Updated October 2026 by Wolf River Electric, a solar company serving Illinois homes, farms and businesses.
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Illinois solar incentives at a glance (October 2026)
| Program | What you get | Who qualifies |
|---|---|---|
| Distributed generation rebate | $300 per kW of solar, one time | ComEd and Ameren Illinois customers with a smart inverter |
| Storage rebate | $300 per kWh of battery capacity | ComEd and Ameren Illinois customers on a qualifying rate plan or program |
| Illinois Shines | One payment for 15 years of renewable energy credits, usually about a year after installation | Systems enrolled through an Illinois Shines Approved Vendor |
| Illinois Solar for All | No upfront cost and guaranteed savings | Income-eligible households (at or below 80% of area median income) |
| Net metering | Credits for the supply portion of exported power | Systems connected on or after January 1, 2025 (older systems keep their original terms) |
| Property tax | Limits on how much solar can raise your assessment | Homeowners |
| Federal 25D tax credit | 30% of system cost | Ended December 31, 2025 |
ComEd and Ameren distributed generation rebate
Illinois law requires ComEd and Ameren Illinois to pay a one-time rebate of $300 per kW of solar capacity for systems that use a smart inverter. An 8 kW system earns about $2,400. The rebate is paid after your system is connected. MidAmerican Energy customers in the Quad Cities area follow MidAmerican’s own rules.
Battery storage rebate
ComEd and Ameren also pay $300 per kWh of battery storage installed with an approved smart inverter. To qualify, ComEd customers enroll in a qualifying rate, such as hourly pricing, and Ameren customers choose a qualifying pricing plan or demand response program. We help you pick the rate before you apply. See the batteries we install on our home battery backup page.
Illinois Shines renewable energy credits
Illinois Shines pays you for the renewable energy credits (one credit per MWh) your system is expected to make over 15 years. For home systems, that value comes as one payment, usually about a year after installation. The amount depends on your utility, your system size and the current program block, and prices step down as blocks fill, so earlier enrollment generally pays more. Payments go through an Illinois Shines Approved Vendor.
Illinois Solar for All
Illinois Solar for All helps income-eligible households go solar with no upfront cost and savings built into the contract. Single-family homes with household income at or below 80% of area median income may qualify, through a program Approved Vendor.
Net metering after January 1, 2025
Systems connected before January 1, 2025 keep full net metering for the life of the system. New systems on ComEd and Ameren now earn credits for the supply portion of the power they export, not the delivery charges. That makes a smaller, well-sized system, or one paired with a battery, the better value. We size your system to the power you use and show you the numbers with and without a battery.
Property tax
Illinois law limits how much a solar system can raise your property assessment, so going solar adds little or nothing to your property tax bill.
What happened to the 30% federal tax credit?
The Residential Clean Energy Credit (Section 25D) ended for systems installed after December 31, 2025. Homeowners who lease can still get savings tied to the 30% commercial credit, and businesses can claim it for systems placed in service by the end of 2027 or started by July 4, 2026. Read what changed with the solar tax credit.
Example: incentives on an 8 kW system
This example uses round numbers, not a quote. At the October 2026 Illinois average of about $2.95 per watt (EnergySage), an 8 kW system costs about $23,600 before incentives.
- Distributed generation rebate: 8 kW x $300 = about $2,400.
- Illinois Shines: one payment for 15 years of credits. EnergySage puts the average value at about $7,000; yours depends on your utility, size and program block.
- Storage rebate (optional): a 10 kWh battery x $300 = about $3,000, with a qualifying rate plan.
Illinois solar incentive questions
Is there a solar rebate in Illinois in 2026?
Yes. ComEd and Ameren Illinois pay a one-time rebate of $300 per kW of solar with a smart inverter, plus $300 per kWh of battery storage with a qualifying rate plan.
How much does Illinois Shines pay?
It depends on your utility, system size and the current block. Home systems get one payment for 15 years of credits, usually about a year after installation. EnergySage lists an average of about $7,000.
Is net metering going away in Illinois?
Full net metering ended for new ComEd and Ameren systems on January 1, 2025. New systems earn supply-only credits for exported power. Systems connected earlier keep their terms.
Can I still get the 30% solar tax credit in Illinois?
Not if you buy the system in 2026. The homeowner credit ended on December 31, 2025.
Get Illinois incentives built into your quote
Wolf River Electric is a solar company serving Illinois homes, farms and businesses with its own licensed crews. We apply for your utility rebate and interconnection and show you the numbers before you decide. Get my free quote
Sources: Illinois Power Agency (Illinois Shines and Illinois Solar for All); ComEd and Ameren Illinois rebate programs; EnergySage Illinois incentives and cost data (2026).
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