/kW solar Distributed Generation rebate and with Illinois Shines renewable energy credits, which pay $80.77 per REC in ComEd territory for program year 2026–27, plus $20 more per REC if you own the system outright. These are three distinct value streams on the same system, each with its own rules.

For the solar side of that math, see our ComEd Solar Rebate guide — this page covers storage only.

Separately, this same battery may also earn ongoing performance payments once ComEd's Scheduled Dispatch Virtual Power Plant program launches — a future earning stream, not a stacking rebate — covered in our ComEd Virtual Power Plant guide.

How does Ameren's battery rebate differ?

Ameren pays the same $300/kWh (residential) for its Energy Storage System rebate, but requires enrollment in one of three programs — Peak Time Rewards, Rider RTP, or Rider PSP (a $2.25/month option) — instead of ComEd's single Rate BESH. This page covers ComEd; if you're an Ameren customer, confirm current program terms directly with Ameren before choosing.

Both utilities pay residential customers the same rate — the real difference is entirely in which ongoing rate program you're required to join to collect it.

ComEd Battery Storage Rebate FAQ

Does ComEd's battery rebate require solar panels?

Yes. ComEd's $300/kWh storage rebate only applies to battery systems paired with a qualifying renewable-generation facility — in practice, almost always solar. A standalone battery with no solar system attached doesn't meet ComEd's definition of an eligible energy storage facility.

How much does a typical home battery earn from the ComEd rebate?

The rebate is $300 per kWh of nameplate capacity, calculated on battery size, not battery cost. A 10 kWh battery earns $3,000; a 13.5 kWh battery (a common size class) earns $4,050; a 20 kWh battery earns $6,000.

What is Rate BESH, and do I have to stay on it forever?

Rate BESH — Basic Electric Service Hourly, ComEd's Hourly Pricing plan — charges a supply rate that changes by the hour instead of a fixed price. You must enroll and stay enrolled for the life of your battery to keep the storage rebate; ComEd recommends calling its Hourly Pricing line to model your household's usage before switching.

Will taking the battery rebate affect my net metering?

Not on its own. If you installed solar before January 1, 2025 and still have full-retail net metering, taking the storage rebate alone won't cost you that status. It's the separate solar generation rebate that ends full-retail netting — the storage rebate doesn't.

Can I get the battery rebate if I lease my battery or have a PPA?

The rebate goes to whoever owns or operates the equipment — for a lease or PPA, that's typically the financing company, not you. Ask for the pass-through value in writing before you sign.

Does the battery rebate come automatically with the solar $300/kW rebate?

No — they're filed as separate applications, and you don't have to claim the solar generation rebate to claim the storage rebate. Your underlying solar system still has to qualify as an eligible distributed generation facility either way.

How long does the ComEd battery rebate check take to arrive?

ComEd doesn't publish a guaranteed date, and an incomplete application can delay or disqualify it. CUB's guidance describes a typical window of about 90 days after your system is energized and your application is fully processed.

Can I still get the battery rebate if I'm on a Community Solar plan?

No. According to ComEd's tariff, customers who receive a battery storage rebate can't also participate in a Community Solar subscription — it's one or the other, not both.

Is the ComEd battery rebate the same thing as Illinois Shines?

No — different programs, different payers. The battery rebate is a one-time payment direct from ComEd. Illinois Shines pays for renewable energy credits through your Approved Vendor, separately, over a 15-year contract. Many systems qualify for both.

What size battery gets the biggest ComEd rebate?

There's no cap stated in ComEd's terms for typical residential systems — the rebate simply scales with nameplate kWh at $300/kWh. A bigger battery earns a bigger one-time check, but it also means a bigger upfront system cost, so the rebate is best read as an offset, not a reason to oversize.

Related answers

Sources

• ComEd Distributed Generation Rebate — Terms and Conditions (comed.com)
• Solar and Storage Rebates in Illinois — Fact Sheet (Citizens Utility Board, March 2026)
• Illinois Public Utilities Act, 220 ILCS 5/16-107.6 (ilga.gov)
• Illinois Shines — DG Purchase Disclosure Form Guidance
• Ameren Illinois — Distributed Generation & Energy Storage Rebates (for the Ameren comparison)