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ComEd's Battery Rebate Changes October 19: No Hourly-Rate Rule, and Batteries Without Solar Qualify in 2027
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ComEd's Battery Rebate Changes October 19: No Hourly-Rate Rule, and Batteries Without Solar Qualify in 2027

Ryan Cook•

ComEd's home battery rebate gets easier to collect on October 19, 2026. That's when ComEd's revised rebate tariff takes effect. The $300 per kWh battery rebate no longer requires you to stay on hourly or time-of-use pricing for the life of the battery. A battery with no solar attached becomes eligible too, with applications opening January 1, 2027. The virtual power plant commitment stays, and so does the $300 rate through 2029.

If you've been holding off on a battery until the rules settle, the answer just got simpler for most ComEd homes. Here's what the filing actually says, line by line, and who it helps.

The key numbers

What Figure Source / date
Revised rebate takes effect October 19, 2026 (filed September 4, 2026; not suspended as of October 16) ComEd Rider DG REBATE advance copy; ComEd Proposed Filings page
Battery paired with solar, home or small business $300 per kWh through Dec. 31, 2029 220 ILCS 5/16-107.6; ComEd Informational Sheet No. 48, effective Oct. 19, 2026
Battery without solar, home or small business $300 per kWh through Dec. 31, 2029; $250 per kWh from Jan. 1, 2030 Same statute and sheet
Solar array, home or small business $300 per kW (DC) through Dec. 31, 2029; $250 per kW from Jan. 1, 2030 Same sheet; 220 ILCS 5/16-107.6
First day ComEd takes stand-alone battery applications January 1, 2027 Rider DG REBATE, Sheet No. 248.4
Hourly or time-of-use rate for the battery's life Required today; not in the Oct. 19 rider ComEd 2026 ratebook, Sheets 245 and 248.1; 2026 DG Rebate Terms
Virtual power plant commitment 5 years; 4–6 p.m. Central, Mon.–Fri., June 1–Sept. 30; $10 per kW each season ComEd Rider SDVPP, effective July 16, 2026
Storage size cap 5 kWh per 1 kW of battery power; 25,000 kWh max Rider DG REBATE, Sheet No. 248.3

Change 1: The hourly-rate rule is gone

This is the one that matters most for a normal ComEd home, and it's easy to miss in the filing.

Under the rebate rider in force today, a home or small business that takes the $300 per kWh battery rebate has to buy power under what ComEd calls a Qualifying Utility Product. That means hourly pricing, the time-of-use supply rate, or time-of-use delivery charges. The rider says the customer "must take service under a QUP and remain on a QUP for the life of the Energy Storage Facility." ComEd's 2026 rebate terms say the same thing.

The revised rider's list of prerequisites doesn't include it. It lists ten conditions, and none of them is a rate plan. That lines up with the amended state law, which now says a rebated storage system "has the option to participate in either an hourly pricing program or time-of-use rate program." Option is the operative word.

Why does that matter? Time-of-use pricing can pair nicely with a battery, and for some homes it's the right call. I walked through when it pays in our ComEd time-of-day pricing breakdown. But being locked onto it for as long as the battery runs is a different thing from choosing it. After October 19, a new battery can stay on ComEd's standard supply price, or an alternative supplier, and still collect the rebate.

One caution. The revised rider covers systems that get permission to operate on or after October 19. If you already took the battery rebate under the old rules, don't switch rate plans until ComEd confirms in writing which terms apply to you.

Change 2: A battery without solar qualifies, starting with 2027 applications

The revised rider adds a new category: the stand-alone storage rebate. To qualify, the battery has to:

  • not be paired with solar or other generation,
  • be interconnected to ComEd's grid after June 1, 2026, and
  • charge only from the grid.

For homes and small businesses, it pays $300 per kWh of nameplate capacity through December 31, 2029, then $250 per kWh starting January 1, 2030. ComEd won't accept these applications until January 1, 2027, so anyone installing one this fall is waiting on paperwork, not eligibility.

Here's the math on common battery sizes. These are estimates of the rebate check, not a quote on the battery:

Battery nameplate Rebate at $300/kWh (through 2029) At $250/kWh (stand-alone, 2030 on) Minimum battery power for the full rebate
10 kWh $3,000 $2,500 2 kW
13.5 kWh $4,050 $3,375 2.7 kW
20 kWh $6,000 $5,000 4 kW
27 kWh (two 13.5 kWh units) $8,100 $6,750 5.4 kW

That last column comes from the cap in the new rider: ComEd pays on no more than 5 kWh of storage for every 1 kW of power the battery can push. Check the power rating on the spec sheet before you count on the full amount.

Who's this for? Homes with a roof that just doesn't work for panels, and people in the generator-or-battery debate whose main worry is a winter outage. If you already have solar, a battery added behind the same meter is usually a paired battery, not a stand-alone one, and the paired rebate is already open. If you're sizing one, our battery sizing guide walks through how many kWh a typical Illinois house actually needs.

What didn't change: the virtual power plant

Every battery rebate, paired or stand-alone, still requires you to warrant that the battery will take part in ComEd's Scheduled Dispatch Virtual Power Plant. That's ComEd's program for drawing on home batteries during summer peaks.

The terms, from ComEd's approved Rider SDVPP:

  • Dispatch window: 4 to 6 p.m. Central, Monday through Friday
  • Season: June 1 through September 30
  • Commitment: 5 years
  • Pay: $10 per kW each season, based on what your battery actually delivers
  • Start: ComEd says customers can begin taking service no later than March 1, 2027

On a battery that pushes about 5 kW, that works out to something like $50 a season, an estimate. The rebate is where the money is. The real question is what's left in the battery at 6 p.m. on a July weekday if a storm takes the power out at 6:15. The tariff lets you set your committed level in the participant agreement, so settle that number before you sign anything. We covered the program's mechanics in more detail in our battery rebate explainer.

Change 3: No more 24-month expiration

Today's rider lets you apply when you sign your interconnection agreement, which locks in that day's rebate value. But it adds that applications "will expire after 24 months" if the system isn't running by then.

The revised text keeps the apply-early, lock-the-value part and drops the expiration language. For a typical home install that takes weeks, not years, this barely matters. For anyone whose project stalls on a roof replacement or a permit fight, it's one less clock to watch.

Installed solar before 2025? Read this before you add a battery

If you have ComEd's old full net metering, where exported power earns credit against supply and delivery charges, two things are worth knowing.

First, the battery rebate and the solar rebate are treated differently. State law ends delivery credits on exported power after a rebate is approved "unless the owner or operator receives a rebate only for an energy storage device and not for the distributed generation device." ComEd's revised rider makes the switch to supply-only crediting when a generation rebate on your panels is issued. Claiming $300 per kW on old panels is the move that costs you, and it's permanent. ComEd has to notify you before it pays. Our net metering breakdown explains what those delivery credits are worth.

Second, a separate ComEd filing is scheduled to take effect October 31, 2026. It lets a customer in one of the legacy net metering classes (NM1 through NM4) switch to another legacy class without losing legacy status.

Ameren Illinois hasn't followed yet

The state law behind ComEd's filing applies to Ameren Illinois too. It pays $300 per kWh for storage "whether or not paired with distributed generation." But as of October 16, Ameren's customer-owned solar page still says any battery in a rebate application "must be charged by an on-site generator that uses a renewable resource." For now, a stand-alone battery in central or southern Illinois doesn't qualify for Ameren's rebate.

Ameren is ahead on the rate-plan question, though. Its paired battery rebate doesn't require hourly pricing. Ameren's DER Bulletin 2026-04 says enrolling in its virtual power plant, required for the battery rebate since June 1, 2026, "does not, by itself, change the customer's existing electric supply option." I'll update this post when Ameren files its stand-alone change.

Who gets the check

The rebate goes to whoever owns the equipment. ComEd's rider is written for the "owner or operator" of the battery or solar array, and the rebate may be taxable. ComEd's terms say rebates over $600 are reported to the IRS.

On a lease, the leasing company owns the system and claims the rebate. The value reaches you another way: $0 down, battery included, and a predictable payment with your full 25-year rate schedule set in the contract before you sign. If you'd rather have the rebate check land in your own account, that's a fair reason to buy instead, and our lease vs. buy comparison lays out both paths. Every savings number either way is an estimate until we've looked at your actual usage.

What I'd do this fall

If you're a ComEd customer who's been sitting on a solar-plus-battery decision because of the hourly-rate requirement, that objection goes away on October 19. If you want a battery without panels, you can install now, but ComEd won't take the rebate application until January 1, 2027, so plan your cash flow around a check that comes later. Either way, read the virtual power plant terms before you sign.

Want to see what a battery would do for your home and your ComEd bill? Call me at (618) 217-2001 or request a free quote. I'll walk through the rebate, the five-year commitment and the lease and purchase options with your real numbers. You can also start with our savings calculator.

Sources

Frequently Asked Questions

Three things change for homeowners when ComEd's revised Rider DG REBATE takes effect on October 19, 2026. First, the $300 per kWh battery rebate no longer requires you to stay on hourly or time-of-use pricing for the life of the battery. The rider in force today does require that. Second, a battery with no solar attached becomes eligible if it was interconnected after June 1, 2026, and ComEd starts accepting those applications on January 1, 2027. Third, the rule that voided a rebate application if the system wasn't running within 24 months is gone from the new text. What stays: every battery rebate still requires five years in ComEd's Scheduled Dispatch Virtual Power Plant, which can call on your battery from 4 to 6 p.m. on summer weekdays. The rates hold at $300 per kW of solar and $300 per kWh of storage through December 31, 2029.
Yes, starting with applications ComEd accepts on or after January 1, 2027. The revised rider adds a stand-alone storage rebate for a battery that isn't paired with solar, was interconnected to ComEd's grid after June 1, 2026, and charges only from the grid. For a home or small business, it pays $300 per kWh of nameplate capacity through December 31, 2029, then $250 per kWh starting January 1, 2030. On a 13.5 kWh battery that's about $4,050 now, or $3,375 at the 2030 rate. The catch is the same one paired batteries carry: you have to warrant that the battery will take part in ComEd's Scheduled Dispatch Virtual Power Plant, which runs five-year terms. The rebate also caps out at 5 kWh of storage for every 1 kW of power the battery can push, so a 13.5 kWh unit needs at least 2.7 kW of output to collect the full amount.
Not after October 19, 2026. Under the rider in force today, a home with a rebated battery has to take service under a Qualifying Utility Product, meaning ComEd's hourly pricing, its time-of-use supply rate, or time-of-use delivery charges, and stay on one for the life of the battery. ComEd's 2026 rebate terms repeat that requirement. The revised rider filed September 4 drops it from the list of prerequisites. That matches the amended state law, which now says a rebated storage system has the option to join an hourly or time-of-use program rather than an obligation. What you still have to accept is the virtual power plant. ComEd's tariff schedules dispatch from 4 to 6 p.m. Central, Monday through Friday, June through September, and pays $10 per kW each season based on what your battery delivers. Enrollment opens no later than March 1, 2027, and the commitment runs five years.
Not yet, based on what Ameren Illinois has published. Its customer-owned solar page still says that at this time any battery included in a smart inverter rebate application must be charged by an on-site generator using a renewable resource. In practice that means solar panels. The amended state law covers both utilities and pays $300 per kWh for storage whether or not it's paired with generation, so I'd expect Ameren to file its own tariff change. As of October 16, 2026, its rebate page hasn't changed that line. Ameren's paired battery rebate is $300 per kWh for homes, and since June 1, 2026, it has required enrollment in Ameren's Scheduled Dispatch Virtual Power Plant. Ameren's DER Bulletin 2026-04 says that enrollment doesn't change your supply option, so you can stay on standard supply, Power Smart Pricing or another eligible supply option and keep the battery rebate.
Not if you claim the rebate only on the battery. Under ComEd's revised rider, the switch to supply-only net metering is triggered when a generation rebate on the solar array is issued. State law separately lets a customer who had full net metering before 2025 apply for a rebate on a battery behind the same meter, whether or not the solar itself ever took a rebate. Taking $300 per kW on old solar is the move that ends delivery-charge credits for exported power, and it's permanent. ComEd's tariff requires the company to notify you of that change before it pays. A second ComEd change helps older systems too. Starting October 31, 2026, a customer in one of the legacy net metering classes can switch to another legacy class without losing legacy status. If you're weighing a battery on a pre-2025 system, put the storage rebate and your net metering status in writing before anyone files.

Related City Guides

Chicago, ILAurora, ILJoliet, ILRockford, ILElgin, ILSchaumburg, ILEvanston, ILArlington Heights, IL

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What the next IL rate hikes mean for you.What Solar Panels Really Cost in Illinois in 2026 (Honest Numbers, No Lead-Selling)What solar panels actually cost in Illinois in 2026 — real per-watt and per-system numbers, what changed this year, and why we don't sell your info to five callers.Illinois Electric Rates Keep Climbing — Does Solar Finally Make Sense in 2026?Ameren and ComEd rates are up ~90% in five years and still climbing. Here's how to see what you're on track to overpay — and whether solar finally makes sense.Illinois Net Metering Changed in 2025 — What It Costs You and How to Protect Your SavingsIllinois ended full retail net metering on Jan 1, 2025. Here's what the switch to net billing actually costs solar owners — and how to protect your savings.The 30% Solar Tax Credit Ended — Here's How Illinois Homeowners Still Get It in 2026The 30% federal tax credit ended for homeowner-owned systems on Dec 31, 2025. Here's how Illinois homeowners can still capture federal solar value in 2026.How Much Does a Solar Lease Cost Per Month in Illinois? (2026)What does a solar lease actually cost per month in Illinois? Real 2026 numbers, what's included, and how a predictable lease rate compares to a rising utility bill.Ameren vs ComEd 2026: Which Costs More Per kWh? (ComEd Runs ~1.5¢ Higher)ComEd averages ~17¢/kWh, Ameren Illinois ~15.5¢/kWh. See the full 2026 breakdown: supply charges, delivery fees, summer spikes, and how much it costs per month.Ameren Rate Increase 2026: Summer Rate Ends — Oct 1 Price to Compare Is 10.441¢ (ComEd 10.103¢)Updated September 30, 2026: the Ameren rate increase put the summer Price to Compare at 11.326¢/kWh (ComEd 10.399¢) through September 30; from October 1 it is 10.441¢ (ComEd 10.103¢). See the average Illinois electric rate now, why bills jumped June 1, and what changed October 1.The Iran War Is Sending Oil Prices Through the Roof — Will Your Illinois Electric Bill Follow?Oil is at $112/barrel after the Strait of Hormuz blockade. Here's how the Iran conflict could push Illinois electricity rates even higher — and what you can do now.Why Your Ameren Bill Keeps Going Up (and What MISO Has to Do With It)Ameren bills jumped 18-22% in summer 2025 and rose again June 1, 2026. Here's why MISO capacity auctions are driving your rates up and what you can do about it.The Real Cost of Solar Panels in Illinois: 2026 BreakdownWhat do solar panels actually cost in Illinois in 2026? Real numbers for cash purchase, lease, and Solar for All — from an installer who gets prices below the state average.Selling a House With Leased Solar Panels in Illinois (2026 Guide)Selling a house with leased solar panels in Illinois? Here's how the lease transfer works, what buyers actually think, and why it's not the problem most people expect — owned systems too.Solar Lease vs Buying Panels: I Did the Math for IllinoisShould you lease or buy solar panels in Illinois? I broke down the real numbers for both paths using current 2026 prices, incentives, and Ameren/ComEd rates.Data Centers = 70% of Illinois's Rate Spike (Here's What It Costs You)Data centers drove 70% of Illinois's capacity-cost spike in 2026. See the PJM/MISO mechanism, the per-household cost impact, and what to do to protect your bill.ComEd Rate Increase 2026: Oct 1 Supply Drops to 10.103¢, but Delivery Didn'tUpdated Oct 2026: ComEd's 2026 rate increase put the Price to Compare at 10.399¢/kWh through September 30; from October 1 it is 10.103¢/kWh. What changed June 1, what reset October 1, the ICC delivery increases that didn't reset, and your all-in cost per kWh.Illinois Electricity Rates Have Nearly Doubled Since 2021 — Here's What That Means for Your BillIllinois electricity rates have surged 90%+ since 2021. Here's what's driving the increases, what to expect next, and how to protect your household.Illinois Solar Incentives 2026: 7 Programs Worth $12,000-$18,000+Illinois solar incentives 2026: Illinois Shines RECs, the new $20/REC customer-owned adder, $300/kW DG rebate, battery rebate, net metering, and property tax exemption — worth $12,000-$18,000+ on an owned system. Plus no-cost Solar for All for income-eligible households.Solar Battery Backup in Illinois — What It Actually Powers and Whether It's Worth ItWhat does a solar battery actually run during an outage? How much does it cost with the $300/kWh rebate? Here's the honest breakdown for Illinois homeowners.
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