Illinois Solar Panels

Illinois Shines supports qualifying on-site solar and community-solar projects by contracting for the renewable energy credits (RECs) the systems are expected to produce. For 2026–27, the published REC prices for small distributed-generation projects up to 10 kW AC are $70.37 per REC in Group A and $80.77 per REC in Group B; eligible customer-owned small systems that do not receive a federal clean-energy credit may qualify for an additional $20 per REC. A REC represents 1 MWh of generation, so the total value depends on estimated production, location, project category, and program rules—not simply system size.

The REC payment is made to the Approved Vendor, not automatically as a household rebate. The customer’s purchase, lease, or power-purchase agreement determines whether and how much value reaches the customer; review the Illinois Shines disclosure and contract before signing. Capacity and waitlist status can change, and qualifying small-system contracts approved on or after June 1, 2026 pay 50% at energization with the remainder paid over the following six years.

Illinois Solar for All uses REC contracts with approved project vendors to make solar more affordable for eligible participants. For qualifying residential rooftop projects, the program is structured to offer no upfront cost for many 1–4-unit homes, while other eligible properties may receive low- or no-upfront-cost offers; community-solar subscriptions are also available. The customer benefit is the project pricing and required savings protections, not a standard cash payment to every household.

Residential and community-solar household eligibility is generally based on gross income at or below 80% of Area Median Income, adjusted for household size and location. Program requirements, including savings, maintenance, and warranty protections, apply, and funding and application windows are limited. Confirm current eligibility and availability through the program before relying on an offer.

ComEd’s published rebate materials list a $300-per-kW rebate for qualifying residential and small-load customer-owned renewable generation. The rebate can lower the net upfront cost of an eligible solar installation, but the amount is based on qualifying system capacity and program rules; it is not a universal payment for every solar system.

Equipment, smart-inverter, interconnection, customer-class, and tariff requirements apply. If you are on legacy full-retail net metering, taking a generation rebate may affect your delivery-service credits or legacy billing status under the applicable utility rules. Confirm the current rebate terms and the effect on your specific net-metering arrangement with ComEd in writing before applying.

ComEd’s published program materials list a storage rebate of $300 per kWh for eligible residential and small-load customers. The rebate can reduce the cost of a qualifying battery, with the payment determined by eligible storage capacity and the program’s terms. ComEd’s materials specify hourly supply service (BESH) for the residential storage rebate.

Eligible equipment, smart-inverter, customer-class, and tariff requirements apply; verify whether the battery must be paired with or charged by an on-site renewable generator under the current terms. Storage receiving a rebate on or after June 1, 2026 may also be subject to scheduled-dispatch requirements, with ComEd’s filed rider indicating service may begin no later than March 1, 2027. Confirm the obligation and any compensation with ComEd before applying.

Ameren Illinois lists a $300-per-kW-DC rebate for qualifying distributed-generation systems for residential DS-1 and small-commercial DS-2 customers. The rebate can lower the upfront cost of eligible solar equipment; the amount is calculated using qualifying system capacity and is subject to the utility’s current program requirements.

Smart-inverter, equipment, interconnection, customer-class, and tariff rules apply. Ameren states that taking a generation rebate can affect delivery-service credits for customers with legacy net metering. Check your rate, interconnection date, and current tariff with Ameren before accepting the rebate, particularly if you have legacy full-retail net-metering service.

Ameren Illinois lists a $300-per-kWh rebate for eligible storage systems for residential DS-1 and small-commercial DS-2 customers. The rebate can offset part of the installed cost of a qualifying battery, based on its eligible capacity and the current utility program requirements.

Ameren requires storage included in a rebate application to be charged by an on-site renewable generator, and smart-inverter, equipment, interconnection, customer-class, and tariff requirements apply. Ameren indicates that a storage-only rebate does not trigger the specific legacy-net-metering consequence associated with a generation rebate, but customers should confirm their own tariff and billing treatment before applying.

Eligible systems that were receiving the former full-retail net-metering service before January 1, 2025 generally retain that service for the system’s lifetime, subject to statutory and tariff terms. New solar customers generally receive credits for excess generation in the supply portion of the bill rather than full retail credits for both supply and delivery. The value of exports therefore depends on the applicable utility tariff, and using more solar electricity at home can be more valuable than exporting it.

Illinois law also addresses net metering for qualifying energy-storage systems energized after the law’s effective date, subject to capacity and tariff requirements. Net metering is a billing credit, not a cash rebate. Utility generation rebates can affect billing arrangements for some legacy customers, so check the utility’s current tariff and obtain confirmation about the impact of any rebate before committing.

Illinois law provides an alternate valuation process for eligible solar-energy-system improvements. A property owner may file a claim with the county chief assessment officer; depending on the system, property, and applicable assessment rules, the process can affect the assessed value used to calculate property taxes and may reduce the tax impact compared with ordinary valuation.

This is not a blanket exemption from property taxes and does not guarantee a particular dollar savings. Eligibility and the valuation calculation depend on the property and system, and the owner must follow the applicable filing process. Contact the county assessor and review the Illinois Department of Revenue guidance to determine whether your installation qualifies.