Solar Answers → Incentives & Programs
How does the ComEd solar rebate work?
ComEd pays $300 per kilowatt (kW) of installed solar capacity through its Distributed Generation rebate — a one-time check, not a bill credit. A typical 7 kW system earns $2,100. The trade-off: taking this rebate locks your system into supply-only net metering for good — a real cost only if you installed before 2025 and currently have full-retail net metering.
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How much is the ComEd solar rebate?
The ComEd solar rebate pays $300 per kW of installed DC solar capacity for residential and small commercial customers — a one-time check based purely on your system's size. A 5 kW system earns $1,500; a 10 kW system earns $3,000. Larger commercial and industrial systems (outside the residential/Small C&I class) receive $250/kW instead, and the program caps out at 5,000 kW of total capacity.
Your rebate = system DC kW × $300:
| System size (DC nameplate) | Rebate at $300/kW |
|---|---|
| 5 kW | $1,500 |
| 7 kW | $2,100 |
| 10 kW | $3,000 |
| 12 kW | $3,600 |
Illustrative math on ComEd's published rate — your actual rebate is based on your system's DC nameplate capacity, not the examples above.
Who qualifies for the ComEd solar rebate?
Your system needs a smart inverter installed and operating, must be interconnected to ComEd's grid, and generally must have been interconnected after August 11, 2022 — the threshold in ComEd's own tariff. It also has to be primarily intended to offset your own electricity use, and the rebate follows equipment ownership, not the address.
You may see December 15, 2022 cited elsewhere as the cutoff — that's actually when the rebate program itself took effect, not the interconnection threshold. The two dates get conflated a lot; August 11, 2022 is the one that determines whether your system qualifies. ComEd also caps eligible systems at 5,000 kW of total rated capacity, far above any home installation.
If your system is leased or under a PPA, the rebate follows equipment ownership — typically the leasing or finance company, not you. Our lease vs. buy guide covers how that value usually does (or doesn't) show up in your contract.
What does taking the ComEd solar rebate cost you?
Taking the solar rebate permanently moves your system to supply-only net metering — ComEd only credits the supply portion of your bill for exported electricity, not delivery or taxes. If your system was interconnected on or after January 1, 2025, this costs you nothing extra; you're already on supply-only netting. If you installed before 2025 and still have full-retail netting, taking this rebate gives that up for good.
If you installed before 2025: taking this rebate is a one-way door. Once you elect the Distributed Generation rebate, full-retail net metering doesn't come back — you move permanently to supply-only crediting, on that system, for good.
For how supply-only versus full-retail netting actually shows up on a bill, see our ComEd net metering guide — this page covers the rebate's effect on your netting status, not the netting mechanics themselves.
Installed before 2025? Read this first
If you're a grandfathered ComEd customer weighing the one-time rebate check against your lifetime delivery-portion credits, the math depends on your system size, how much of your production you export versus use on-site, how many more years you plan to own the system, and where delivery rates are headed. There's no universal right answer — only your own numbers.
- System size: a bigger system earns a bigger one-time check, but also has more riding on its ongoing credits.
- Export share: the more of your production you send back to the grid rather than use on-site, the more your existing full-retail netting is worth to you.
- Ownership horizon: more years left in the system means more time for delivery-portion credits to accumulate.
- Rate trajectory: rising delivery rates make your existing credits more valuable over time; flat or falling rates make the one-time check relatively more attractive.
None of these factors point to one universal answer for every grandfathered household. Get ComEd's current terms in writing before you elect anything, and use a free eligibility check to see how the math could look for your specific system.
How do you apply, and when does the check arrive?
You (or your installer, with authorization) submit a signed DG Rebate application to ComEd with an itemized contractor invoice or proof of purchase after your system is interconnected and inspected. ComEd doesn't publish a guaranteed number of days for the check to arrive on its own site; consumer guidance from CUB describes a general window of around 90 days once your application is complete.
An incomplete application — missing invoice, missing documentation — delays payment or gets it denied outright. ComEd also reserves the right to inspect installed equipment for up to a year after paying the rebate.
Does the ComEd solar rebate stack with other incentives?
Yes. The solar rebate stacks with Illinois Shines renewable energy credits — $80.77 per REC in ComEd territory for program year 2026–27, plus $20 more per REC if you own the system outright, paid 50% at energization and the remainder ratably over the subsequent 6 years. It also stacks with ComEd's separate $300/kWh battery storage rebate, if you add a battery.
For the storage side of that math, see our ComEd Battery Storage Rebate guide — this page covers the solar rebate only.
If your system is paired with a battery, that same battery may also earn ongoing performance payments under ComEd's virtual power plant program once it launches — see our ComEd Virtual Power Plant guide for what's approved so far.
Separately: the federal residential solar tax credit (Section 25D) expired December 31, 2025 and doesn't apply to 2026 purchases — this ComEd rebate is a state utility program, unrelated and unaffected.
How does Ameren's solar rebate differ?
Ameren pays the same $300/kW for residential solar under the same statewide law (220 ILCS 5/16-107.6), with $250/kW for larger commercial and industrial systems — identical to ComEd's structure. The real difference is the legacy-netting cutoff: Ameren's is Construction Complete in PowerClerk by 5pm CST on December 31, 2024, while ComEd's is based on interconnection date.
Both utilities pay the same rate — the cutoff that determines whether you keep legacy netting is what actually differs between them.
ComEd Solar Rebate FAQ
Does the ComEd solar rebate require a specific interconnection date?
Yes — your system generally needs to have been interconnected to ComEd's grid after August 11, 2022, per ComEd's own DG Rebate tariff. You may see December 15, 2022 cited elsewhere; that's when the rebate program itself took effect, not the interconnection cutoff.
How much does a typical residential solar system earn from the ComEd rebate?
The rebate is $300 per kW of installed DC solar capacity. A 5 kW system earns $1,500; a 7 kW system earns $2,100; a 10 kW system earns $3,000; a 12 kW system earns $3,600.
Will taking the ComEd solar rebate end my net metering?
It depends on when your system was interconnected. If it was on or after January 1, 2025, you're already on supply-only net metering, so taking the rebate changes nothing there. If you installed before 2025 and still have full-retail net metering, taking the rebate permanently moves you to supply-only.
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 — not a one-size-fits-all answer. Get ComEd's current terms in writing before you decide.
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 financing company, not you. See our lease-vs-buy guide for how that value usually shows up (or doesn't) in your contract.
Is the ComEd solar rebate the same as Illinois Shines?
No — separate programs, separate payers. The solar rebate is a one-time payment direct from ComEd. Illinois Shines pays for renewable energy credits through your Approved Vendor over a 15-year contract, paid 50% at energization and the rest ratably over six years. Most systems qualify for both.
How long does the ComEd solar rebate check take to arrive?
ComEd doesn't publish a guaranteed timeline on its own terms. Consumer guidance from CUB describes a general window of around 90 days once your system is interconnected, inspected, and your application is complete — not a promised date.
Does the solar rebate stack with the battery storage rebate?
Yes. The $300/kW solar rebate and the separate $300/kWh battery storage rebate are filed independently and can both apply to the same system — see our ComEd battery rebate guide for how the storage side works.
Is there a cap on how large a system can be to qualify?
Yes — ComEd's tariff caps eligible distributed generation facilities at 5,000 kW of total rated capacity, far above a typical home system.
Does the federal solar tax credit still apply in 2026?
No. The federal residential credit (Section 25D) expired December 31, 2025 and doesn't apply to 2026 cash or loan purchases. It's a separate, unrelated program from this ComEd utility rebate.
Related answers
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Sources
- ComEd Distributed Generation Rebate — Terms and Conditions (comed.com)
- Illinois Shines — Consumer FAQs
- Illinois Shines — DG Purchase Disclosure Form Guidance
- 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)
- Ameren Illinois — Distributed Generation Rebates (for the Ameren comparison)
Changelog: July 21, 2026 — v1 published.
How to cite: The Day Company Editorial Team, "How does the ComEd solar rebate work?," The Day Company, updated July 21, 2026. https://theday.company/answers/comed-solar-rebate