Chicago-based utility Commonwealth Edison (ComEd) has proposed a new rebate program designed to jump-start solar in Illinois by helping reduce the upfront costs of installing solar panels.
Through the proposed program, ComEd would provide a rebate of $1,000/kW of installed solar capacity to residential customers and $500/kW to commercial and industrial customers.
The utility says the solar rebate is part of a larger policy package that includes initiatives aimed at increasing access to, and shared benefits from, solar energy – including equitable pricing policies, access to community solar, and lower up-front costs for consumers desiring to install solar devices. The solar policy package will require approval from the Illinois General Assembly or Illinois regulators.
“We are proud to announce this innovative solar rebate proposal, which would help reduce barriers to solar ownership even as we work to adjust net-metering policies to ensure that some customers don’t have to pay more for the choices of other customers,” says Fidel Marquez, ComEd’s senior vice president of government and external affairs. “We are committed to the communities we serve, and this is a pioneering part of a smart solar policy that will benefit our customers and the environment for years to come.”
