Quick answer
A virtual power plant links thousands of home batteries so the utility can draw on them at summer peaks. To get the Illinois battery rebate of about $300 per kWh, you enroll in ComEd's or Ameren's program, which can discharge your battery on summer weekdays from 4 to 6 p.m. The rest of the year, the battery is yours for backup and savings.
What is a virtual power plant?
A virtual power plant (VPP) is a network of home batteries that a utility can call on together, like one power plant, when demand peaks on hot summer afternoons. Illinois' 2026 energy law created Scheduled Dispatch Virtual Power Plant programs at ComEd and Ameren, and since June 1, 2026 the battery storage rebate is tied to enrolling in them.
When will the utility use my battery?
| Ameren Illinois | ComEd | |
|---|---|---|
| Season | Weekdays, June 1 to September 30 | Summer weekdays, under the same state law |
| Event hours | 4 to 6 p.m. Central | 4 to 6 p.m. under the state default schedule |
| Status | Tariff in effect since July 16, 2026 | Approved June 30, 2026; launch planned for spring 2027 |
Illinois law sets five-year enrollment with weekday dispatch from June through September as the default, and caps any alternate schedule the Illinois Commerce Commission approves at 80 days a year and 2 hours per event for home batteries. Ameren measures your battery's performance at its inverter or with a utility device.
Will I still have backup power if my battery is in a VPP?
Yes, outside event hours, and events are short: two hours on summer weekday afternoons. Outages from storms can still happen during an event, so ask your installer how much charge the system keeps in reserve and how it handles an outage that hits mid-event. Program rules on backup reserves are still being finalized, so get the answer in writing.
What do I get for joining the virtual power plant?
The main payment is the upfront storage rebate: about $300 per kWh of battery capacity, or about $4,050 for one 13.5 kWh battery. Illinois law sets that rate through 2029, and the Citizens Utility Board reports it steps down to $250 per kWh starting in 2030, so installing sooner pays more.
The programs also include a performance payment for what your battery delivers during events. Rates and terms are still being finalized at both utilities, so confirm the current amount with your installer before you count on it.
Does a VPP hurt my battery or warranty?
Summer events add cycles to the battery, but two hours on summer weekdays is a small share of a year. Battery warranties limit total years and, for some brands, total energy throughput or cycles, so ask the installer how VPP events count against your warranty. See Powerwall 3 vs. Enphase vs. FranklinWH for each brand's terms.
What should I ask before enrolling?
- 1
Who enrolls the battery?
Most installers file the rebate and VPP enrollment for you. Confirm it's in the contract.
- 2
How much charge stays in reserve?
Ask what backup you'll have if an outage starts during a summer event.
- 3
What's the performance payment?
Get the current rate and how it's paid.
- 4
What happens if I sell the house?
Ask how the five-year commitment transfers to a buyer.
See the Illinois battery rebate guide for eligibility.
Sources
- Ameren Illinois: Rider SD VPP, Scheduled Dispatch Virtual Power Plant (tariff)
- Ameren Illinois: DER Bulletin 2026-04 (storage rebate and virtual power plant)
- ComEd: Approval to launch its first virtual power plant program for customers in 2027
- Illinois Public Utilities Act, 220 ILCS 5/16-107.6: Distributed generation and storage rebates
- Citizens Utility Board: Upcoming programs from the 2026 energy law (Sept 2026)
- ComEd: Distributed generation and storage rebates
This guide is general information, not tax, legal or financial advice. Incentive programs change, so confirm current terms with your installer, your utility and a tax professional.