Solar Answers → Incentives & Programs

How does the ComEd solar rebate work?

Adding a battery? That's the other half of the same DG Rebate — $300 per kWh, with conditions of its own. It has its own guide: the ComEd battery storage rebate →

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Published July 21, 2026 · Last reviewed September 21, 2026 · ~12 min read · By The Day Company Editorial Team

How much is the ComEd solar rebate?

The ComEd solar rebate pays $300 per kW of nameplate DC capacity for homes and small businesses — a one-time check set purely by the size of your system, not by what it cost or what it produces. A 9.3 kW system earns $2,790; a 12 kW system earns $3,600. Larger commercial customers and community solar projects receive $250 per kW. Set your own size and watch the check change.

Don't know your size yet? It's one line of arithmetic: panel wattage × number of panels ÷ 1,000. Twenty-five 400-watt panels is 10 kW, and 10 kW × $300 is $3,000.

Swipe the table sideways to see both columns →

Illustrative arithmetic on ComEd's published rate. Median and average sizes are Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory's figures for home systems installed in 2024. What the system itself costs before this comes off: how much do solar panels cost in Illinois? → What size fits your usage: how many solar panels you need →

What do most pages get wrong about the ComEd rebate?

Five things, and each one touches your wallet or your calendar. We read ComEd's tariff, its 2026 rebate terms and the state statute line by line. Here is what you'll often read, next to what the documents say.

Who qualifies for the ComEd solar rebate?

Most new home solar systems in ComEd territory qualify. The system needs a smart inverter set to ComEd's required settings, must be interconnected to ComEd's distribution grid after August 11, 2022, and has to be mainly intended to offset your own electricity use. You also have to be enrolled in net metering. Who supplies your electricity doesn't matter.

• A smart inverter, installed and set to ComEd's required smart-inverter settings.
• Interconnected after August 11, 2022 to ComEd's distribution system.
• Enrolled in ComEd net metering. ComEd's rebate page makes it a condition of applying. How enrollment works: ComEd net metering, explained →
• 5,000 kW or smaller — far above any home system — and mainly for your own use.
• Your property, or the owner's permission to install there.
• A ComEd delivery customer, with any supplier. The tariff says the rebate isn't restricted to customers who buy their supply from ComEd.
• New equipment, installed to state code. ComEd's terms exclude resold and rebuilt equipment.

One thing the solar rebate does not require is a particular rate plan. Illinois Shines' consumer guidance notes there is no supply requirement when you take only the solar rebate — that condition belongs to the battery rebate.

If your system is leased or under a power purchase agreement (PPA), the rebate follows equipment ownership — typically the leasing or finance company, not you. Illinois Shines puts it plainly: make sure you understand who keeps the rebate. Ask for the pass-through value in writing; our lease vs. buy guide covers how that value usually does (or doesn't) show up in your contract.

Ameren Illinois customer? Same state law and the same $300 per kW for homes, but Ameren's rules and paperwork are its own — start with Ameren net metering, explained →

Why is it also called the smart inverter rebate?

Because the smart inverter is what ComEd is paying for. Illinois law requires ComEd and Ameren to offer this rebate to customers who install solar with a smart inverter, and Illinois Shines notes it goes by both names — “distributed generation rebate” and “smart inverter rebate.” Same program, same $300 per kW.

Your side of the deal is small but lasting. The inverter has to stay on ComEd's required settings for the life of the system, and those settings can't be changed after the interconnection agreement without ComEd's agreement. Beyond that, the tariff asks nothing of you day to day: a system connected through a compliant smart inverter is treated as already delivering the grid services the rebate pays for.

How do you apply for the ComEd DG rebate, and how fast does ComEd have to pay?

You can apply as soon as your interconnection agreement is signed — you don't have to wait for the panels to go live. The application is online, through ComEd's interconnection portal; installers usually file it, but customers can register there too. Once the system is operating and the paperwork is complete, ComEd's tariff gives it 60 days to pay.

1. Before you sign, get three things in writing. That the installer is an Illinois Shines Approved Vendor (five minutes, here's how), that the inverter will be set to ComEd's smart-inverter settings, and who receives the rebate check. What else to check in the quote → Financing it? See how dealer fees change the price you're comparing.
2. Rebate value locks for 24 months
   Interconnection agreement signed: you can apply now. The application is online through ComEd's interconnection portal. It registers customers as well as contractors, so you aren't stuck if your installer never files — though most do. Either way, ask for a copy. ComEd's terms require an itemized contractor invoice or proof-of-purchase receipt with it. Applying now holds the rebate value in effect that day, as long as the system has permission to operate within 24 months.
3. Permit and install. Your town issues the permits, and the rules vary — we cover Chicago and Aurora in detail.
4. Permission to operate, with net metering. ComEd approves the system to run in parallel with the grid and your net metering enrollment takes effect. The interconnection clock, step by step, is on our ComEd net metering guide.
5. ComEd has 60 days
   The payment clock starts. It runs from the last of four things: your application is complete, ComEd has every document it asked for, the system is operating, and ComEd has sent you its notice about net metering. An incomplete application delays payment or gets it denied.
6. Check in the mail — keep your file. The rebate arrives as a check, and ComEd's terms disclaim responsibility for one lost in the mail — confirm your mailing address. Keep invoices and approvals for a year; ComEd can inspect rebated equipment that long after it pays. Ask your tax preparer about a rebate that's reported to the IRS.

Questions about a filed application go to ComEd's DG Rebate desk: [email protected] or (833) 688-7730, as listed on ComEd's rebate page on September 21, 2026.

Prefer to see the full math first? Is solar worth it in Illinois? →

What does taking the ComEd solar rebate cost you?

For a system connected in 2025 or later: nothing extra. Those systems are already on supply-only net metering, and the Citizens Utility Board describes the rebate as the upfront benefit that came with that change. The cost falls on one group — owners who installed before 2025 and still have full-retail net metering. Taking the generation rebate moves that system to supply-only credits, and it can't be undone.

The trade is written into the statute itself: once a rebate application is approved, the customer is no longer entitled to delivery-service credits for exported power — unless the rebate is for a battery only. ComEd's tariff adds two details worth knowing. The change takes effect the day the rebate is issued, and ComEd has to notify you of it before it pays.

In plain terms: full-retail netting credits exported power against supply, delivery and taxes; supply-only credits the supply side alone. How that plays out month to month lives on our ComEd net metering guide and on what your bill looks like after solar.

Installed before 2025? Four things decide it

• System size: a bigger system earns a bigger check, but has more riding on its ongoing credits.
• Export share: the more of your production you send to the grid rather than use on-site, the more your full-retail netting is worth to you.
• Ownership horizon: more years left means more time for delivery-side credits to add up. Selling doesn't erase them, either — Illinois Shines notes legacy netting continues when ownership of the system changes: selling a house with solar →
• Rate trajectory: rising delivery rates make your existing credits more valuable over time. We track ComEd's next rate reset and explain why ComEd bills have been climbing.

There is no universal right answer — only your own numbers. Get ComEd's current terms in writing before you elect anything. And if you plan to expand an older system, ask ComEd first: Illinois Shines notes a modification big enough to need a new interconnection application can end legacy status on its own.

Which ComEd rebates and Illinois incentives stack with it in 2026?

All of the ones that still exist. The solar rebate is separate from Illinois Shines and doesn't depend on it, so most home systems collect both. Add a battery, and the other half of ComEd's DG Rebate can apply to the same system. What no longer stacks is the federal homeowner tax credit, which expired December 31, 2025. Each has its own guide — this page stays on the solar rebate.

Swipe the table sideways to see every column →

The whole stack with who gets each dollar: Illinois solar incentives 2026 → Everything ComEd-specific — rates, netting and interconnection — is in the ComEd Solar Guide →

ComEd also runs a separate Energy Efficiency Program with its own rebates for things like heat pumps and appliances. Different program, different rules — this site doesn't cover it.

ComEd Solar Rebate FAQ

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

The rebate is $300 per kW of DC nameplate capacity. A 9.3 kW system — the national average home size in Berkeley Lab's data on 2024 installations — earns $2,790, and the 7.2 kW median earns $2,160. A 5 kW system earns $1,500; a 12 kW system earns $3,600.

How long does ComEd have to pay the rebate?

ComEd's tariff requires it to pay within 60 days once four conditions are met: a complete application, all the information it requested, a system operating in parallel with the grid, and ComEd's notice to you about the net metering change. The Citizens Utility Board tells consumers to expect the check within 90 days of energization. An incomplete application delays payment or gets it denied.

When can I apply for the ComEd DG rebate — before or after installation?

As early as the day your interconnection agreement is signed. Under ComEd's tariff, if the system is interconnected and has permission to operate within 24 months of that application, you receive the rebate value that was in effect when you applied; otherwise the application expires. The application is filed online through ComEd's interconnection portal, which registers customers as well as contractors, and ComEd processes it once the system is operating.

Is the ComEd solar rebate going down in 2030?

Yes, under current law. Section 16-107.6 of the Illinois Public Utilities Act sets the base rebate at $300 per kW until December 31, 2029 and $250 per kW on or after January 1, 2030. The same section lets the Illinois Commerce Commission adjust rebate levels for new customers, so the figure can also change through a Commission proceeding. ComEd's tariff pays the value in effect when you applied, provided the system is operating within 24 months.

Does the ComEd solar rebate require a specific interconnection date?

Yes — interconnection after August 11, 2022. That is the date of the Illinois Commerce Commission order, in Docket 21-0850, that approved ComEd's rebate rider. December 15, 2022, which you may see cited instead, is the date the rider took effect.

Who gets the ComEd rebate check — me or my installer?

ComEd's terms pay the owner or operator of the system, and the applicant confirms the rebate rights haven't been assigned to anyone else. If you own the system, that's you. Installers often file the paperwork. If a quote shows the rebate already subtracted from your price, ask who receives the check and get the answer in writing.

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

The rebate follows equipment ownership — for a lease or PPA, that's typically the leasing or finance company, not you. Ask how that value shows up in your contract and get it in writing; our lease-vs-buy guide covers what to look for.

Can I get the rebate if I buy electricity from an alternative supplier?

Yes. ComEd's tariff says the rebate isn't restricted to customers who buy their supply from ComEd, so customers of alternative retail electric suppliers are eligible. You do need to be a ComEd delivery customer enrolled in net metering. The battery rebate is different: it requires a qualifying ComEd supply product.

Will taking the ComEd solar rebate end my net metering?

It doesn't end net metering — ComEd actually requires net metering enrollment to apply. It changes which kind you have, and only for some people. If your system was interconnected on or after January 1, 2025, you're already on supply-only net metering, so the rebate changes nothing. If you installed before 2025 and still have full-retail net metering, taking the rebate moves that system to supply-only for good.

I installed solar before 2025 — should I take the rebate now?

That depends on your own numbers — system size, how much you export versus use, how long you plan to keep the system, and where delivery rates are headed. There's no one-size-fits-all answer. The three questions above walk through the factor that moves the math most; get ComEd's current terms in writing before you decide, because the choice can't be reversed.

Is the ComEd solar rebate taxable?

It may be. ComEd's terms say rebates may be taxable under federal and state tax codes, and that a rebate over $600 will be reported to the IRS unless you show you're exempt — every home system above 2 kW clears that line. This isn't tax advice; ask your tax preparer how it applies to you.

Is the ComEd DG rebate the same thing as the smart inverter rebate?

Yes. Illinois Shines notes the program goes by both names — distributed generation rebate and smart inverter rebate — and Ameren's version is officially the DG Smart Inverter Rebate. The smart inverter is the point: ComEd's tariff treats the rebate as payment for the grid services that inverter provides.

Is the ComEd solar rebate the same as Illinois Shines, or a “renewable portfolio” incentive?

No — those are two names for a different program. Illinois Shines is funded through Illinois' Renewable Portfolio Standard, a charge on utility customers' bills that the utilities use to buy renewable energy credits from Approved Vendors; that value usually reaches you as a lower price. The DG Rebate is a one-time check direct from ComEd. It doesn't depend on Shines, and most home systems collect both.

Can I get the rebate again if I add panels later?

Not on the same capacity. State law offers the rebate to generation that hasn't previously received one, and ComEd's tariff bars a rebate on any portion of a system's capacity that already has one or has an application pending. Neither spells out how expansions are handled, so ask ComEd in writing before you count on a rebate for added panels — and if you have pre-2025 legacy net metering, ask what the expansion does to that first.

Related answers

Sources

• ComEd Schedule of Rates, 2026 ratebook (PDF) — Rider DG REBATE (Sheet Nos. 245–248.5, PDF pages 376–384; read September 21, 2026 — the 60-day payment rule, the 24-month value lock, the one-rebate-per-capacity rule and the net metering clause)
• ComEd — Rider DG REBATE as filed in 2022 (PDF) (the standalone copy ComEd links from its rebate page — rebate amounts on Informational Sheet No. 48 and the required smart-inverter settings)
• ComEd Distributed Generation Rebate Terms and Conditions, 2026 edition (PDF) (read in full September 21, 2026 — the $300/$250 rates, the 5,000 kW cap, the invoice requirement, the one-year inspection window and the $600 tax-reporting line)
• ComEd — Distributed Generation Rebates (the net metering enrollment requirement, the online application and the DG Rebate desk contacts)
• ComEd interconnection portal — login and registration page (viewed September 21, 2026 without logging in: customers and contractors can both register)
• Illinois Public Utilities Act, 220 ILCS 5/16-107.6 (ilga.gov; read September 21, 2026 — subsection (c)(2), $300 per kW until December 31, 2029 and $250 from January 1, 2030; (c)(3), the net metering consequence; (l), the Commission's power to adjust rebate levels)
• Solar and Storage Rebates in Illinois — Fact Sheet (Citizens Utility Board, March 2026 — the 90-day guidance and the legacy net-metering warning)
• Illinois Shines — Consumer FAQs (both names for the rebate, no supply requirement for the solar-only rebate, why the pre-2025 choice can't be reversed, and how Illinois Shines is funded)
• ComEd news release, August 4, 2026 (program totals: more than $350 million since 2019, a record $80 million in 2025)
• Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory — U.S. Distributed Solar and Storage, 2025 Data Update (PDF) (2024 home systems: 7.2 kW median, 9.3 kW average)