ComEd Lighting Incentives for Contractors
ComEd splits its standard lighting incentives into two tracks at $10,000, and if you are quoting Illinois retrofit work, which side of that line you land on decides your schedule. Under $10,000, you can start the job today with no reservation. At $10,000 or more, you must wait for a reservation letter before touching anything, or risk the incentive entirely. Outdoor LED fixtures pay $0.80 per watt reduced on a redesign and $0.70 on a one-for-one replacement, with streetlights at $1.00. Illinois law also requires an ICC-certified installer wherever a measure's incentive reaches $300. This guide is written for the person preparing the quote, not the building owner claiming the rebate. It covers which track applies to your job, what the program actually pays, the rules that quietly reduce incentives after you have already quoted, and how to put a rebate figure in a proposal without promising something ComEd has not approved.
Track 1 or Track 2
ComEd splits standard incentives at $10,000. Projects requesting $10,000 or more are Track 1, requiring a technical review and a reservation letter before work starts. Projects under $10,000 are Track 2 and can start immediately, but must complete within 120 days of equipment purchase, and ComEd reserves the right to cap incentives at $10,000 without pre-approval. Streetlight applications are Track 1 only and cannot be submitted online. Final applications are due within 60 days of project completion or by December 31, 2026, whichever comes first.
What ComEd pays per watt reduced
LED streetlights replacing an HID streetlight pay $1.00 per watt reduced. Outdoor LED fixtures and retrofits pay $0.80 per watt reduced for a lighting redesign and $0.70 per watt reduced for a one-for-one replacement, with redesign claims verified at line-item and project level. Exterior lamps tied to the same account as streetlights pay $0.80 per watt reduced. Fixtures must run at least 520 hours per year to be eligible.
Instant Discounts at the distributor
Valid July 1 through December 31, 2026. DLC listed interior fixtures pay $30 for 0 to 60 watts, $80 for over 60 to 120 watts, $160 for over 120 to 200 watts, $300 for over 200 to 300 watts, and $500 for over 300 to 500 watts. Exterior fixtures pay $37, $100, $200, $350 and $550 across the same bands. Screw-in HID LED mogul base over 100 watts pays $55 per lamp. T8 and T5 TLEDs pay $7 per lamp.
Lighting controls
On the outdoor standard worksheet, occupancy sensors pay $0.20 per watt controlled, photocells $0.08, time clocks $0.06, and a photocell plus time clock $0.20. Only one control can be incentivized per fixture, and replacing existing controls is not eligible. Instant discount sensors at $50 each are not standalone, they must be embedded in a qualifying fixture at the time of manufacture.
Rules that catch contractors out
An installer certified with the Illinois Commerce Commission is required where the incentive per measure is $300 or greater, under Section 16-128B of the Illinois Public Utilities Act. Field-adjustable fixtures are evaluated at the highest nameplate wattage. Type A and Type B linear TLEDs, trim kits and downlights are not eligible for standard incentives. Wall packs are eligible for standard or instant discounts but never both. Refrigerated case luminaires are excluded.
Caps
Per project, the incentive cannot exceed 90 percent of incremental measure cost or 90 percent of total project cost, whichever is less. Per account, up to $2 million per calendar year across Standard, Custom, Industrial Systems, Retro-Commissioning, Strategic Energy Management and Non-residential New Construction combined.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need pre-approval for a ComEd lighting project?
Only for Track 1 projects, meaning incentives of $10,000 or more, plus all streetlight projects.
Does my installer need to be certified for ComEd incentives?
Yes, ICC certification is required where the incentive per measure is $300 or greater, unless the customer self-installs.
How much does ComEd pay per watt reduced for outdoor lighting?
$0.80 per watt reduced for a redesign, $0.70 for a one-for-one replacement, and $1.00 for LED streetlights.
Can I combine ComEd instant discounts with standard incentives?
Not on the same product. Wall packs in particular are one or the other.
Is there a cap on ComEd incentives?
Yes, 90 percent of project or incremental measure cost per project, and $2 million per account per calendar year.