Solar Incentives
Net Metering in Illinois
How ComEd and Ameren credit the solar energy you send back to the grid — and how it shapes the right system for your home.
What Is Net Metering?
Your solar system produces the most power midday, often more than your home is using. That extra energy flows back to the grid through a bi-directional meter, and your utility credits your account. At night or on cloudy days, you draw from the grid and use those credits.
Illinois Net Metering Since January 1, 2025
Solar customers who interconnect on or after January 1, 2025 receive supply-only net metering: excess energy sent to the grid earns credits against the supply portion of the bill.
- Credits offset supply (and, where applicable, transmission) charges — not delivery charges or taxes and fees.
- You can choose credits in kWh or dollars, and for customers interconnected on or after January 1, 2025 the credits roll forward and do not expire annually.
- Customers who interconnected by December 31, 2024 keep full retail-rate net metering for the life of the system (up to 30 years) unless they take the generation DG rebate.
- Because exported energy is worth less than before, batteries and right-sized systems that use more of their own solar matter more for new installs.
Legacy Customers: Full Retail Net Metering
Homeowners who interconnected on or before December 31, 2024 keep full retail-rate net metering — credits against supply and delivery — for the life of the system, up to 30 years, as long as they don't take the generation portion of the DG rebate.
What This Means for Your System
Because exported energy is now credited at supply value, every kilowatt-hour you use directly in your home is worth more than one you export. That changes how we design:
- We size systems to your real usage rather than maximizing export
- We model batteries to shift solar into evening hours
- We account for future loads like EVs and heat pumps
- We show your savings using current rules — not pre-2025 assumptions
Municipal Utilities and Co-ops
Municipal electric utilities (such as Naperville, St. Charles, or Springfield's CWLP) and rural electric cooperatives set their own net metering and interconnection policies. We confirm your provider's current rules before finalizing your design.
FAQ
Common Questions
Do Illinois net metering credits expire?
For ComEd and Ameren customers interconnected on or after January 1, 2025, credits roll forward and do not expire at the end of an annual period.
Will I still have an electric bill with solar?
Usually a small one. Net metering credits offset supply charges, but delivery charges, customer charges, and taxes still apply.
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