Starting next year, some new Illinois rooftop solar owners will see lower savings on their electric bills than those who got their solar panels earlier.
The long-expected change — required under the state’s 2021 climate law — essentially trims a generous introductory offer, but ComEd and the nonprofit consumer watchdog Citizens Utility Board say that residential rooftop solar will remain a very good deal for customers.
“You can still save an awful lot of money on your electricity bill by deploying solar,” said Scott Vogt, ComEd vice president of strategy and energy policy.
Residential rooftop solar owners in Illinois currently get the electricity they produce and use immediately for free — in the sense that there’s no charge from investor-owned utilities ComEd and Ameren — and that won’t be changing Jan. 1.
What will change — for new rooftop solar owners only — is that they will get smaller bill credits for the excess solar they produce and export to the the grid.
People who already get the current, more generous bill credits, will continue to do so.