ComEd credits new rooftop solar under supply-only net metering, so your exports offset the supply part of the bill, not the delivery charges, at roughly 10 cents per kWh. Homes connected before 2025 keep full-retail credits. You can still stack the ComEd DG rebate and Illinois Shines. The federal 25D homeowner credit ended after December 31, 2025.
If ComEd (Commonwealth Edison) is your electric utility across northern Illinois, this page explains how rooftop solar pays you back in 2026. The big thing to know is that Illinois changed net metering: new solar homes are now credited on the supply side of the bill only, not at the full retail rate. Below is what ComEd credits today, how the annual true-up works, where the ComEd rebate and Illinois Shines fit, how to connect, and how to tell if your roof is a good fit.
According to MySolarFY’s analysis (August 2026), a typical 8 kW rooftop system in ComEd’s Chicago-area territory produces about 10,500 kWh a year (NREL PVWatts), enough to cover most of an average home’s use, though under supply-only net metering only the power you export is credited at ComEd’s lower supply rate. At Illinois’s residential rate near 20.5 cents per kWh (EIA, April 2026), the electricity you use on-site as it is generated is worth the most, so your real savings depend on how much you use in real time.
ComEd solar in Illinois at a glance
ComEd runs net metering and interconnection across northern Illinois, while the Illinois Shines SREC program is run statewide by the Illinois Power Agency. Here is the quick picture for a home solar customer.
| Detail | What to know |
|---|---|
| Utility name | Commonwealth Edison (ComEd), an Exelon utility |
| Service territory | Northern Illinois, including the Chicago metro area; about 4 million electric customers |
| Net metering (new systems) | Supply-only credits since January 1, 2025; exports offset the supply charge, not delivery |
| Net metering (pre-2025) | Systems interconnected by December 31, 2024 keep full-retail credits, grandfathered |
| Credit true-up | Monthly credits roll forward and offset your bill; ComEd does not cut a cash check |
| ComEd DG rebate | Up to $300 per kW of solar, a qualifying smart inverter required, paid after Permission to Operate |
| Illinois Shines (SRECs) | Statewide program through an Approved Vendor; stacks with net metering and the rebate |
| Before you switch on | ComEd must grant Permission to Operate |
| Sources | ComEd, Illinois Shines, Illinois Power Agency |
Two things drive the value of ComEd solar. First, net metering credits the power you send back, now on the supply side of the bill only. Second, Illinois Shines pays for the clean-energy certificates your system produces, and the ComEd rebate lowers your up-front cost. Estimate your roof’s likely output with NREL’s free PVWatts calculator, since production drives both your bill credits and your Illinois Shines value.
How ComEd net metering works now: supply-only credits
Illinois ended full 1:1 retail net metering for new systems, so timing decides which deal you get. Under the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA), Illinois net metering shifted once ComEd passed the program threshold. For any system interconnected on or after January 1, 2025, ComEd credits your exported solar at the supply, or energy, portion of the rate only, which is worth roughly 10 cents per kWh rather than the full retail rate. Delivery charges and fixed fees still apply no matter how much you generate, so the credit is worth meaningfully less than it was before the change. That supply price resets periodically, so verify the current figure with ComEd. Any monthly surplus rolls forward as a credit on your next bill rather than being paid out in cash. Systems that were interconnected by December 31, 2024 are grandfathered and keep the old full-retail crediting for the life of the system. For the mechanics of export credits, see how net metering credits your solar exports.
| What you earn | How it is valued | Who receives it |
|---|---|---|
| Supply-only net-metering credits (new systems) | Exports credited at ComEd’s supply rate, roughly 10 cents per kWh, rolling forward monthly | The ComEd account holder |
| ComEd DG rebate | Up to $300 per kW of solar, one-time cash after Permission to Operate | The customer who installs |
| Illinois Shines (SRECs) | Paid through an Approved Vendor based on projected production, value passed to you | The system owner, via the vendor |
To see how a bill credit lowers your monthly cost, read how solar lowers your electricity bill, and to weigh payback under the new rules, see the financial case for whether solar panels are worth it. For the full Illinois picture and local costs, see our Illinois solar guide and what solar costs in Illinois. For a city-level look at Chicago permitting and local costs, see our Chicago solar guide.
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The ComEd Distributed Generation (DG) rebate
The DG rebate is real money back and it improves the first-year math the most. ComEd pays a Distributed Generation rebate of up to $300 per kW of solar capacity to residential and small customers who install with a qualifying smart inverter from the Illinois approved list. On a typical home system that is often in the range of a few thousand dollars, paid as a one-time cash rebate after ComEd grants Permission to Operate. A matching storage rebate of up to $300 per kWh is available for a qualifying battery, so confirm current terms and amounts at comed.com before you plan. One thing to know for existing solar owners: taking the rebate moves you to the supply-only crediting, so a grandfathered customer should weigh that trade before applying. New customers are on supply-only crediting anyway, so for them the rebate is simply money toward the install.
Illinois Shines and SRECs on a ComEd account
Illinois pays for your clean-energy certificates through a state program, not an open market you manage. Illinois Shines, the state’s Adjustable Block Program, is administered by the Illinois Power Agency. Your system earns one Renewable Energy Credit for every 1,000 kWh (one megawatt-hour) it produces, but you do not sell those certificates yourself. Instead you sign with an Approved Vendor, which receives the incentive based on your system’s projected production and passes the value to you, often as a lower up-front price or a series of payments set in your contract (Illinois Shines). This stacks on top of ComEd net metering and the DG rebate, so a ComEd home can use all three at once. Because the value flows through your contract, read how the vendor credits it to you before you sign, and check current block pricing at the Illinois Power Agency.
How to connect solar to ComEd in Illinois
Connecting a home system to ComEd follows a set order under Illinois interconnection rules, and the key rule is that you cannot turn the system on until ComEd grants Permission to Operate. The general path is:
- Interconnection application. You or your installer file an application with ComEd. Small inverter-based residential systems use the simplified level of the state’s standard interconnection process.
- Interconnection agreement. After ComEd reviews and approves the application, you sign and return the interconnection agreement.
- Install and inspect. The system is installed with a qualifying smart inverter and passes your local electrical inspection.
- Meter set. ComEd installs or reconfigures a bidirectional meter that measures both the power you draw and the power you export.
- Permission to Operate. ComEd issues Permission to Operate. The system may not run on the grid before this, and the DG rebate is paid after this step.
A qualifying smart inverter on the Illinois approved list is required for the rebate, so make sure your equipment qualifies. A licensed installer normally manages this whole process, including the Illinois Shines paperwork, for you. For the questions to ask, see the right questions to ask a solar installer, and for the standard interconnection rules see the Illinois Commerce Commission.
What changed federally, and what it means for ComEd customers
The federal homeowner credit is gone, but Illinois’s rebate, Illinois Shines, and net metering are not. The 30% federal Residential Clean Energy Credit (Section 25D) ended for expenditures made after December 31, 2025, under the One Big Beautiful Bill Act, so a ComEd customer who buys solar with cash or a loan in 2026 cannot claim it (IRS OBBB FAQ; SEIA). The state programs were not affected by that change. For the full timeline, see what the federal solar tax credit change means in 2026.
One federal exception exists, and it is not yours to claim. A separate commercial credit, Section 48E, is claimed by the business that owns a leased or PPA system, not by the homeowner. For a leased system on a ComEd account you do not file for a federal credit yourself; the company that owns the panels does. The 25D homeowner credit, by contrast, ended after December 31, 2025.
How to choose a solar installer in ComEd territory
Northern Illinois is a busy solar market, so you have many licensed installers to compare. Rather than chasing a “best” list, screen any installer against objective criteria:
- NABCEP certification, the industry’s professional standard for PV installers.
- Proper Illinois licensing and any required local electrical and building permits.
- A clear workmanship and equipment warranty in writing.
- Real experience with ComEd interconnection and Illinois Shines registration, so the paperwork, the rebate, and Permission to Operate go smoothly.
- A written production estimate and a quote that is honest about supply-only crediting, so your savings numbers are realistic. For a checklist, see the right questions to ask a solar installer.
MySolarFY matches you with licensed installers that serve your area so you can compare real local quotes side by side, with no obligation.
Frequently asked questions
Does ComEd still offer net metering in 2026?
Yes. ComEd net metering is active in 2026, but the credit changed. Systems interconnected on or after January 1, 2025 earn supply-only credits, which offset the supply portion of your bill at roughly 10 cents per kWh rather than the full retail rate. Systems interconnected by December 31, 2024 keep full-retail crediting for the life of the system. Delivery charges still apply either way, and monthly credits roll forward on your bill instead of being paid out in cash.
What is supply-only net metering and how does it change my savings?
Supply-only net metering means ComEd credits your exported solar at the supply, or energy, portion of the rate only, not the delivery charges. Because delivery and fixed fees still apply, a kWh you export is worth less than a kWh you use in your home as it is generated. The practical takeaway is to use more of your own solar in real time, and to size a system close to your usage rather than oversizing it to chase exports.
How much is the ComEd DG rebate?
ComEd’s Distributed Generation rebate is up to $300 per kW of solar capacity for residential and small customers who install with a qualifying smart inverter, paid as a one-time cash rebate after Permission to Operate. A matching storage rebate of up to $300 per kWh is available for a qualifying battery. Amounts and terms can change, so confirm the current rebate at comed.com before you plan.
How do Illinois Shines SRECs work with ComEd?
Illinois Shines is the state program that pays for your system’s clean-energy certificates, one per 1,000 kWh produced. You do not sell them yourself. You sign with an Approved Vendor that receives the incentive and passes the value to you, usually as a lower up-front price or scheduled payments. It stacks with ComEd net metering and the DG rebate, so a ComEd home can use all three. Check current block pricing with the Illinois Power Agency.
How do I connect solar to ComEd?
You or your installer file an interconnection application with ComEd, ComEd reviews and approves it, you sign an interconnection agreement, the system is installed with a qualifying smart inverter and passes a local inspection, ComEd sets a bidirectional meter, and then ComEd issues Permission to Operate. You cannot turn the system on until you have that permission, and the DG rebate is paid after it. A licensed installer usually handles the paperwork for you.
What happened to the federal solar tax credit for ComEd customers?
The 30% federal Residential Clean Energy Credit (Section 25D) ended for expenditures made after December 31, 2025, so a ComEd customer who buys solar with cash or a loan in 2026 cannot claim it. A separate commercial credit (Section 48E) can apply to leased and PPA systems, but the business that owns the system claims it, not the homeowner. Illinois net metering, the DG rebate, and Illinois Shines were not affected.
Do I qualify for ComEd solar credit if I lease or sign a PPA?
Net-metering credits normally follow the ComEd account, but on a lease or PPA the company that owns the panels often keeps the incentives, including the Illinois Shines value and sometimes the bill credits, depending on the contract, while your benefit is a lower or fixed power price with no up-front cost. If you want the net-metering value, the rebate, and the Illinois Shines value in your own name, owning the system through cash or a loan is the path that captures them.
Reviewed by the MySolarFY team and updated for 2026. Figures were verified against the linked Illinois sources (ComEd, the Illinois Power Agency, Illinois Shines, the Illinois Commerce Commission), EIA, and IRS as of August 2026. ComEd’s supply rate, the DG rebate terms, and Illinois Shines block pricing all move over time, so confirm current terms with ComEd and the Illinois Power Agency before you decide. MySolarFY does not provide tax or financial advice; consult a licensed professional about your own situation. Learn more about the MySolarFY team and how we work.
MySolarFY is a free service that matches homeowners with licensed solar installers. We are not an installer, financing company, or government program. “No up-front cost” refers to qualifying lease or PPA financing, where eligible homeowners may have no out-of-pocket cost at installation. Lease and PPA terms typically run 20 to 25 years, may include an annual price escalator, and total payments may exceed the cost of a cash purchase; on a lease or PPA the incentives and bill credits often go to the company that owns the system, not the homeowner. Homeowners do not get the federal residential credit that ended after December 31, 2025. Solar panels are not free and monthly payments apply. Eligibility, savings, incentives, and rates vary and are not guaranteed. See our full disclaimer.
