If you’ve been watching your ComEd bill climb and you’re finally looking at solar, here’s something worth knowing: there’s a check waiting for you.
It’s called the ComEd DG Rebate (Distributed Generation), and for residential and small commercial systems, it pays $300 for every kilowatt of solar installed.
For most households in northern Illinois, that amounts to between $2,500 and $3,500, sent directly by ComEd after your system goes live.
This article covers how the rebate works in 2026, who qualifies, and what the application process actually looks like.
Note: If you installed solar before December 1, 2024 the details are a little different for you – start here.
What Is the ComEd DG Rebate?
The DG Rebate is a one-time payment from ComEd to residential and commercial customers who install solar. ‘DG’ stands for Distributed Generation, which is ComEd’s term for solar systems that generate power at the customer level, rather than from a central utility plant.
The rebate exists because net metering changed in 2025. Under the updated rules, homeowners receive credit only for the supply portion of their bill, not the delivery charges and taxes.
The DG Rebate is ComEd’s way of helping offset the delivery charges upfront.
The program is active and well-funded. At this point, there’s no indication it’s going away anytime soon.
How Much Do You Get with the DG Rebate?
The rebate rate depends on your system size. Here’s how it breaks down.
Residential and Small Commercial (100 kW or less)
The rate is $300 per kW of DC system size.
The math is straightforward: take the number of panels in your system, multiply by the wattage of each panel, and divide by 1,000.
That gives you your system size in kilowatts. Multiply that by $300, and you have your rebate amount.
For example: 400W panel x 25 panels = 10,000W
10,000W ÷ 1,000 = 10kW
A 10 kW system (the average size for an Iconic Energy residential install) results in a $3,000 rebate.
Commercial and Industrial (over 100 kW)
For larger commercial and industrial systems, the rate is $250 per kW of DC system size. The same formula applies: system size in kW multiplied by $250.
Either way, that’s a real check. Not a credit, not a discount applied at install. ComEd sends it directly to you.
Who Qualifies for ComEd’s Solar Rebate?
For homeowners and businesses going solar in 2026, taking the rebate is a straightforward decision.
To qualify, your system must utilize a smart inverter configured specifically to ComEd’s technical requirements. Since Iconic Energy only installs qualifying equipment and handles the setup for you, this step is automatically covered as part of your installation.
How Do I Claim the DG Rebate?
This is the part many homeowners don’t expect: you don’t have to do much.
At Iconic Energy, the application is built into the installation contract. When you sign, there’s one spot where you authorize us to submit the DG Rebate application on your behalf. That’s it on your end.
Kelli, our application manager, has been handling this process for close to four years. She submits your application within a week or so of your system going live, right after ComEd completes their inspection and the system is active. From there, expect a check in your mailbox within roughly 90 days.
Kelli has submitted a couple of hundred of these applications. Every single customer has received their rebate.
Part of what makes that track record possible is the working relationship she’s built directly with the ComEd DG rebate team. When a question comes up or something needs sorting out, she knows who to call. That matters more than most people realize, and it’s not something every solar company can say.
Why It Matters for Your Solar Investment
For homeowners who finance their system, the rebate check can go directly toward the loan balance. That accelerates your payoff and shortens the timeline to full ownership.
However, the DG Rebate doesn’t stand alone. It’s one piece of a bigger incentive picture available to Illinois homeowners.
Going solar in 2026 also makes you eligible for Illinois SRECs (Solar Renewable Energy Credits) through the Illinois Shines Adjustable Block Program.
SRECs pay you for the clean energy your system produces over time. It’s a separate, ongoing income stream on top of the DG Rebate check.
The two stack together, and together they can cover a meaningful portion of your total system cost, and that’s before you factor in any reduction in your monthly electric bill.
These aren’t projections. They’re programs that have already paid out for hundreds of homeowners in our area.
Common Questions About the ComEd DG Rebate
How long does the ComEd DG Rebate take?
About 90 days from the time your system goes live and Kelli submits the application. Timing can vary slightly depending on ComEd’s volume, but that’s a reliable estimate.
Do I have to apply myself?
No. Iconic handles the entire application as part of the installation process. You sign one authorization in your contract, and we take it from there.
Is the program running out of funding?
Not based on anything Kelli’s contacts at ComEd have indicated. The program is active and funded. If that changes, her team hears about it ahead of time, and so will our customers.
Does taking the DG Rebate affect my net metering?
For homeowners going solar in 2026, no ; there’s nothing to lose. For homeowners who installed before December 1, 2024, the answer is more involved. Read this first.
More Questions?
If you have more questions about the DG Rebate or want to know what going solar would actually look like for your home, give us a call or request a free quote. No pressure. Just answers.