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Net Metering &
Smart Solar Billing

An important change is coming to new Illinois solar customers: Beginning January 1, 2025, Illinois is transitioning its Net Metering program to “Smart Solar Billing.”

Existing customers — or new customers whose system has filed a Certificate of Completion application, and, in the Ameren service territory, a Witness Test request application, and a Net Metering application before 5 p.m. CST on December 31, 2024 — will qualify for Full Retail Net Metering. Other new customers will automatically be enrolled in Smart Solar Billing.

It is critical to notify all customers of this change regardless of whether they have a system currently installed, if they have yet to apply for interconnection, or if they are just beginning their journey into solar.
 
We have created a toolkit to help you and your team understand the changes. The toolkit also includes materials for you to share with current and new customers to notify them of the transition.

ABOUT
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What you
Need to Know

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Illinois Sunsetting  Net Metering

Illinois is sunsetting its Full Retail Net Metering program, which means new customers will automatically be enrolled in Smart Solar Billing. Smart Solar Billing is the new billing practice that Illinois will deploy as of January 1, 2025, and it is the successor to the current Net Metering structure. Customers on Smart Solar Billing can still access financial incentives through currently available one-time rebates and experience lower monthly electric bills.

KNOW

What to
Communicate to Customers

While the change does not impact legacy customers, it is recommended to still notify existing customers of this change and assure them their billing structure will not change.

Here is what we recommend communicating to new customers:

 

  • In order to receive the current Net Metering benefits, the solar installer must submit a Certificate of Completion application and a Witness Test Request application (for Ameren Illinois customers only) as well as a Net Metering application to the customer’s utility by 5 p.m. Central Time on December 31, 2024.

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  • Any customers who would like to take advantage of the sunsetting Net Metering program in Illinois should act as quickly as possible to install a system. However, it is important to stress that, due to record levels of homeowners installing solar, permitting processes, and other potential delays, it is possible a customer’s installation may not meet the December 31 deadline. In that case, the customer will automatically be enrolled in Smart Solar Billing.

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  • Even if the submission deadline is met, Ameren and ComEd still reserve the right to reject a submission for projects the utility deems incomplete or for submissions that are determined to have missing or inaccurate information.

 

  • Depending on the customer’s location, utility, local regulations and codes, and the size of the installation, the permitting process could take considerable time to complete, and this process is outside of your control.

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  • Customers on Smart Solar Billing can still access one-time use, upfront rebates that currently exist, such as the “Distributed Generation (DG) Rebate,” (also called the “Smart Inverter Rebate”), and the “Storage Rebate.”

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  • The DG Rebate – also known as the Smart Inverter Rebate – provides solar customers with a one-time upfront rebate of $300 per kilowatt of generating capacity. For example, if a customer installs a 10-kilowatt system, then the customer will receive a $3,000 rebate.

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  • The Storage Rebate functions similarly to the DG Rebate, but for battery storage. Solar customers who also install battery storage will receive an additional one-time upfront rebate of $300 per kilowatt hour of storage to help reduce the cost of battery storage and provide more energy resilience to homeowners.

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  • The upfront financial rebates can be combined with existing federal and state incentives to reduce the overall cost of installing a solar panel system.

CUSTOMERS

Act Now!
How to Meet the Net Metering Deadline

The deadline to be on Full Retail Net Metering is 5:00 PM Central Time on December 31, 2024. In order for a customer to meet this deadline, the installer will need to submit to the customer’s utility a Certificate of Completion application, a Witness Test Request application (for Ameren Illinois customers only), a Net Metering application, and supporting documentation before the deadline. It is not necessary to receive utility approval prior to the deadline. The materials must only be submitted by the deadline.

As the installer, it will be your responsibility to lead the process on behalf of the customer to gather and submit the required forms and information. Below, please find an outline of what information must be submitted to ComEd and Ameren Illinois customers.

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ComEd Customers

  • Application for Net Metering
     

  • Certificate of Completion application, which includes the below:
     

    • A close up photo clearly showing the nameplate with the model and serial number of the inverter
       

    • Signed and approved inspection form (if required by the local authority). If no inspection form is required by the local authority, then an itemized invoice or receipt including the inverter model/serial number and address of installation is required
       

    • If microinverters are installed, then include a single file listing all of the serial numbers
       

    • If a storage system is installed, then include a photo of the battery nameplate

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The above materials can be submitted in ComEd’s interconnection portal under the Application section.

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Ameren Customers

  • Application for Net Metering
     

  • Witness Test Request application

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  • Certificate of Completion application, which includes the below:
     

    • Photos of the required signage and placarding
       

    • Proof of insurance
       

    • Installer certification
       

    • Signed and approved inspection from the local authority having jurisdiction (where applicable)

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The Construction Complete form can be found in the PowerClerk interconnection portal.

What is Changing
with the Transition to Smart Solar Billing?

There are several noteworthy differences in Smart Solar Billing:

 

  • Credits will apply to a different portion of a customer’s power bill. Credits will now only apply to the supply portion of a power bill – rather than the entire bill (supply, delivery, taxes, etc.).

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  • Smart Solar Billing uses a new Dynamic Supply Pricing. The export value will now be based on time-of-use, a more accurate valuation based on the price of energy at specific times of day.

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  • Customers on Smart Solar Billing can still access one-time use, upfront rebates that currently exist, such as the “Distributed Generation (DG) Rebate,” (also called the “Smart Inverter Rebate”), and the “Storage Rebate.”

 

  • The DG Rebate – also known as the Smart Inverter Rebate – provides solar customers with a one-time upfront rebate of $300 per kilowatt of generating capacity. For example, if a customer installs a 10-kilowatt system, then the customer will receive a $3,000 rebate.

​

  • The Storage Rebate functions similarly to the DG Rebate, but for battery storage. Solar customers who also install battery storage will receive an additional one-time upfront rebate of $300 per kilowatt hour of storage to help reduce the cost of battery storage and provide more energy resilience to homeowners.

ACT NOW
FAQ

FAQ
Frequently Asked Questions

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CHANGES

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t is Certificate of Completion?

 

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