Quick answer
ComEd Hourly Pricing and Ameren Power Smart Pricing charge for electricity supply at hourly market prices instead of a flat rate. They can pay off for solar homes that shift heavy use to cheap overnight hours or own a battery, and enrolling in a time-based rate is generally required for the $300/kWh battery rebate. Prices can spike in heat waves and deep freezes, and savings aren't guaranteed.
How do ComEd Hourly Pricing and Ameren Power Smart Pricing work?
| ComEd Hourly Pricing | Ameren Power Smart Pricing | |
|---|---|---|
| What changes | Supply priced at the hourly market price | Supply priced at hourly day-ahead market prices |
| When prices are known | Posted as hourly prices | Next day's prices posted each evening after 5 p.m. |
| Typical pattern | Lowest overnight; highest on hot summer afternoons | Lower in fall, winter and spring; higher in heat waves and long freezes |
| Requirements | Smart meter | Smart meter; $2.25 monthly participation fee |
| Delivery charges | Unchanged (ComEd also offers a separate Delivery Time-of-Day rate) | Unchanged (Ameren offers a separate EV delivery rate) |
Both are optional, and ComEd or Ameren still delivers your power either way.
How are solar credits handled on hourly pricing?
ComEd says solar customers on Hourly Pricing have credits valued at the hour they were generated, and the Citizens Utility Board's guide to post-2025 net metering says customers on real-time pricing see credits that reflect hourly rates. Other industry guidance describes post-2025 export credits at the monthly Price to Compare. Because the rules for systems connected since 2025 are still being explained inconsistently, confirm with ComEd or Ameren how your exports would be credited before you switch.
Midday solar hours are often moderately priced, while the most expensive hours come on hot summer afternoons and early evenings. That's why a battery, which can cover your home during the evening peak, gets more value from hourly pricing than solar alone.
Who saves with hourly pricing and solar?
- Likely to benefit: you charge an EV overnight, can run laundry and dishwashers late, have a battery, or use little power on summer afternoons.
- Riskier: you run central air hard on hot afternoons, work from home in summer, or can't shift when you use power.
ComEd reports that net metering customers on Hourly Pricing saved about 30% on supply from 2018 to 2023, but that's the utility's own figure and past results don't guarantee future savings. Consumer advocates note hourly pricing works best when you can avoid heavy use during high-price hours.
How do I decide whether to switch?
- 1
Look at a year of hourly usage
Your ComEd or Ameren online account shows when you use power.
- 2
Ask how your exports will be credited
Get the answer for your specific system and connection date.
- 3
Consider the battery rebate
If you're adding storage, a time-based rate is generally required for the ~$300/kWh rebate. See the battery guide.
- 4
Set price alerts
Both programs offer ways to see upcoming prices so you can shift use before spikes.
See also how much ComEd and Ameren pay for excess solar and solar with an EV or heat pump.
Sources
- ComEd Hourly Pricing: Solar customers
- Citizens Utility Board: Net metering after 2025 (fact sheet)
- Ameren Illinois: Power Smart Pricing
- Citizens Utility Board: EV savings with Ameren's Power Smart Pricing
- ComEd: New Delivery Time-of-Day rate (February 2026 announcement)
- Citizens Utility Board: Solar and storage rebates (ComEd and Ameren)
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.