Independent Illinois solar savings & eligibility resource · By The Day Company Editorial Team · Every figure on this page links its official source · Last reviewed July 16, 2026 · Established March 2023

ComEd Solar Guide 2026: Rates, Net Metering & RECs

The Day Company is an independent resource and is not affiliated with or endorsed by ComEd, Ameren Illinois, the IPA, the ICC, or any government agency.

Am I in ComEd territory, and who is this page for?

ComEd (Commonwealth Edison, an Exelon company) is the electric utility for Chicago and most of northern Illinois. The fastest check is your electric bill: if ComEd delivers your power, this page applies to you. This guide covers residential solar in ComEd territory only — rates, net metering, Illinois Shines Group B REC pricing, rebates, and process.

• ComEd customer? You're in the right place — Group B REC pricing and the figures below apply to you.
• Ameren Illinois customer (central/southern Illinois)? Your supply rate and REC group differ — see the ComEd vs Ameren comparison and our statewide Illinois Solar Facts & Data hub.
• Municipal utility or co-op customer (e.g., some towns run their own electric utility)? Different rules apply — see municipal utilities & co-ops. Your bill is authoritative.

What is the ComEd electricity rate in 2026?

ComEd's residential Price to Compare — the supply portion of the bill — is 10.399¢ per kWh, effective June 1, 2026, per the ICC's Plug In Illinois. It resets October 1, 2026. Supply is only part of the bill: delivery charges are billed separately and apply to every customer regardless of supplier.

Supply vs delivery: the two halves of a ComEd bill

Supply is the electricity itself — the Price to Compare above (electricity supply charge + transmission services charge), purchased through IPA-run procurements and passed through without markup. Delivery is ComEd's charge for wires, poles, and metering — it applies no matter who supplies your power. Why this matters for solar: 2026 net metering credits offset the supply side (details in the net metering section). The Price to Compare concept is explained by the ICC at Plug In Illinois — Understanding the Price to Compare.

Why did ComEd bills jump — and how long will rates stay high?

Short version: record prices in PJM's capacity auctions, driven heavily by data-center demand growth. The Citizens Utility Board reports ComEd's June 2026 price is roughly 50% higher than two years ago, with customers paying about 12% more on average from June 2026 through May 2027. Full breakdown on our dedicated page: Why is my ComEd bill so high?

Five consecutive auctions, the last three pinned at the price cap — capacity costs in these results run through at least May 2029. CUB's analysis of what this means for ComEd customers: CUB Q&A — Why is ComEd's price spiking? (June 2026) and CUB's 2026 Power-Bill Guide. Note: Ameren Illinois is on a different regional grid (MISO), so its price drivers differ.

Does ComEd still offer net metering in 2026 — and how does it work now?

Yes. ComEd net metering exists in 2026, but under supply-only rules for new systems: for systems interconnected on or after January 1, 2025, exported electricity earns credits against the supply portion of the bill (not delivery). Systems interconnected before 2025 generally keep their prior full-retail arrangement. Official explainers: Illinois Shines Consumer FAQs and CUB Q&A — What's happening to solar in Illinois?

What supply-only netting means in practice

• Solar you use directly avoids the full bill — you simply buy fewer kWh (supply and the usage-based portion of delivery).
• Solar you export earns credits at the supply level — against a 10.399¢/kWh summer supply rate, exported energy still carries real value, but less than the pre-2025 full-retail treatment.
• Credits carry forward — per CUB, post-2025 net metering credits roll over month to month with no annual reset.
• Pre-2025 systems: generally keep their existing arrangement — but per Illinois Shines, accepting the Distributed Generation/Smart Inverter Rebate switches a pre-2025 system to supply-only netting, and that choice is not reversible.

Design consequence: under supply-only rules, systems sized to your actual usage — maximizing self-consumption rather than large exports — pencil out best. A qualified installer should model this, not hand-wave it.

What is ComEd hourly pricing, and can it be combined with solar?

ComEd's Hourly Pricing program (Rate BESH — Basic Electric Service, Hourly Pricing) is an optional supply rate where the price you pay varies hour to hour with the wholesale market, instead of the flat Price to Compare. Official program details: hourlypricing.comed.com — About.

• Can it be combined with net metering? Yes — ComEd's Hourly Pricing program documents net metering participation directly; see the solar entries in the official Hourly Pricing FAQ, which also notes excess credits roll to the following billing cycle.
• How credits work differs: per Illinois Shines, the choice between kWh-based and monetary crediting differs for hourly-pricing customers — confirm the mechanics with ComEd before pairing the two.
• Who it suits: households that can shift usage toward cheaper hours. Solar + load shifting can compound; solar + hourly pricing on a high-usage-at-peak household can backfire. Model it before enrolling.

How does Illinois Shines work for ComEd customers?

Illinois Shines (the Adjustable Block Program) is the state incentive: it pays for the Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) your system is expected to produce. ComEd territory is Group B, which carries the state's strongest residential REC pricing for the 2026–27 program year (which began June 1, 2026).

• 1 REC = 1 megawatt-hour (1,000 kWh) of solar production.
• You participate through an IPA-registered Approved Vendor — the program pays the vendor, and the value typically reaches you through your contract price or terms (mechanics in the CRGA section).
• The $20/REC customer-owned adder applies when you own the system — one concrete reason cash/loan ownership out-earns third-party-owned deals on REC value in 2026.
• Block capacity is finite and allocated per program year — current availability changes; check the program's own dashboard via the PY 2026-27 program announcement rather than trusting any sales claim about "running out."

What could RECs be worth on a ComEd-territory system? (Illustration)

Production assumption (1,100–1,300 kWh/kW-yr) is an Illinois-typical range and is declared illustrative; roof orientation, tilt, and shading move real numbers. Price source: IPA 2026-27 REC price documents.

Who actually receives the REC money — and on what schedule? (CRGA)

This is the part sales pitches most often get wrong. Under the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act (Public Act 104-0458, effective June 1, 2026), Illinois Shines REC payments go to the Approved Vendor — not to the homeowner — as 50% at energization, with the remainder paid ratably over the subsequent 6 years.

• Not a homeowner check: the program pays the Approved Vendor; your benefit typically shows up as a lower contract price or better terms. Ask any bidder to state, in writing, exactly how REC value is passed through to you.
• Not "quarterly": the statute's structure is 50% at energization + the remainder ratably over the following 6 years. Any pitch describing a different schedule is describing the program wrong.
• Contract check: your Illinois Shines disclosure form should match what the salesperson said. If it doesn't, believe the disclosure form.

Is there still a federal solar tax credit in 2026?

Not for homeowner purchases. The residential credit (§25D) does not apply to expenditures made after December 31, 2025 — and under IRS guidance, an expenditure counts as made when installation is completed, so systems finished in 2026 don't qualify even if paid for in 2025. Third-party-owned deals (lease/PPA) are a separate, narrower story under §48E.

• The one question to ask on any lease/PPA: "Does this specific project still qualify under §48E — which lane, and can you state it in writing?" A legitimate provider can answer.
• Instant red flag: any 2026 cash/loan quote claiming "the 30% federal tax credit." That credit ended December 31, 2025.
• Batteries: federal treatment of storage depends on how the project is structured — ask for any claimed credit identified by code section, in writing.

What is the ComEd smart inverter (DG) rebate?

A utility rebate required by Illinois law (220 ILCS 5/16-107.6): residential solar with a qualifying smart inverter earns a one-time $300 per kW (DC nameplate) payment from ComEd, and paired battery storage earns $300 per kWh — with the battery rebate conditioned on enrolling in ComEd's Hourly Pricing rate (Rate BESH). It's separate from, and stacks with, Illinois Shines.

• Pre-2025 legacy systems, read carefully: taking the generation rebate permanently converts full-retail netting to supply-only — not reversible. Taking only the storage rebate does not (per CUB's fact sheet).
• For new 2026 installs there's no netting downside — supply-only already applies — so the rebate is straightforward value. Confirm in your contract who files the application and who receives the payment.

How do you actually connect solar to ComEd's grid?

Through ComEd's interconnection process — normally handled by your installer. Per ComEd's official net metering FAQ, the interconnection application typically includes net metering (no separate filing), and netting begins after application approval plus a signed Certificate of Completion confirming permission to operate (PTO).

1. Installer submits the interconnection application to ComEd (intent to generate covers net metering).
2. ComEd reviews and approves; your installer then completes the installation.
3. Local inspection; Certificate of Completion is signed off with ComEd.
4. PTO granted — the system may be switched on; net metering participation is effective.
5. Your smart meter records grid flows in both directions. Note: it does not measure panel production — use your installer's monitoring app for that (ComEd FAQ).

Review times vary with application level and queue volume — ask your installer for current expectations rather than trusting a promised date. Sources: ComEd Green Power Connection — Net Metering FAQ (PDF) · ComEd MyGeneration — solar project steps.

What does solar cost in ComEd territory in 2026?

• REC value doesn't arrive as a check to you — it flows to the Approved Vendor on the CRGA schedule and should show up as a lower contract price. So compare quotes on the net price after REC pass-through, stated in writing.
• No federal credit applies to 2026 cash/loan purchases — any quote assuming one is wrong on day one.
• No payback promises here, ever: payback depends on your usage, self-consumption share, rate path, and financing. Ask every bidder for their assumptions instead of their conclusion.
• Financing: ask for the cash price and the financed price separately — the gap between them is the real cost of the money.

What size system does a ComEd-territory home need?

Start from your own last 12 months of usage, not an average. For scale: Illinois homes averaged 693 kWh per month in 2024 per the U.S. EIA (EIA Table 5A, PDF) — about 8,300 kWh per year. At Illinois-typical production of ~1,100–1,300 kWh per kW per year (illustrative), that's roughly a 6.5–7.5 kW system on paper.

• Supply-only rules change the sizing logic: self-consumed solar is worth more than exported solar, so systems sized to actual usage — not oversized for big exports — pencil best. ComEd's own guidance: size to meet some or all of your current or future needs, and its project guide notes netting credits up to 110% of historical usage (ComEd MyGeneration).
• Program size lines that matter: ≤10 kW gets the strongest Illinois Shines REC tier; ≤25 kW is the Small DG category.
• Shading, orientation, and tilt move real production materially — demand a production model, not a rule of thumb.

Do you need a battery — and what happens in an outage?

No — solar and net metering work without storage. But know this before an outage surprises you: standard grid-tied solar shuts down when the grid goes down (a safety feature called anti-islanding). Backup power requires a battery or islanding-capable hardware.

• ComEd battery economics: $300/kWh rebate, conditioned on Hourly Pricing (Rate BESH) — see the rebate section. On an hourly rate, a battery that charges in cheap hours and discharges in expensive ones can work in your favor; whether it does depends on your usage pattern. CUB suggests talking to the Hourly Pricing rate line before committing (CUB fact sheet, PDF).
• Sizing backup honestly: a typical home battery runs essentials for hours, not the whole house for days. Ask for a load-by-load backup plan in the quote.

Does solar raise your Illinois property taxes?

Illinois law protects you here. Under 35 ILCS 200/10-10, a property owner with a solar energy system can claim an alternate valuation: the county assessor values the improvements both with the system and as if equipped with conventional heating/cooling, and applies the lesser of the two while the system is in use.

• How to claim: file Form PTAX-330 (Application for Solar Energy Assessment) with your chief county assessment officer — the form asks for cost and installation receipts. Get it from your county assessor's office.
• One follow-up duty: if the system stops being used, the statute requires written notice to the assessor by certified mail within 30 days.
• And to be explicit: Illinois has no residential solar sales-tax exemption. A pitch claiming one is telling you something false — treat it as a signal about the rest of the pitch.

Can an HOA block solar panels in Illinois?

No. The Homeowners' Energy Policy Statement Act (765 ILCS 165/20) voids covenants that prohibit solar and sharply limits what associations can require. What they can do is narrow: set the configuration on a given roof face — and even that may not bar any roof face or cut the system's estimated annual production by more than 10%.

• An association cannot: require specific technology (e.g., solar shingles instead of panels), condition approval on neighbors' consent, inquire into your energy usage, impose conditions that impair operation or void component warranties, require post-installation reporting, or deny based on how you own or finance the system.
• On request, the association must adopt a written energy policy statement within 90 days; provisions conflicting with the Act are void as against public policy.
• Exceptions (765 ILCS 165/45): buildings over 60 feet and shared roofs (e.g., many condo buildings) fall outside the Act.

What if your town runs its own electric utility?

Some northern-Illinois communities are served by a municipal utility or electric co-op instead of ComEd — Naperville is a well-known example. Your bill is authoritative: if ComEd isn't the utility named on it, the ComEd-specific rules on this page don't govern you.

• The state net-metering framework described above applies to investor-owned utilities; municipal utilities and co-ops set their own solar and billing policies — ask yours directly before signing anything.
• Illinois Shines still groups by regional grid: PJM-area munis and co-ops fall under Group B pricing and MISO-area under Group A, per the 2026-27 Program Guidebook (PDF).

Renting, or roof too shaded — what are your solar options?

Community solar. You subscribe to a share of a large solar project in your utility territory and receive bill credits on your ComEd bill — no panels, no roof, no ownership required. Illinois Shines describes it as the path for renters and homes where rooftop solar isn't practical (Illinois Shines — Solar Basics).

• Before subscribing: Illinois Shines requires providers to give you a Disclosure Form first — use it to compare multiple offers apples-to-apples, and check the program's complaint and violations reports on any provider (Exploring Community Solar).
• Income-eligible households: Illinois Solar for All community solar caps your subscription fee at no more than 50% of the value of your solar credits (ILSFA — Community Solar).
• Statewide detail lives on our Illinois Solar Facts & Data hub. Our eligibility check routes shaded-roof and renter situations to the community-solar path automatically.

ComEd-territory red flags: how solar pitches go wrong

Most Illinois solar companies are legitimate. The bad ones reuse the same lines. If you hear any of these, slow down:

• "I'm with ComEd." ComEd's role runs through interconnection paperwork, not door-to-door sales. Illinois Shines marketing rules require sales agents to identify their company and its Approved Vendor/Designee status at the start of a call (IPA Consumer Protection requirements, PDF).
• "You'll get a quarterly REC check." Wrong twice — payments go to the Approved Vendor, 50% at energization plus the remainder ratably over 6 years. See the CRGA section.
• "The 30% federal credit applies." Not on a 2026 cash/loan purchase — §25D ended Dec 31, 2025.
• "Free solar." It's a contract. Read the Illinois Shines Disclosure Form and make sure it matches the pitch — if they differ, believe the form.
• "Blocks are closing today — sign now." Capacity is genuinely finite, but check it yourself on the official Block Capacity Dashboard instead of taking a salesperson's word for the countdown.
• "No sales tax with the solar exemption." That exemption doesn't exist for Illinois residential solar.

Verify and escalate: confirm any company on the Illinois Shines Approved Vendors & Designees page. Problems: Illinois Shines Consumer Complaint Center (877-708-3456), ICC Consumer Services (1-800-524-0795), or the Illinois Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division. Fuller statewide red-flags coverage: our facts hub.

ComEd vs Ameren Illinois: the 2026 solar numbers side by side

Bottom line for this page's audience: ComEd territory pairs the state's strongest ≤10 kW REC price with PJM-driven supply rates that official results show elevated into 2029.

From quote to energization: the ComEd-territory process

1. Eligibility & quotes. Get multiple bids; verify each company's Approved Vendor/Designee status.
2. Site survey & design. Production modeled against your 12-month usage under supply-only netting.
3. Contract + Disclosure Form. The Illinois Shines Disclosure Form must match the pitch — REC pass-through, price, terms.
4. Permits. Local permitting, handled by the installer.
5. Interconnection application to ComEd. Typically includes net metering — no separate filing.
6. Installation & inspection.
7. Certificate of Completion → PTO. Netting participation is effective with permission to operate.
8. Energization & money flows. The Approved Vendor's REC payment starts (50% at energization, remainder ratably over 6 years); CUB reports the smart-inverter rebate check within ~90 days of energization.

No stage carries a guaranteed duration — ask your installer for current, honest ranges at each step.

How to compare ComEd-territory solar quotes

• Normalize to $/W on DC nameplate capacity so different system sizes compare honestly.
• Same production model: every bid should model your usage, supply-only netting, and your actual roof — not a generic savings curve.
• REC pass-through in dollars, in the contract. "We handle the Shines paperwork" isn't a number.
• Rebate handling: who files the DG rebate application, and who receives the check.
• Equipment & warranties: panel, inverter, workmanship, and roof-penetration coverage — in writing.
• Cash price vs financed price, separately. The spread between them is the true cost of the financing.
• No payback promises. Ask each bidder for their assumptions (rate escalation, production, self-consumption) and compare those instead.

Ten questions to ask any ComEd-territory installer

1. Are you an Illinois Shines Approved Vendor or Designee — and can I verify you on the program's official list?
2. Exactly how does the $80.77/REC Group B value (plus the $20 customer-owned adder, if I buy) reach me — stated in dollars, in the contract?
3. Was my production model built on supply-only netting and my own 12-month usage?
4. Who files the ComEd interconnection application, and how will I know when I have PTO?
5. Who files the smart-inverter rebate, and who receives the payment?
6. If I add a battery: you're aware the rebate requires Hourly Pricing (Rate BESH) — have you modeled whether that rate fits my usage?
7. Does my quote claim any federal credit? Under which code section and lane — in writing?
8. What's your roof warranty, and how are penetrations handled?
9. What happens to my contract if Illinois Shines block capacity shifts before my application is submitted?
10. Can you provide references — and how do you respond to entries in the program's complaint report?

ComEd solar myths vs the sourced reality

Glossary: the terms on your ComEd bill and solar contract

Price to Compare (PTC)

ComEd's default supply price — electricity supply charge plus transmission services charge (ICC/Plug In Illinois).

Supply charge

The electricity itself, procured via IPA events and passed through without markup.

Delivery charge

ComEd's charge for wires, poles, and metering — applies regardless of supplier.

Transmission services charge

High-voltage transport cost, included in the Price to Compare.

PEA

Purchased Electricity Adjustment — a monthly true-up so customers pay ComEd's actual power cost.

Rate BES

Basic Electric Service — ComEd's standard fixed-price supply rate.

Rate BESH / Hourly Pricing

ComEd's optional supply rate priced hour-by-hour at market; required for the battery rebate.

Rider POGNM

ComEd's net metering tariff (Parallel Operation of Retail Customer Generating Facilities with Net Metering).

Interconnection

The application/approval process to connect a generating system to ComEd's grid.

Certificate of Completion

The signed-off document confirming the finished, inspected system — precedes PTO.

PTO

Permission to operate — ComEd's green light to energize; netting participation starts here.

DER

Distributed energy resource — customer-sited generation or storage, like rooftop solar.

Smart inverter

An inverter meeting grid-support standards in ComEd's tariff; required for the DG rebate.

Anti-islanding

The safety behavior that shuts grid-tied solar down during outages.

kW / kWh / MWh

Power (size) / energy (usage) / 1,000 kWh — one MWh of solar production equals one REC.

REC

Renewable Energy Credit — the certified environmental attribute of 1 MWh of renewable generation.

Illinois Shines / ABP

The state's Adjustable Block Program paying for RECs from qualifying solar.

Group A / Group B

Shines pricing geography: Ameren/MISO-area (A) vs ComEd/PJM-area (B).

Approved Vendor (AV)

The IPA-vetted entity that submits Shines applications and holds the REC contract.

Designee

A company (e.g., seller or installer) working with customers under an Approved Vendor.

Customer-owned adder

The +$20/REC premium when the homeowner owns the system.

Small DG

Shines category for distributed systems ≤25 kW.

Block capacity

The finite MW allocation per program year — tracked on the official dashboard.

CRGA

Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act (PA 104-0458) — restructured REC payments effective June 1, 2026.

Supply-only netting

Post-2024 rule: exports credit the supply portion of the bill only.

Legacy (full-retail) netting

Pre-2025 interconnections: credits across supply, delivery, and taxes for the system's life — forfeited by taking the generation rebate.

DG / Smart Inverter Rebate

ComEd's $300/kW solar and $300/kWh storage rebates under 220 ILCS 5/16-107.6.

PJM

The regional grid operator for ComEd territory; its capacity auctions drive supply costs.

MISO

The regional grid operator for Ameren Illinois territory.

Capacity auction / BRA

PJM's Base Residual Auction procuring future capacity — cleared at the price cap for the 2026/27–2028/29 delivery years.

CEJA

Illinois' 2021 Climate and Equitable Jobs Act, the framework behind current netting and rebate rules.

ILSFA

Illinois Solar for All — the income-qualified companion program.

ICC / IPA / CUB

Illinois Commerce Commission (regulator) / Illinois Power Agency (program authority) / Citizens Utility Board (consumer advocate).

PTAX-330

The county form claiming the solar alternate property-tax valuation under 35 ILCS 200/10-10.

765 ILCS 165

The Homeowners' Energy Policy Statement Act — the HOA solar-rights law.

About this page

Who publishes this: The Day Company — an independent Illinois solar savings and eligibility resource, established March 2023. We connect qualifying homeowners with licensed, insured installation partners and may be compensated by partners. We are not affiliated with or endorsed by ComEd, Ameren Illinois, the IPA, the ICC, or any government agency.

Editorial standards: written and maintained by The Day Company Editorial Team. Every figure on this page links the exact official page it came from — state agencies, utilities, grid operators, federal sources, and CUB. We publish honest review dates, avoid payback promises, and correct errors: report anything at [email protected].

How to cite this page: "ComEd Solar Guide 2026: Rates, Net Metering & RECs," The Day Company, theday.company/comed-solar, reviewed July 16, 2026. Linking directly to the section anchor you're referencing is encouraged.

Changelog: 2026-07-16 — v1 published (initial release; includes the July 14, 2026 PJM 2028/29 auction result).

ComEd solar FAQ: 84 questions, answered from official sources

Every answer below rests on the same official sources linked throughout this page — ICC/Plug In Illinois, the IPA/Illinois Shines, ComEd's own program documents, PJM, ilga.gov, the IRS, EIA, and CUB.

— Rates & bills —

What is the ComEd residential supply rate in 2026?

10.399¢ per kWh — the Price to Compare effective June 1, 2026, per the ICC's Plug In Illinois. That's the supply portion only; delivery charges are billed separately.

When does the ComEd supply rate change next?

October 1, 2026, when the summer-period rate resets. CUB notes the price is expected to remain elevated after the reset, driven by capacity costs already locked in through PJM's auctions.

What's the difference between supply and delivery charges on a ComEd bill?

Supply is the electricity itself, purchased through IPA-run procurements and passed through without markup. Delivery is ComEd's charge for wires, poles, and metering, and it applies to every customer no matter who supplies the power.

What is the ComEd Price to Compare?

The sum of the electricity supply charge and the transmission services charge — the benchmark for comparing alternative supplier offers, published by the ICC at Plug In Illinois. In 2026 it's 10.399¢/kWh for ComEd.

Why did ComEd bills go up so much?

Record PJM capacity-auction prices, driven heavily by data-center demand growth. CUB reports ComEd's June 2026 price is about 50% higher than two years ago, with roughly a 12% average bill increase from June 2026 through May 2027. Full breakdown: our ComEd bill explainer.

How long are ComEd rates expected to stay elevated?

The last three PJM capacity auctions all cleared at the FERC price cap — the July 14, 2026 result covers the delivery year ending May 31, 2029. Costs from those results are already locked in, so elevated supply pricing runs through at least May 2029.

Does solar reduce the delivery portion of a ComEd bill?

Partly. Solar you use directly means fewer kWh purchased, which reduces usage-based delivery charges. Exported solar under 2026 rules earns supply-section credits only, and fixed charges (customer charge, standard metering) apply to every bill per ComEd's net metering FAQ.

What is ComEd hourly pricing?

An optional supply rate (Rate BESH — Basic Electric Service, Hourly Pricing) where the price varies hour to hour with the wholesale market instead of the flat Price to Compare. Official program site: hourlypricing.comed.com.

Can I combine hourly pricing with solar?

Yes — ComEd's Hourly Pricing program documents net metering participation directly on its solar page. On hourly pricing, netting credits are monetary rather than kWh-based, so model the combination against your usage pattern before enrolling.

Is ComEd the same company as Exelon?

ComEd (Commonwealth Edison) is the electric utility serving Chicago and northern Illinois, and it operates as a subsidiary of Exelon. On your bill and in program paperwork, ComEd is the utility you deal with.

— Net metering —

Does ComEd still offer net metering in 2026?

Yes. New systems interconnected on or after January 1, 2025 receive supply-only net metering — exported energy credits the supply section of the bill. The program is active; the credit structure is what changed.

What is supply-only net metering?

Exports earn credits against supply charges (the electricity itself), not delivery charges. Per the Illinois Shines FAQ and ComEd's own materials, that's the standard for all new residential interconnections since January 1, 2025.

I installed solar before 2025 — do I keep full retail net metering?

Generally yes. ComEd's official net metering FAQ states customers who interconnected by December 31, 2024 keep full-retail netting — credits across supply, delivery, and taxes — for the life of the system (i.e., 30 years). The exception: taking the generation rebate converts you to supply-only, irreversibly.

How do net metering credits show up on a ComEd bill?

As credits in the supply section for post-2024 systems. Per ComEd's FAQ, fixed-price customers who interconnected from 2025 on can choose kWh credits or monetary credits; hourly-pricing customers receive monetary credits based on the price during the hours they exported.

Do ComEd net metering credits expire?

Not for systems interconnected on or after January 1, 2025 — ComEd's FAQ states those credits, kWh or monetary, do not expire. Legacy fixed-price customers' kWh credits do reset annually in April or October as elected on their net metering form.

Does ComEd pay cash for excess solar power?

No — the value arrives as credits on your bill, not checks. Post-2024 fixed-price customers may elect a monetary bill credit, but it offsets your ComEd charges rather than being paid out as income.

What happens to net metering if I sell my house?

The system and its status attach to the home — ComEd's application materials note that someone moving into a solar-ready premise doesn't file a new net metering application. Buyers and sellers should still confirm the account transfer and any legacy status directly with ComEd.

How do I apply for ComEd net metering?

Usually you don't apply separately. Per ComEd's FAQ, the interconnection application typically includes net metering, and participation begins once the application is approved and the Certificate of Completion confirming permission to operate is signed.

— Illinois Shines & RECs —

What is Illinois Shines?

The state's solar incentive program (statutorily the Adjustable Block Program), run by the Illinois Power Agency. It pays for the Renewable Energy Credits a qualifying system is expected to produce, through vetted Approved Vendors, with consumer-protection rules attached.

What is a REC?

A Renewable Energy Credit — the certified environmental attribute of one megawatt-hour (1,000 kWh) of renewable generation. Illinois Shines pays for your system's RECs; that payment is the core state incentive.

What is the ComEd-territory REC price for 2026–27?

$80.77 per REC for systems up to 10 kW — Group B pricing, the state's strongest residential tier, per the IPA's 2026-27 REC price documents. Larger residential tiers price lower per REC.

What is the $20 customer-owned adder?

An extra $20 per REC when the customer owns the system (cash or loan) rather than a third party. In ComEd territory that stacks to $100.77/REC on the ≤10 kW tier — a concrete, sourced reason ownership out-earns third-party deals on REC value.

Who actually receives the Illinois Shines payment?

The Approved Vendor — not the homeowner. The program pays the vendor for your system's RECs; your benefit typically arrives as a lower contract price or better terms. Ask every bidder to state the pass-through in dollars, in writing.

How did the CRGA change REC payments?

The Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act (PA 104-0458, effective June 1, 2026) set the schedule: 50% to the Approved Vendor at energization, with the remainder paid ratably over the subsequent 6 years.

Is the REC payment quarterly?

No. The structure is 50% at energization plus the remainder ratably over the following 6 years, paid to the Approved Vendor. A pitch describing quarterly homeowner checks is describing the program wrong — twice.

How long is the REC delivery term?

15 years for these residential contracts — the system delivers RECs to the utility across that term under the program's REC delivery contract, per Illinois Shines program documents.

What system sizes count as Small DG?

Systems up to 25 kW. Within that, the ≤10 kW tier carries the best 2026–27 REC pricing ($80.77 Group B); above 10 kW the per-REC price steps down per the IPA price sheet.

Is Illinois Shines funding still available right now?

Block capacity is finite and changes through the program year, so we never publish a live number. Check the official Block Capacity Dashboard yourself rather than relying on any sales claim about scarcity.

What is an Approved Vendor?

An entity vetted and registered by the program to submit Illinois Shines applications and hold the REC contract with the utility. Many salespeople work as Designees under an Approved Vendor — either way, you can verify them on the official list.

How much could RECs be worth on a typical ComEd-territory system?

Illustratively: a 7 kW customer-owned system producing 1,100–1,300 kWh per kW-year could generate roughly 116–137 RECs over 15 years — about $11,600–$13,800 at $100.77/REC with the adder. Actual quantities come from the program's calculator; see the worked table.

— Federal picture —

Is there still a federal solar tax credit in 2026?

Not for homeowner purchases. The §25D residential credit doesn't apply to expenditures after December 31, 2025, and the IRS counts an expenditure as made when installation is completed — so 2026-completed systems don't qualify.

When did the 25D residential credit end?

December 31, 2025, under P.L. 119-21. The statute now reads that the credit shall not apply to expenditures made after that date (26 U.S.C. §25D). Credits claimed for 2025-completed installs may still carry forward.

Can leases or PPAs still carry federal credit value?

Sometimes. The system's owner may hold §48E value, and whether any of it reaches your monthly rate depends on the specific offer and project. The only reliable move: ask whether the project still qualifies, under which lane, in writing.

What is the 48E "two-lane" rule?

Projects that began construction on or before July 4, 2026 generally have longer placed-in-service runway (2026 starts generally through 2030). Projects that didn't must generally be in service by December 31, 2027, under the tightened beginning-of-construction rules of IRS Notice 2025-42.

What should I ask a company claiming a tax credit still applies?

"Which code section, which lane, and will you put it in writing?" For a 2026 cash/loan purchase, any claimed 30% federal credit is simply wrong — and a useful signal about the rest of the pitch.

Do batteries follow the same federal timeline?

Storage's federal treatment depends on how the project is structured and owned. Don't accept a verbal assurance — ask for any claimed storage credit identified by code section, in writing, before you sign.

— Costs & savings —

How much does solar cost in ComEd territory in 2026?

As a declared illustration, ~$3 per watt installed: roughly $15,000 for 5 kW, $21,000 for 7 kW, $30,000 for 10 kW before incentives. Real quotes vary with roof, equipment, and financing — compare bids on net price after REC pass-through.

What does ~$3 per watt mean in practice?

Take the DC system size in watts and multiply: 7,000 W × $3 ≈ $21,000. It's a planning yardstick for spotting outlier quotes, not a price — always declared illustrative on this page.

How much electricity does 1 kW of solar produce in Illinois?

Roughly 1,100–1,300 kWh per year as an Illinois-typical illustrative range. Orientation, tilt, and shading move real output materially, which is why any serious quote includes a site-specific production model.

How much electricity does the average Illinois home use?

693 kWh per month in 2024 per the U.S. EIA (Table 5A) — about 8,300 kWh per year. Size to your own 12-month usage, not the average.

Can solar eliminate a ComEd bill entirely?

No. Fixed charges — the customer charge and standard metering — apply to every bill per ComEd's net metering FAQ, and supply-only credits don't offset delivery. Solar can cut the bill dramatically; it can't zero it.

What's a realistic payback expectation?

We don't publish payback promises — nobody honestly can. Payback depends on your usage, self-consumption share, rate path, and financing. Ask each bidder for their assumptions on those four inputs and compare the assumptions, not the conclusions.

Cash vs loan vs lease/PPA in 2026 — what changed?

The federal §25D credit is gone for purchases, but ownership gains the $20/REC customer-owned adder. Third-party deals hinge on whether the project still carries §48E value — a question to ask in writing. Compare cash price and financed price separately.

Is solar still worth it in ComEd territory without the federal credit?

For many homes the math still works: a 10.399¢ supply rate elevated into 2029, the state's best REC pricing ($80.77 + $20 adder), and the $300/kW rebate. For others it doesn't. Run the full framework: Is solar worth it in Illinois?

— Rebate & equipment —

What is the ComEd smart inverter (DG) rebate?

A one-time $300-per-kW utility rebate for qualifying residential solar with a smart inverter, required by 220 ILCS 5/16-107.6 and separate from Illinois Shines. CUB reports it as a check within ~90 days of energization. Details: ComEd's rebate page.

What conditions come with the battery storage rebate?

$300 per kWh of nameplate capacity, paired with a qualifying generation system and smart inverter — and per CUB's fact sheet you must enroll in ComEd Hourly Pricing (Rate BESH), and storage-rebate customers can't also hold a community-solar subscription under ComEd's tariff.

What is a smart inverter?

An inverter meeting the grid-support standards in ComEd's tariff — it can adjust output and respond to grid conditions. It's the qualifying equipment for the DG rebate; major current inverter lines commonly meet the standard, but confirm on your specific quote.

Do I need a battery for solar to work?

No. Solar and net metering function without storage. A battery adds outage backup and, on hourly pricing, the ability to shift usage into cheap hours — worthwhile for some households, unnecessary for others.

What happens during a power outage?

Standard grid-tied solar shuts down automatically — a safety feature (anti-islanding) that protects line workers. If backup power matters to you, that requires a battery or islanding-capable equipment, sized load-by-load in the quote.

How big can a residential system be?

Program lines that matter: ≤10 kW earns the best Illinois Shines REC tier, ≤25 kW is the Small DG category, and ComEd's DG rebate covers systems up to 5,000 kW. ComEd's guidance: size to meet some or all of your current or future needs.

— Interconnection & process —

How do I connect solar to ComEd's grid?

Through ComEd's interconnection process, normally handled by your installer: application, approval, installation, inspection, Certificate of Completion, then permission to operate. Net metering is typically included in the same application per ComEd's FAQ.

What is an interconnection application?

The formal request to connect your system to ComEd's grid safely. It covers the system's specs and, when intent to generate is specified, your net metering enrollment — one filing covering both, per ComEd's program materials.

Does ComEd change my meter for solar?

ComEd's smart meters record energy flowing in both directions — to and from the grid. Note the meter does not measure your panels' production (per ComEd's FAQ); use your installer's monitoring app for that. Ask your installer whether any meter work applies at your site.

Can I track my ComEd interconnection status?

Yes — ComEd's MyGeneration portal walks the project stages and lets you track application status through approval, installation, and PTO (ComEd MyGeneration). Your installer should be watching it too.

What is PTO (permission to operate)?

ComEd's green light to energize the system, issued once the interconnection application is approved and the Certificate of Completion is signed. Net metering participation is effective from PTO — and under CRGA, energization also starts the Approved Vendor's REC payment clock.

What are the steps from quote to energization?

Quotes and vendor verification → site survey and supply-only production model → contract plus Illinois Shines Disclosure Form → permits → interconnection application → installation and inspection → Certificate of Completion → PTO and energization. The full sequence: process section.

Who files the paperwork — me or the installer?

Usually the installer — ComEd's own consumer materials note the interconnection application is typically completed by your solar installer. Your job is verifying it happened: confirm submission, approval, and PTO in writing rather than assuming.

Can I install solar myself in Illinois?

It's possible but tightly regulated. ComEd's net metering requirements reference the Illinois Administrative Code (Title 83, Part 468): the work must either qualify as a self-install under that Part's definition or be performed by an installer holding ICC certification. Most homeowners use certified installers.

— Property & legal —

Does solar raise my Illinois property taxes?

Illinois law provides protection: under 35 ILCS 200/10-10, you can claim an alternate valuation and the assessor applies the lesser of the with-solar and conventional-system values while the system is in use.

What is Form PTAX-330?

The Application for Solar Energy Assessment — the claim form for the alternate valuation, filed with your chief county assessment officer with cost and installation receipts attached. Get it from your county assessor's office; note the statute requires 30-day notice if the system stops being used.

Is there an Illinois sales-tax exemption for solar?

No. Illinois has no residential solar sales-tax exemption — the real protection is the property-tax special assessment above. Any pitch claiming a sales-tax exemption is stating something false; weigh the rest of that pitch accordingly.

Can my HOA block solar panels?

No. Under 765 ILCS 165/20, covenants prohibiting solar are void, and an association can't deny permission, require specific technology, demand neighbor approval, or deny based on how you own or finance the system.

What placement rules can an HOA actually enforce?

Only narrow ones: it may determine the configuration on a given roof face — but it can't bar elements from any roof face and can't reduce the system's estimated annual production by more than 10%. Exceptions exist for buildings over 60 feet and shared roofs (765 ILCS 165/45).

Do I need permits for solar?

Yes — solar systems must meet applicable state and local permitting standards (the HOA statute itself says so at 765 ILCS 165/25), and your installer handles local permits as a standard step. Confirm permit responsibility in the contract.

— Territory & eligibility —

How do I know if I'm in ComEd territory?

Your electric bill is authoritative: if ComEd is the utility delivering your power, you're in. ComEd serves Chicago and most of northern Illinois; central and southern Illinois is largely Ameren territory.

Is Naperville served by ComEd?

Naperville is a well-known example of a community that operates its own municipal electric utility rather than being served by ComEd. As always, the utility named on your bill decides which rules apply to you.

What if I'm served by a municipal utility or co-op?

The state net-metering framework on this page applies to investor-owned utilities; munis and co-ops set their own solar and billing policies — ask yours directly. Illinois Shines still groups them by grid region: PJM-area falls in Group B, MISO-area in Group A.

What about Ameren Illinois territory?

Different supply rate (11.326¢/kWh first 800 kWh), different REC group ($70.37 Group A, same $20 adder), different grid (MISO). Side-by-side numbers: the comparison table; statewide depth: our facts hub.

Can renters get solar benefits in ComEd territory?

Yes — community solar. You subscribe to a shared project in your utility territory and receive bill credits, no roof or ownership required. Illinois Shines describes it as the built-for-renters path; get the Disclosure Form and compare multiple offers.

What if my roof is shaded?

Heavily shaded roofs usually pencil poorly for rooftop solar — and that's exactly what community solar is for. Our eligibility check routes significant-shade situations to the community-solar path automatically.

— Consumer protection —

Does ComEd send door-to-door solar salespeople?

ComEd's role runs through interconnection and program paperwork — not door-to-door sales. Under IPA consumer-protection rules, marketing agents must identify their company and its Approved Vendor or Designee status up front. "I'm with ComEd" at your door is a red flag, not a credential.

What are the biggest Illinois solar red flags?

Utility-affiliation claims, quarterly-REC-check promises, 30%-federal-credit claims on 2026 purchases, "free solar," sign-today scarcity pressure, and sales-tax-exemption claims. The full annotated list with sources: red flags section.

How can I verify an Approved Vendor or Designee?

Check the company on the Illinois Shines Approved Vendors & Designees page, and review the program's complaint and violations reports before signing. A legitimate company expects you to look.

What should be in writing before I sign?

The Illinois Shines Disclosure Form matching the pitch, the REC pass-through stated in dollars, the total cash and financed prices, equipment and roof warranties, rebate handling, and any claimed federal credit identified by code section. If the paper and the pitch differ, believe the paper.

Are "free solar" offers real?

No — every deal is a contract with a price, whether paid upfront, financed, or embedded in a lease/PPA rate. Illinois' incentives are genuinely strong; "free" is how the strong incentives get misrepresented.

Where do I complain about a solar company in Illinois?

Three sourced channels: the Illinois Shines Consumer Complaint Center (877-708-3456), ICC Consumer Services (1-800-524-0795), and the Illinois Attorney General's Consumer Protection Division.

— Community solar —

What is community solar in ComEd territory?

A subscription to a share of a large solar project located in your utility territory. The project's production generates bill credits for subscribers — solar economics without panels on your roof, per Illinois Shines.

How do community solar credits show up on a ComEd bill?

As solar bill credits tied to your subscription share, with your subscription cost billed per the provider's terms. The Disclosure Form spells out the credit and payment mechanics for your specific offer — read it before subscribing, and compare several.

Do I need to own my home for community solar?

No — renters can subscribe, which is much of the point. Income-eligible households can also use Illinois Solar for All community solar, where the subscription fee is capped at no more than 50% of the credit value (ILSFA).

Rooftop vs community solar — how do I choose?

Own a suitable, mostly unshaded roof and plan to stay? Rooftop captures the strongest economics — RECs with the ownership adder, the rebate, netting. Renting, moving soon, or shaded? Community solar delivers credits without installation. Our eligibility check sorts this in about a minute.

— About this page —

Who publishes this page?

The Day Company — an independent Illinois solar savings and eligibility resource established March 2023, maintained by our Editorial Team. We connect qualifying homeowners with licensed, insured installation partners and may be compensated by partners.

Is The Day Company affiliated with ComEd or the state?

No. We are not affiliated with or endorsed by ComEd, Ameren Illinois, the IPA, the ICC, or any government agency. We cite their official pages precisely so you can verify everything without taking our word for it.

How is this page kept current?

Every figure links its official source, the page carries an honest last-reviewed date and changelog, and rate or program changes (like the October 1, 2026 reset) trigger review. Spot an error: [email protected].

How do I check my eligibility?

The 60-second check at check-eligibility — it screens roof, shade, ownership, and territory, and routes renters and shaded roofs to the community-solar path. Free, no obligation.

Research hub: the official sources behind this page

State of Illinois: Plug In Illinois — ComEd Price to Compare · Plug In Illinois — Ameren Price to Compare · ICC — Understanding the Price to Compare · Illinois Shines — Program Documents & 2026-27 REC Prices · Illinois Shines — Consumer FAQs · Illinois Shines — Block Capacity Dashboard · Illinois Shines — Approved Vendors & Designees · Illinois Shines — Consumer Complaint Center · 2026-27 Program Guidebook (PDF) · IPA Consumer Protection Requirements (PDF) · Illinois Solar for All — Community Solar · ilga.gov — Public Act 104-0458 (CRGA) · ilga.gov — 35 ILCS 200/10-10 · ilga.gov — 765 ILCS 165/20 · ICC — File a Complaint · Illinois Attorney General — Consumer Protection

Utilities & grid: ComEd — Net Metering FAQ (PDF) · ComEd — Solar Rebates · ComEd — MyGeneration project guide · ComEd Hourly Pricing — About · ComEd Hourly Pricing — Solar · PJM — 2027/28 auction results · PJM — 2028/29 auction results (Jul 14, 2026) · PJM — 2027/28 BRA Report (PDF)

Federal: IRS — P.L. 119-21 FAQs (§25D) · 26 U.S.C. §25D · CRS — Residential Clean Energy Credit expiration (IN12611) · U.S. EIA — Average monthly residential usage, Table 5A (PDF)

Consumer advocates: CUB — Why is ComEd's price spiking? (Jun 2026) · CUB — 2026 Power-Bill Guide · CUB — Solar in Illinois Q&A · CUB — Solar & Storage Rebates fact sheet (Mar 2026, PDF)

On this site: Home · Illinois Solar Facts & Data · Illinois Solar Incentives · Is Solar Worth It in Illinois? · Why Is My ComEd Bill So High? · Did the Solar Tax Credit End? · Check Eligibility