Who is a home battery worth it for in Illinois?
For backup, often yes. For money alone, usually not yet. A battery is like a generator you never have to fuel. The rebate cuts the price, but bill savings alone rarely pay it back in its 15-year life.
- Something in your home can’t lose power: medical gear, a sump or well pump
- You’re in Ameren territory, where outages run longer
- You’re adding solar and want backup, with the $300 rebate
- You work from home and outages cost you money
- You only want a lower bill
- You rarely lose power and nothing critical runs on it
- You may move in the next five years
- You rent or live in a condo with a shared roof
Why so little money? Illinois now credits solar you send to the grid at the supply price, about 10.2¢ per kWh. A battery lets you use that power at night instead, worth about 18¢. But storing it loses about 15%, so each stored kWh gains only about 5¢.
ComEd’s supply-price credit since 2025.
0.85 kWh comes back out, and you skip buying it at about 18¢.
Do you need a battery with solar in Illinois?
No. Solar works fine without a battery in Illinois. It isn’t required to connect to the grid, to join Illinois Shines, or to get the solar rebate.
If someone tells you your panels “won’t work” without a battery, or that you need one to qualify, that’s not true. Slow the conversation down. If you’re unsure, ask for a “battery-ready” system, wired so a battery can be added later. The bill you’d have with solar alone often settles it: your electric bill after solar.
How much does a home battery cost in Illinois?
About $14,700 to $19,700 before the rebate, from Berkeley Lab’s 2025 prices. The $4,050 rebate brings it to about $10,650 to $15,600. It pays back about $130 to $170 a year.
Berkeley Lab, a U.S. Department of Energy lab, compares what people paid for solar alone and for solar with a battery. For cash buyers in 2025, the battery added a median $2.10 per watt of solar. Across all owner-bought systems, loans included, the gap was $1.30 per watt. The typical home battery held 13.5 kWh. In Illinois, 17%% of new home solar systems had a battery in 2025, up from 3%% in 2024. Most of that price data comes from California, so treat it as a guide and get your own quote.
Our math. Battery price from Berkeley Lab’s 2025 premium for cash buyers. Savings use the state disclosure form, which credits a battery with moving 20% of your solar from the grid to your home, at Illinois Shines’ October 2026 rates, 85% efficiency, prices rising 2.5% a year and $50 a summer from the virtual power plant for five summers. Solar output: about 1,140 kWh per kW a year (ComEd area) and 1,310 (Ameren area); panels lose 0.5% a year. New ComEd batteries need an hourly or time-of-use rate, so your result can be higher or lower.
| 13.5 kWh battery | 7 kW solar | 9.36 kW solar |
|---|---|---|
| Battery adds | $14,700 | $19,656 |
| Rebate | −$4,050 | −$4,050 |
| You pay | $10,650 | $15,606 |
| Bill savings, ComEd | $81/yr | $109/yr |
| Bill savings, Ameren | $88/yr | $118/yr |
| Power plant pay, 5 summers | ~$50/yr | ~$50/yr |
| 15-year total, ComEd | ≈ $1,660 | ≈ $2,130 |
Will a battery lower my Illinois electric bill?
A little: about $80 to $120 a year from storing your own solar, plus the virtual power plant pay. Since 2025, Illinois credits exported solar at the supply price, so a battery moves power from a cheap credit to a pricier use.
The state’s solar disclosure form shows how much a battery helps. When solar covers most of a home’s use, the form assumes the home uses 55% of its solar as it’s made. With a battery, 75%. So a battery shifts about a fifth of your solar into your home.
- No battery used as it’s made 55%
- With a battery stored and used later too 75%
Illinois Shines disclosure form assumptions for a home whose solar covers most of its use.
Worth about 5.1¢ after losses. About $81 a year with 7 kW of solar, $109 with 9.4 kW.
Worth about 4.8¢ after losses. About $88 a year with 7 kW of solar, $118 with 9.4 kW.
On ComEd’s Hourly Pricing, stored power can cover the priciest hours. Results vary.
Batteries without solar get a new option at ComEd. From January 1, 2027, a battery-only system can earn net-metering credit, if it’s on an hourly or time-of-use rate. See ComEd Hourly Pricing with solar and your bill after solar.
What does the $300 battery rebate commit you to?
Five summers in a virtual power plant. Both ComEd and Ameren pay $300 per kWh, and both require it. From October 19, 2026, both also rebate batteries without solar, and ComEd’s revised rebate tariff no longer lists a lifetime rate-plan rule, though ComEd’s posted terms still did on October 25, 2026.
| The rule | ComEd | Ameren Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Rebate | $300 per kWh | $300 per kWh |
| On a 13.5 kWh battery | $4,050 | $4,050 |
| Battery without solar | From Oct. 19, 2026; applications from Jan. 1, 2027 | From Oct. 19, 2026 |
| Virtual power plant | 5 summers | At least 5 summers |
| Rate-plan rule | Not in the revised tariff (from Oct. 19, 2026), but ComEd’s posted terms still list one. Get ComEd’s OK in writing before changing plans. | None; keep your supply |
| Rate through | Dec. 31, 2029 | Dec. 31, 2029 |
| 2030 and later | $250 battery-only; solar-paired “TBD” | $250 battery-only; solar-paired “TBD” |
| Size cap (new projects) | 25,000 kWh; 5 kWh per kW | 25,000 kWh; 5 kWh per kW |
ComEd’s 2026 rebate terms, its revised Rider DG REBATE (filed September 4, effective October 19, 2026) and Rider SDVPP. Ameren’s Rider CGR (revised the same dates) and Rider SD VPP. State law sets $300 per kWh through December 31, 2029.
That’s a decision, not free money. A battery bought without the rebate carries no virtual power plant duty. But since September 14, 2026, ComEd says a new battery needs an hourly or time-of-use rate to keep net metering, rebate or not.
- A new state law takes effect. Rebated batteries must join a five-summer virtual power plant.
- Both utilities’ virtual power plant tariffs take effect.
- ComEd and Ameren file new rebate tariffs that add batteries without solar.
- ComEd’s net-metering rules change: new batteries need an hourly or time-of-use rate, and solar-paired batteries may charge from the grid.
- The new rebate tariffs take effect. ComEd’s revised tariff lists no lifetime rate-plan rule.
- ComEd starts taking battery-only rebate applications, and battery-only systems can earn net-metering credit.
- Both virtual power plants must open by this date at the latest. CUB says ComEd is aiming for spring 2027.
- Last day of the $300-per-kWh rebate in both tariffs.
- Battery-only rebates drop to $250 per kWh. The rate for solar-paired batteries is “to be decided.”
Full rule-by-rule detail lives on the ComEd battery rebate, Ameren’s virtual power plant and every Illinois battery incentive.
How much does a virtual power plant pay?
About $50 to $68 a summer for a typical battery. Both utilities pay $10 per kW of your battery’s average output during the dispatch window.
Weekdays, 4 to 6 p.m. Central, June 1 to September 30, at both utilities. The other 22 hours, the battery works for your home.
Here’s the math. A 13.5 kWh battery can send out about 6.75 kW for two hours. So the most it can average is 6.75 kW, worth $67.50. Hours before you enroll count as zero. Batteries charged by solar on the same inverter are measured on the combined output, so they can earn a bit more.
No early-exit fee shows up in either tariff, and neither says what happens if you sell mid-term. For a battery with no solar, state law calls the dispatch commitment “voluntary,” but ComEd’s filing still enrolls those batteries, so read the terms. Details: ComEd’s virtual power plant.
Is a battery worth it just for backup?
Yes, if your home can’t go without power. That’s the main reason to buy a battery in Illinois. Solar panels shut off when the grid goes down, for safety. For most homes, a battery with a backup setup is the way to keep solar power running in an outage.
- ComEd 1 outage every 18 months, on average 1.3 hr
- Illinois, all utilities 2.4 hr
- Ameren Illinois About 1.2 outages a year 4.8 hr
| 2025, per customer | ComEd | Ameren Illinois |
|---|---|---|
| Hours without power a year | 1.3 | 4.8 |
| Outages a year | 0.66 | 1.19 |
| Average outage | about 2 hours | about 4 hours |
| Hours a year, not counting major storms | 0.6 | 2.2 |
U.S. Energy Information Administration, Form EIA-861, 2025 final data released October 7, 2026 (SAIDI, SAIFI and CAIDI, IEEE standard). Averages: your street can be better or worse.
Ameren Illinois customers sat in the dark almost four times as long as ComEd customers in 2025. That matters most if something can’t lose power: medical equipment, a well pump, or a sump pump in a finished basement.
Should you add a battery? Run your answer
Two quick tools. First, see which case fits you. Then see how long a battery would keep your essentials running.
Step 1 · Should you add a battery?
Five taps. It runs in your browser, and we don’t ask for your name. If you start the free check, your answers carry over.
Step 2 · How long would a battery last?
Pick what you want to run, or type your own watts. Your appliance labels show their watts.
What do you want to run?Without a battery, grid-tied solar shuts off in an outage, so this is time you’d otherwise spend in the dark.
Rough guide: battery kWh × 85% ÷ watts. Real backup is shorter if the battery isn’t full or loads start and stop. Not a promise.
Thinking about solar plus a battery? The free eligibility check looks at your roof, usage and utility together, and says so if it isn’t a fit.
See my solar + battery numbersWhat about $0-down home battery offers?
You don’t buy the battery. You buy your power. In parts of ComEd’s area, two companies install a battery for a small fee or a refundable deposit, and sell you electricity under a long agreement. Neither is offered in Ameren territory.
| Bundle term (per CUB, July 2026) | Base Power | Energywell |
|---|---|---|
| Battery agreement | 12 years | 15 years |
| Supply plan | 2 years, then renews | 5 years |
| To start | One-time fee: $95 or $295 | $99 refundable deposit |
| Leaving early | $500 | $500; a $15,000 fee if the battery stays at your home |
| Homes with solar | May cost you more than ComEd’s supply | Not eligible, and adding solar during the 15 years needs the company’s written OK |
| Who qualifies | Homeowners; generally not condos or renters | Owners of single-family homes |
| Where | Parts of ComEd’s area, not yet Chicago | Select ComEd-area neighborhoods |
Citizens Utility Board Q&A on battery and supply offers, July 22, 2026. Terms change, so read the contract you’re given.
CUB, Illinois’ nonprofit utility watchdog, adds a warning: neither company guarantees the battery will always have enough charge for a longer outage. Under both utilities’ tariffs, the $300-per-kWh rebate goes to the battery’s owner: the company, not you. Compare the two side by side: battery + power-plan bundles, explained.
Should you buy a battery now or wait?
If you need backup, waiting has a cost. If you’re buying for money, waiting is fine. The $300 rebate is set through 2029, and battery-only rebates apply from October 19, 2026 (ComEd takes those applications from January 1, 2027).
- You need backup this winter or next summer
- Adding a battery with new solar saves a second install
- $300 per kWh is set through December 31, 2029
- Virtual power plant service starts in 2027
- Pay after the first five summers isn’t set yet
- Battery-only applications at ComEd open January 1, 2027
The 30% federal credit for batteries you own ended after December 31, 2025, so there’s no federal deadline to chase. What happened to the tax credit.
What should you ask before adding a battery?
Get these answers in writing before you sign. They separate a good battery quote from an expensive surprise.
- 1What exactly runs in an outage, and for how long?
Ask for a critical-loads list and an estimate in hours, not just “whole-home backup.”
- 2Who gets the $300 rebate?
If you own it, you do. With a lease or bundle, the company usually does.
- 3What does the virtual power plant require?
Five summers of dispatch, the battery fixed in place, and what happens if you sell.
- 4Which rate plan will I be on?
New batteries at ComEd need an hourly or time-of-use rate to keep net metering.
- 5What’s the cash price and the financed price?
A loan can hide a dealer fee. Here’s how dealer fees work.
- 6What’s the warranty, and who honors it?
Ask about the battery maker’s warranty and the installer’s workmanship warranty. Check that the installer is approved.
Home batteries in Illinois: FAQ
Is a home battery worth it in Illinois?
For backup, often yes, especially if your home can’t lose power or you’re in Ameren territory, where outages run longer. For money alone, usually not yet. A typical battery adds about $14,700 to $19,700, the rebate pays $4,050, and savings run about $130 to $170 a year.
What are the downsides of solar batteries?
Cost comes first. A typical battery adds about $14,700 to $19,700, and the $4,050 rebate plus $130 to $170 a year in savings won’t pay that back in its 15-year life. The rebate also means five summers in a virtual power plant. There’s no federal tax credit for a battery you buy, and storing power loses about 15% of it. A 13.5 kWh battery runs essentials for about a day, not central air.
How much does a home battery cost in Illinois?
Berkeley Lab found that solar-plus-battery systems cost cash buyers about $2.10 more per watt of solar in 2025. On a 7 kW system, that’s about $14,700 for a 13.5 kWh battery. On a 9.4 kW system, it’s about $19,700. The data is mostly from California, so get your own quote.
How much is the battery rebate in Illinois?
ComEd and Ameren both pay $300 per kWh of battery size, through December 31, 2029. A 13.5 kWh battery earns $4,050. The check is paid once, and it comes with five summers in a virtual power plant. The ComEd battery rebate, rule by rule →
Can a battery without solar get a rebate in Illinois?
Yes, under new tariffs effective October 19, 2026. Both utilities add a $300-per-kWh rebate for a battery with no solar. ComEd’s version is for batteries connected after June 1, 2026 that charge only from the grid, and it takes applications from January 1, 2027. Ameren’s own rebate page still says a rebated battery must be charged by an on-site renewable generator, so ask Ameren in writing before you buy. Every Illinois battery incentive →
What does the battery rebate commit you to?
Five summers in your utility’s virtual power plant. On weekdays from 4 to 6 p.m., June through September, the utility can call on your battery. ComEd’s older terms also required an hourly or time-of-use rate for the battery’s life; its tariff effective October 19, 2026 drops that. Net metering still needs an hourly or time-of-use rate for batteries connected since June 1, 2026.
How much does a virtual power plant pay in Illinois?
$10 per kW of average output each summer, at both ComEd and Ameren. A 13.5 kWh battery can send out about 6.75 kW over the two-hour window, so it earns about $50 to $68 a summer. ComEd’s virtual power plant, explained →
Will a battery lower my electric bill in Illinois?
A little. Since 2025, power you send to the grid is credited at about 10.2¢ per kWh, while you pay about 18¢ to buy it. A battery lets you use more of your own solar, which is worth about 5¢ per kWh stored. That’s about $80 to $120 a year on a typical system.
Do you need a battery with solar in Illinois?
No. Solar works without a battery in Illinois. A battery isn’t required to connect to the grid, join Illinois Shines or get the solar rebate. If you’re unsure, ask for a battery-ready system so one can be added later.
How long does a battery take to pay for itself?
On money alone, longer than it lasts. In our example, the net cost is about $10,650 and the battery returns about $130 to $170 a year, while its design life is about 15 years. Backup power, not savings, is usually the reason to buy one.
Can I add a battery to solar I already have?
Yes. It can get $300 per kWh, about $4,050 on 13.5 kWh, with five summers in the virtual power plant. At ComEd, a battery connected since June 1, 2026 needs an hourly or time-of-use rate to keep net metering.
Do solar panels work during a power outage?
Not on their own. Grid-tied solar shuts off when the grid goes down, for safety. To keep power on, most homes need a battery and a backup setup.
How long will a battery run my house in an outage?
It depends on what you run. A 13.5 kWh battery can run about 500 watts of essentials, like a fridge, lights and Wi-Fi, for about a day. Central air uses far more and can drain it in a few hours. Use the backup estimator on this page.
How often does the power go out in Illinois?
In 2025, the average ComEd customer was without power about 1.3 hours, and the average Ameren Illinois customer about 4.8 hours, counting major storms. That’s from the U.S. Energy Information Administration’s utility data.
Is there a federal tax credit for home batteries in 2026?
Not for a battery you buy. The 30% residential credit ended for spending after December 31, 2025. A business credit can still help a company that owns the battery at your home, as in a lease. What happened to the tax credit →
Are $0-down battery offers worth it?
They can work if you want backup and plan to stay. You don’t buy the battery. You buy your power from the company and host its battery for 12 or 15 years. Read the exit fees first. Neither offer is available in Ameren territory, and one of the two excludes homes with solar. Battery + power-plan bundles, explained →
Should I buy a battery now or wait?
If you need backup, waiting has a cost. The $300 rebate is set through 2029, and battery-only rebates apply from October 19, 2026 (ComEd takes those applications from January 1, 2027). If you’re buying for money alone, waiting is reasonable. The virtual power plant launches in 2027, and pay after the first five summers isn’t set yet.
How long do home batteries last?
About 15 years, according to the National Laboratory of the Rockies, the federal lab formerly called NREL. It plans on about one cycle a day and 85% round-trip efficiency, meaning 15% of stored power is lost.
The terms, in plain English
- kWh and kW
- A kilowatt-hour (kWh) is how much a battery holds. A kilowatt (kW) is how fast it can deliver power. The rebate pays per kWh.
- Round-trip efficiency
- The share of stored power you get back. At 85%, you put in 1 kWh and get about 0.85 kWh out.
- Virtual power plant (VPP)
- A program where the utility can call on many home batteries at once on summer afternoons, and pays for it.
- Dispatch window
- When the utility can use your battery: weekdays, 4 to 6 p.m., June 1 to September 30.
- Hourly or time-of-use rate
- A price plan that changes by hour or time block. New batteries need one to keep net metering at ComEd.
- Critical-loads panel
- A small panel that holds the circuits a battery keeps running in an outage, like the fridge and furnace fan.
- Stand-alone battery
- A battery with no solar. It charges from the grid. New rebates cover it from October 19, 2026.
- Net metering
- How your utility credits power you send to the grid. Since 2025, new systems get the supply price, about 10.2¢ per kWh.
See whether solar plus a battery fits your home.
Free, about a minute, no obligation. It looks at your roof, usage and utility, and says so if the answer is no.
Free eligibility check · ComEd & Ameren · No obligation- Says so if it isn’t a fit
- Commitments explained
The Day Company is an independent solar, battery and electricity information resource. Information you submit may be used by our review team and authorized partners to contact you about your request. Checking eligibility creates no obligation.
Sources and updates
Sources (22)
- ComEd — Rider SDVPP, Scheduled Dispatch Virtual Power Plant (ICC filing, PDF) (effective July 16, 2026: $10 per kW-Season, the 4–6 p.m. window, the five-year term and the start date)
- ComEd — Distributed Generation Rebate Terms and Conditions, 2026 (PDF) (the storage rebate, the rate-plan condition and the virtual power plant requirement)
- ComEd — revised Rider DG REBATE, advance copy (PDF) (filed September 4, 2026, effective October 19, 2026: the stand-alone battery rebate, the January 1, 2027 application date, the 2030 rates, and no rate-plan rule among the prerequisites of service)
- ComEd — Schedule of Rates, Rider POGNM (PDF) (effective September 14, 2026: the hourly or time-of-use rule for batteries connected on or after June 1, 2026, grid charging, and stand-alone battery credit from January 1, 2027)
- Ameren Illinois — Rider SD VPP (effective July 16, 2026: $10.00 per kW of performance and at least five summers)
- Ameren Illinois — Rider CGR, Customer Generation and Storage Rebate (filed September 4, 2026, effective October 19, 2026: $300 per kWh through 2029, the stand-alone battery rebate and the caps)
- Ameren Illinois — DER Bulletin 2026-04 (the battery rebate requires the virtual power plant; your supply stays the same)
- Illinois General Assembly — 220 ILCS 5/16-107.6 (as amended by Public Acts 104-0458 and 104-0477: $300 per kWh through December 31, 2029, then $250 for stand-alone batteries, and the $10-per-kW pay floor)
- Illinois General Assembly — 220 ILCS 5/16-107.5 (net metering for batteries and the hourly or time-of-use rule)
- Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory — U.S. Distributed Solar and Storage: 2026 Data Update (PDF) (August 2026: the $2.10-per-watt battery premium for cash buyers, the 13.5 kWh median battery and battery shares)
- National Laboratory of the Rockies — 2025 Annual Technology Baseline, residential battery storage (15-year life, 85% round-trip efficiency, about one cycle a day). The lab was renamed from NREL in December 2025, per the U.S. Department of Energy.
- U.S. Energy Information Administration — Form EIA-861, 2025 final data (released October 7, 2026: outage minutes and counts for ComEd, Ameren Illinois and Illinois)
- U.S. Department of Energy — Solar and Resilience Basics (grid-tied solar switches off when grid power cuts out)
- Citizens Utility Board — The Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act: details on consumer benefits (September 14, 2026: the ICC approved both virtual power plants; ComEd targets spring 2027). CUB is Illinois’ nonprofit utility watchdog.
- Citizens Utility Board — Q&A: battery and electricity supply offers in Illinois (July 22, 2026: battery bundle terms, exit fees, who qualifies and backup limits)
- Citizens Utility Board — Solar and Storage Rebates in Illinois (PDF) (March 2026: the older Ameren rate rule that binds future owners of a home)
- Illinois Shines — Updated disclosure forms (the share of solar used on site with and without a battery, used in our savings math)
- Illinois Shines — Utility rates used in disclosure forms, October 2026 (spreadsheet) (retail and supply rates for ComEd and Ameren)
- Internal Revenue Service — Clean Electricity Investment Credit (the business credit that still covers batteries a company owns)
- Internal Revenue Service — FAQs on Public Law 119-21 (the residential credit ends for spending after December 31, 2025)
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission — safety tips for portable generators (January 3, 2025: run generators outside only, at least 20 feet from the house)
Changelog · last updated October 26, 2026 · 8 updates
- October 26, 2026: Read Ameren's revised Rider CGR (effective October 19, 2026), which lists a $300/kWh rebate for a battery without solar, while Ameren's rebate page still requires on-site renewable charging. The Ameren battery lines now say that and tell you to ask Ameren in writing.
- October 25, 2026: Made the ComEd rate-plan wording agree with ComEd’s own documents: the revised rebate tariff (in effect October 19) lists no Qualifying Utility Product rule, but ComEd’s posted rebate terms still do (checked October 25, 2026), so the page says it is unsettled and to ask ComEd in writing.
- October 25, 2026: Added a link to our new guide on the Base Power battery in Illinois.
- October 15, 2026: Rewritten and redesigned. Re-checked every figure at its source. Added the battery-only rebates both utilities filed (effective October 19, 2026), ComEd’s dropped rate-plan rule, 2025 outage data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration and the 2030 rebate change. Corrected the savings math to the state disclosure form (a 20-point shift, not 30%) and October 2026 rates: about $130 to $170 a year with the virtual power plant. Fixed the NREL name (now the National Laboratory of the Rockies). New decision tool, backup estimator, outage chart, timeline and dispatch-window chart. Added a question on the downsides of batteries and a check for quotes that still subtract the ended 30% credit.
- September 29, 2026: Rebuilt for homeowners: Berkeley Lab’s 2025 battery prices, October 2026 prices, a corrected virtual power plant estimate and export credit, $0-down offers and plain-English rewrites. Folded in our former blog post on whether you need a battery with solar.
- September 16, 2026: Read both virtual power plant tariffs in full, corrected ComEd’s rebate condition, and added the decision tool and utility comparison.
- July 2026: Corrected the self-consumption math to ComEd’s published delivery charges.
- July 30, 2026: Published.
How to cite: The Day Company review team, “Is a home battery worth it in Illinois?,” The Day Company, updated October 15, 2026. https://theday.company/answers/solar-battery-worth-it-illinois
The Day Company is not a government agency, utility, ComEd, Ameren, the Citizens Utility Board, Illinois Shines, the Illinois Commerce Commission or the IRS, and does not imply affiliation with or endorsement by any of them. Utility names identify service areas only. Nothing here is tax, legal or financial advice. Costs, savings and backup hours are estimates built from public sources, not a quote or a promise. Figures were last reviewed in October 2026.