ComEd Trade Ally Partner

ComEd & Illinois Energy Savings:
What's Still Available in 2026

Federal residential solar tax credits expired December 31, 2025. But Illinois ComEd rebates, the Illinois Shines SREC program, and the property tax exemption are fully intact. Here's what you can still claim, and how SPM handles it for you.

Last updated: August 2026

ComEd Rebates for Heat Pumps, AC, Solar & Battery Storage: The Numbers

Up to $1,500+

ComEd Heat Pump Rebate

Per qualifying air-source heat pump. Income-qualified customers may be eligible for enhanced rebates.

Up to $75

ComEd AC / Smart Thermostat Rebate

For an ENERGY STAR smart thermostat installed with a qualifying central AC or heat pump.

$300 / kW

ComEd Distributed Generation Rebate (Solar)

A separate ComEd cash rebate for installing solar with a qualifying smart inverter, on top of Illinois Shines SREC payments.

$300 / kWh

ComEd Battery Storage Rebate

Paid on installed battery storage capacity. Requires staying enrolled in a qualifying ComEd rate plan for the life of the battery.

~$60-75 / REC

Illinois Solar SREC Payment

Ongoing Illinois Shines payments per 1,000 kWh produced. Not a ComEd rebate, but the other real solar payment.

All Illinois Energy Incentives at a Glance

ProgramValueWho QualifiesSource
ComEd Heat Pump RebateUp to $1,500+ComEd residential customers installing a qualifying air-source heat pumpComEd Energy Efficiency Program
ComEd Smart Thermostat / AC RebateUp to $75ComEd customers installing an ENERGY STAR smart thermostat with AC or a heat pumpComEd Energy Efficiency Program
ComEd Distributed Generation Rebate (Solar)$300 per kW installedComEd residential/small-commercial customers with a qualifying smart inverterIllinois Shines / ComEd
ComEd Distributed Generation Rebate (Battery Storage)$300 per kWh installedComEd customers who enroll in a qualifying rate plan (typically real-time pricing)Illinois Shines / ComEd
Illinois Shines (SREC)~$60-75 per REC, ongoingAny Illinois solar owner, paid per 1,000 kWh producedIllinois Power Agency
IL Property Tax Exemption20 yearsIllinois homeowners who install solarIllinois solar property tax exemption
Commercial ITC (Section 48E)Up to 30%+Businesses, farms, and nonprofits placing systems in service by 12/31/2027IRS Section 48E

Federal Tax Credits Changed in 2025

The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (signed July 4, 2025) eliminated both the 30% residential solar credit (Section 25D) and the Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit for heat pumps and windows (Section 25C), effective December 31, 2025. ComEd rebates and Illinois state incentives are not affected.

What Is the ComEd Heat Pump Rebate?

ComEd's air-source heat pump rebate pays up to $1,500 or more per systemfor a qualifying high-efficiency heat pump installed by a ComEd Trade Ally like SPM. The exact amount depends on the equipment's efficiency, and income-qualified customers may be eligible for enhanced rebates.

Paid as an instant rebate

Most ComEd heat pump rebates are applied as an instant discount at the point of installation, not a mail-in check. SPM handles the paperwork and applies it for you.

One system, two jobs

A qualifying heat pump replaces both your furnace and your central air conditioner, so the rebate offsets a heating and cooling replacement at once.

Income-qualified households get more

Income-qualified customers may be eligible for enhanced rebates on a qualifying heat pump. SPM checks your eligibility during the free estimate.

How Much Do ComEd AC Rebates Pay?

ComEd does not offer a standalone rebate for a conventional central air conditioner. It pays up to $75 for a qualifying ENERGY STAR smart thermostat installed alongside your AC or heat pump. If you replace an aging AC with a heat pump that heats and cools in one system, that upgrade captures the larger up to $1,500 or more heat pump rebate instead of a separate AC-only incentive.

Smart thermostat rebate: up to $75

Available on select ENERGY STAR certified smart thermostats when installed on a compatible central AC, heat pump, or electric heating system.

No hardware rebate for AC alone

A straight AC-for-AC swap does not qualify for a ComEd equipment rebate on its own. The rebate money is in the thermostat, or in upgrading to a heat pump.

The bigger move: AC to heat pump

Replacing an old AC and furnace with one heat pump system is usually the better financial move, since it captures the full heat pump rebate rather than no rebate at all.

Does ComEd Offer a Furnace Rebate?

ComEd does not offer a rebate for a standalone gas furnace. ComEd is an electric-only utility, so its Energy Efficiency Program rebates cover electric equipment: up to $75 for a qualifying smart thermostat installed with your furnace, or up to $1,500 or more if you replace your furnace and AC together with one electric heat pump.

No hardware rebate for a gas furnace

ComEd is an electric-only utility (natural gas comes from Nicor Gas, Peoples Gas, or North Shore Gas depending on location), so it does not pay a rebate on furnace equipment itself.

Smart thermostat rebate: up to $75

A qualifying ENERGY STAR smart thermostat installed alongside your furnace and AC can still capture the ComEd thermostat rebate.

The bigger move: furnace + AC to heat pump

Replacing an aging furnace and AC with one electric heat pump system captures the full up to $1,500 or more ComEd heat pump rebate instead of no rebate at all.

What's Still Available

Ongoing payments

Illinois Shines (SREC)

Earn Solar Renewable Energy Credits for every kWh your solar system produces

20 years

IL Property Tax Exemption

Own your system with cash or a loan and Illinois exempts the added home value from property tax increases for 20 years

Up to 30%+

Commercial ITC (Section 48E)

Still active for commercial solar. New projects must be placed in service by December 31, 2027 to claim the credit.

$0 down savings

Solar Leases & PPAs

Lease providers claim the commercial ITC and pass savings to you through lower monthly payments. Standalone battery storage is also available on a lease or PPA.

Commercial Solar Deadline: In Service by December 31, 2027

Commercial projects (businesses, farms, nonprofits) that start now must be placed in service by December 31, 2027 to claim the Section 48E commercial ITC, which covers up to 30% of system cost with additional bonuses for domestic content and energy communities. Projects that already began construction on or before July 4, 2026 have until December 31, 2030.

Learn about commercial solar

What Is the ComEd Solar Rebate?

ComEd pays a direct Distributed Generation (DG) rebate of $300 per kW of installed solar capacity for residential and small-commercial systems with a qualifying smart inverter. That is separate from, and stacks with, Illinois Shines, the statewide SREC program, which currently pays roughly $60 to $75 per REC(1,000 kWh produced) in ongoing payments through the Adjustable Block Program. ComEd's Energy Efficiency rebates cover paired equipment on top of that, like a qualifying heat pump (up to $1,500 or more).

The ComEd cash rebate: $300/kW

ComEd's Distributed Generation rebate pays $300 for every kW of solar capacity you install, one time, if your system uses an Illinois-approved smart inverter. New ComEd systems already receive supply-only net metering credits regardless of this rebate, so for most 2026 installs there is no net-metering tradeoff to weigh. The only exception is a pre-2025 system with grandfathered full-retail net metering, where taking the rebate would give that up, so SPM flags that case specifically.

The ongoing payment: Illinois Shines (SREC)

Solar owners separately earn Solar Renewable Energy Credits for every kWh their system produces, paid out through the state Adjustable Block Program. This is the incentive most people mean when they search "ComEd solar rebate."

The 20-year property tax exemption

Illinois exempts the added home value from solar from property tax increases for 20 years, so a bigger, more valuable home does not mean a bigger tax bill.

Want the actual dollars? Our Illinois solar incentives & payback breakdown walks through a real sample system cost, monthly savings, and payback period for a typical Illinois home. Not every solar company in Illinois works with both ComEd and Ameren, so confirm your installer covers your specific utility before you sign.

Does ComEd Offer a Battery Storage Rebate?

Yes. ComEd pays a Distributed Generation rebate of $300 per kWh of installed battery storage capacity for residential and small-commercial customers, on top of any solar rebate for a paired system. To take the battery rebate, the account must enroll in a qualifying ComEd rate plan, most commonly real-time (hourly) pricing, and stay on it for the life of the battery.

Rebate amount: $300/kWh

Paid on the nameplate capacity of the battery, one time, after the system passes inspection and is granted permission to operate.

A qualifying rate plan is required

Storage-rebate accounts must stay on a ComEd-approved qualifying rate plan for the life of the battery. Real-time (hourly) pricing is the most common way to satisfy this. SPM confirms your account is set up correctly against ComEd's current terms before you apply.

Stacks with the solar rebate

A solar-plus-battery system can claim both the $300/kW solar DG rebate and the $300/kWh storage rebate at the same time.

How It Works

We Handle Every Rebate For You

01
1

We Audit Your Home

We review your utility bills and assess your home to identify every upgrade that qualifies for a ComEd rebate: heating, cooling, appliances, and more.

02
2

We Handle the Paperwork

As a ComEd Residential Trade Ally, SPM submits all rebate applications on your behalf. You don't fill out a single form.

03
3

Rebates Reduce Your Cost

ComEd rebates can be applied as an instant discount off your invoice or issued as a check. We track the status and follow up until you're paid.

Common Questions

Is there a ComEd rebate for solar panels?

Yes. ComEd pays a Distributed Generation rebate of $300 per kW of installed solar capacity for qualifying residential and small-commercial systems. Separately, Illinois Shines (the statewide SREC program) pays you ongoing for the electricity your system produces, and ComEd rebates also apply to qualifying paired equipment like a heat pump (up to $1,500 or more). SPM sets all of it up for you.

Does ComEd offer a rebate for home battery storage?

Yes. ComEd pays $300 per kWh of installed battery storage capacity for qualifying residential and small-commercial systems. To claim it, the account must enroll in and stay on a qualifying ComEd rate plan for the life of the battery, most commonly real-time (hourly) pricing. It stacks with the $300/kW solar rebate on a paired solar-plus-battery system. SPM confirms your account's current eligibility and files the paperwork for you.

How much are ComEd rebates worth in Illinois?

ComEd rebates range from up to $1,500 or more for a qualifying heat pump, to $300 per kW for solar and $300 per kWh for battery storage under the Distributed Generation rebate. As a ComEd Trade Ally partner, SPM confirms your exact eligibility and submits the paperwork for you.

Do I need to be a ComEd customer to qualify for rebates?

Yes. ComEd Energy Efficiency rebates are available to ComEd residential customers in Northern Illinois. If you receive a ComEd bill, you likely qualify.

What's the maximum ComEd heat pump rebate amount?

Up to $1,500 or more for a qualifying air-source heat pump installed by a ComEd Trade Ally like SPM. Income-qualified customers may be eligible for enhanced rebates. SPM confirms your exact eligibility during your free estimate.

Does ComEd offer a rebate for a new air conditioner?

Not for a standalone central air conditioner. ComEd pays up to $75 for a qualifying ENERGY STAR smart thermostat installed with your AC or heat pump. If you replace an aging AC with a heat pump that both heats and cools, that upgrade can qualify for the larger up to $1,500 or more heat pump rebate instead of a separate AC-only incentive.

Does ComEd offer a rebate for a new furnace?

No. ComEd is an electric-only utility, so it does not pay a hardware rebate for a standalone gas furnace. You can still capture the up to $75 ComEd smart thermostat rebate when it is installed with your furnace, or the larger up to $1,500 or more heat pump rebate if you replace your furnace and AC together with one electric heat pump.

Do I need a permit to install a heat pump or AC in Illinois?

Most Illinois municipalities require an electrical or mechanical permit for a heat pump or central AC replacement. SPM pulls and manages every required permit as part of your installation, so you don't have to.

Is there still a federal tax credit for residential solar in 2026?

No. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act (signed July 4, 2025) eliminated Section 25D, the 30% residential solar tax credit, effective December 31, 2025. Homeowners who buy solar with cash or a loan in 2026 receive no federal tax credit.

What about solar leases? Does the ITC still apply?

Yes. When you lease solar or sign a PPA, a third-party company owns the panels and claims the commercial ITC (Section 48/48E). They pass those savings to you through lower monthly payments. This makes leases more competitive relative to cash purchases in 2026.

What Illinois incentives are still available for solar?

Illinois Shines (the SREC program) still pays solar owners for the electricity their systems produce. The Illinois property tax exemption for solar remains in effect for 20 years. ComEd rebates for qualifying equipment are also fully active.

Illinois Solar & Energy Incentive Resources

Independent programs and databases that explain the incentives above:

Find Out What You Qualify For

In a free 2-minute estimate, we'll identify every ComEd rebate and current Illinois incentive your home qualifies for. No commitment required.