Illinois
Illinois solar in 2026: what the end of net metering means for your bill
ComEd and Ameren have moved past full retail net metering. Here’s the honest picture for Illinois homeowners in 2026 — and what still makes solar pay.
What changed in Illinois
For years, Illinois offered full retail net metering: every kilowatt-hour of solar you sent to the grid was credited at the same rate you pay to buy power, delivery charges included. As the state’s major utilities — ComEd in northern Illinois and Ameren in central and southern Illinois — reached the participation caps set under state law, they moved new solar customers off full retail net metering and onto net billing.
Under net billing, the energy you export is credited at a lower value — roughly the utility’s supply portion of the rate rather than the full retail rate that also includes delivery. In plain terms: a kilowatt-hour you export back to the grid is now worth less than one you use in your own home.
Illinois Shines still rewards going solar
The shift doesn’t mean the incentives disappeared. Illinois Shines — the state’s Adjustable Block Program — still pays homeowners for the clean energy their system is expected to produce, through renewable energy credits purchased by the program. It remains one of the more meaningful state solar incentives in the country, and it’s a big part of why solar still pencils out in Illinois in 2026.
Why a battery matters more now
When exports are worth less than the power you buy, the most valuable kilowatt-hour becomes one you use yourself rather than send back. A battery lets you store your midday solar production and draw on it in the evening — keeping more of your own clean power instead of exporting it at the lower net-billing value. It also gives you backup when the grid goes down.
A solar-only system in Illinois still works and still earns Illinois Shines, but pairing solar with storage is increasingly how homeowners capture the most value under net billing.
ComEd vs. Ameren: your utility shapes the math
The details differ by utility. ComEd serves the Chicago area and much of northern Illinois; Ameren serves central and southern Illinois. Their rates, delivery charges, and program specifics aren’t identical, and those differences change how a system should be sized and whether storage makes sense for you.
As always, the honest first step is confirming your utility and your actual usage — then designing to it, rather than to a statewide headline.
Frequently asked questions
Did Illinois end net metering?
Illinois’ major utilities, ComEd and Ameren, moved new solar customers off full retail net metering and onto net billing as they reached the caps set under state law. Exported solar is now credited at a lower value than the full retail rate.
Is solar still worth it in Illinois in 2026?
For many homes, yes. Illinois Shines still pays for the clean energy your system produces, electricity rates keep rising, and using more of your own power — often with a battery — keeps solar worthwhile even under net billing. It depends on your utility and usage.
Do I need a battery to go solar in Illinois now?
Not required, but increasingly valuable. Because exported energy is credited at a lower rate under net billing, storing your production and using it yourself captures more value — and adds backup during outages.
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