Illinois

IL

SB 3104 / HB 4371 / HB 4516 — Plug-In Solar Device Access Act

Deferred
Current Status
Last verified: April 2026

Legislative Status

Deferred — May 2026. Sponsors ended their push after the IBEW (electrical workers union) filed opposition and a last-minute amendment would have banned all plug-in solar until the National Electrical Code is updated (not scheduled until late 2028). Sponsors plan to reintroduce in a future session.

Sponsored by: Sen. Laura Fine (SB 3104)

Legislation Progress

Deferred

Session Deadline

Year-round (no fixed adjournment)

Session has adjourned

Expected Timeline

Sponsors plan to reintroduce in the 2027 session. Illinois typically takes more than one legislative session to pass major energy bills.

Illinois Solar Data

Avg. Electricity Rate15.6¢/kWh
TOU Peak Spread
7¢/kWh
Est. Annual Savings
~$200/yr
Last UpdatedApril 2026
Calculate IL Savings
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Key Provisions

Would have exempted certified plug-in solar devices from utility interconnection requirements. Would have prohibited utilities from charging extra fees. Would have allowed self-installation without permits.

What This Means for You

What You Can Do

If passed: self-install certified systems without ComEd or Ameren approval.

Current Limitations

Law not yet enacted. Illinois utilities currently require interconnection agreements for any grid-tied system.

Official Bill Reference

Deferred — Bill died May 2026. Sponsors plan to reintroduce next session.
View Full Bill Text — SB 3104 / HB 4371 / HB 4516

Opens official state legislature website in a new tab.

Illinois State Overview

Key data on solar potential, demographics, utilities, and incentives.

Solar Resource
Peak Sun Hours4.84 hrs/day
Optimal Tilt35°
Best FacingDue South (180°)
Est. Annual Output (800W)1,122 kWh/yr
Best MonthsJune–September

Illinois has a continental climate with many extremes impacting solar energy. Cloud cover is a significant factor, and diffuse radiation is a higher proportion in winter due to longer path length.

Major Utilities
Commonwealth Edison (ComEd)
~3.7 million customers
Net metering
Ameren Illinois
~1.2 million customers
Net metering
MidAmerican Energy
~unknown customers
Net metering
Corn Belt Energy Corporation
~37000 customers
Net metering
Prairie Power, Inc.
~78000 customers
Net metering

Population
12,549,689
Total Households
5,036,449
Owner-Occupied
3,380,480
Renter-Occupied
1,655,969
Single-Family Homes
3,000,000
Apartment Units (5+)
559,698
Median Income
$76,730
Median Home Value
$230,900

33% of Illinois households are renter-occupied — approximately 1,655,969 households that could benefit from plug-in solar without owning their home.

Illinois Shines (SREC program) provides incentive payments for solar generation through Approved Vendors. Illinois property tax exemption excludes solar system value from property tax. ComEd offers distributed generation rebates at $300/kW (note: SB 3104 explicitly states plug-in solar does not qualify for DG rebates). The federal 30% ITC (Section 25D) expired December 31, 2025.

Illinois has a fully deregulated electricity market. You may be able to get plug-in solar bundled with your electricity plan through a Retail Energy Provider (REP) — potentially at lower cost than buying hardware outright.

Learn about REP partner offers →

News Coverage

Media coverage of plug-in solar developments in Illinois.

Balcony solar bill dies in Illinois after union voices opposition

Canary MediaMay 8, 2026

Balcony solar bills in New Hampshire, Vermont, New Jersey, and Illinois look on track to pass

Canary MediaFebruary 2026