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Net Metering

Upcoming Changes in 2025 

Under the state's Climate and Equitable Jobs Act, net metering benefits for new renewable energy customers will change effective January 1, 2025. The primary change is new net metering customers will receive only supply and transmission service credits for excess generation pushed to the grid. This change will still allow new net metering customers to receive reduced bills from Ameren due to their generator's output replacing the electricity they would have otherwise pulled from Ameren's system.

However, there's still time for customers to receive the current net metering benefits. Residential and small non-residential customers who have generation installed and all documentation submitted to Ameren Illinois by 5 p.m. on December 31, 2024 will receive full netting for the 30-year life of their generator.

Customers with renewable generation like solar panels on their homes or businesses receive credits for the electricity that they generate. In addition to reducing the amount of electricity delivered to the customer during a billing period, net metering allows Ameren Illinois customers who have installed solar panels at their premises to receive credit for any excess power that they generate and send back to the grid. This is known as "net metering."

For current solar customers with net metering, nothing will change. Their benefits are locked in for the life of their equipment. They will continue to receive credits on their bill for any excess power pushed back to the grid, assuming they don't receive a rebate for the smart inverter connected to their generation. Note: The only other way existing customers could see changes to their net metering benefits is if they significantly increase the size of their system.

Beginning January 1, 2025, under Illinois law, residential and small non-residential customers who complete installation of solar at their premises on or after this date will still receive net metering benefits, but credits for any excess generation pushed to the grid will only be applied to the supply and transmission portions of their bill rather than the total bill.

Yes. The new net metering structure does not take effect until January 1, 2025. Ameren Illinois guarantees customers who complete construction and provide the required documentation to us by 5 p.m. on December 31, 2024, will receive the full net metering benefits if the installation passes the Ameren Illinois witness test. If Ameren Illinois is notified after 5 p.m. on December 31, 2024, customers will not qualify for the full net metering benefits.
Yes. Any premises receiving full netting will retain full netting even if the property is sold or if the customer changes electric suppliers, and any built-up credits will be passed on to successor customers at that location.
Customers installing solar at their premises after December 31, 2024, will still reduce the amount of electricity delivered to their property, which will lower their overall electric bill. In addition to those savings, these customers will also receive net metering benefits for their excess solar generation that can reduce future electric bills. However, they will only receive excess generation credits on the supply and transmission portions of their bill.
It is a requirement under Illinois law. As an added incentive to encourage more customers to shift to solar energy, the Illinois legislature and Governor passed a law in 2021 that made changes to the benefits these customers receive. This law allows customers to receive excess generation credits on their bill for both supply and delivery. However, this incentive has an expiration date of December 31, 2024, set forth in the law. Customers who add solar to their premises after this date will still receive net metering benefits, but for any excess generation pushed to the grid, they will be allowed to bank credits that apply only to their supply and transmission service charges.

Net Metering Application

Mail your application to:

Ameren Illinois Net Metering Coordinator
10 Richard Mark Way - Mail Code 910
Collinsville, IL 62234 

Download Application

How to Qualify

  • To qualify, residential and non-residential customers must own or operate a renewable fuel-powered generator of 2,000 kW capacity or less, which is located on the customers’ premises and is used to offset some or all of their electric usage.
  • Eligible renewable fuels are solar, wind, dedicated crops grown for electricity production, anaerobic digestion of livestock or food processing waste, fuel cells or microturbines powered by renewable fuels, hydroelectricity, agricultural residues, livestock manure, landscape trimmings and untreated and unadulterated wood wastes.
  • Customers using renewably-fueled generators with nameplate capacities larger than 2,000 kva may qualify to receive compensation through Rider QF-Qualifying Facilities.

Understanding Your Bill

 

Charges or Fees

For customers under Delivery Service tariffs DS-1 or DS-2 who require no physical alterations to connect to the Ameren Illinois system, there are no upfront charges for metering or connection. Monthly tariff charges do apply to all net electric usage in excess of the amount of electricity generated.

  • All non-residential customers served under Delivery Service tariffs DS-3 or DS-4 pay the normal charges associated with installing the extraordinary equipment needed to provide dual channel metering.
  • All applicants are subject to any applicable parallel generator interconnection fees.     
  • In addition, all installations after Dec. 31, 2013, will be required to be self-installed or installed by a certified installer according to Part 468 Distributed Generation Installer Certification of the Admin Code.
  • Installer Certification

 

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