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Rebates

Ameren Illinois recently completed the programming necessary to provide rebates to residential customers (DS-1), small commercial (DS-2) and large commercial (DS-3 & DS-4) who use smart inverters to interconnect their renewable generator or energy storage system (ESS, or battery) to Ameren's electric grid.

For DS-1 & DS-2 the rebate for inverters used to interconnect generators are $300/KW-DC, and the rebate available for inverters used to connect ESS is $300/KW-hour, and they're available to both customers with existing generation and/or ESS at their home/business and to customers who will be installing that equipment in the future.

For DS-3, DS-4 & DS-6 the rebate for inverters used to interconnect generators are $250/KW-DC, and the rebate available for inverters used to connect ESS is $250/KW-hour, and they're available to both customers with existing generation and/or ESS at their business and to customers who will be installing that equipment in the future. There is a limit of a 5MW AC for the rebate application.

Since this is a new offering for our residential customers, we've developed some FAQs to help you decide whether you should apply for this rebate, since the legislation that created the rebate also includes some requirements associated with receiving the rebate.

Residential Customers (DS-1)

Ameren Illinois recently completed the programming necessary to provide rebates to residential customers who use smart inverters to interconnect their renewable generator or energy storage system (ESS, or battery) to Ameren's electric grid. The rebate for inverters used to interconnect generators are $300/KW-DC, and the rebate available for inverters used to connect ESS is $300/KW-hour, and they're available to both customers with existing generation and/or ESS at their home and to customers who will be installing that equipment in the future.

Since this is a new offering for our residential customers, we've developed some FAQs to help you decide whether you should apply for this rebate, since the legislation that created the rebate also includes some requirements associated with receiving the rebate.

Both pieces of equipment have something called a nameplate physically attached to them that lists their sizes using the "KW-DC" and "KW-hour" terminology. Also, look at the installation documentation that your installer left with you to see if the sizes are listed there. If you can't find the nameplate or can't see the sizes on the leave-behind documentation, contact your installer.
Inverters need to include specific technical capabilities and pre-set programming before Illinois considers them "smart". Click here to learn more or reach out to your installer. Most of the installers active in our territory are very familiar with the smart inverter technical specifications.
Illinois law specifies that the owner of the generator/ESS/inverter can make application for, and receive, the rebate. If you lease the renewable energy facilities at your home from a 3rd party, please refer to the contract you have with your installer to see who can claim the rebate.
The rebate is available to any residential customer regardless of which tariff they use to monetize the output of their generation (i.e. either Rider NM – Net Metering or Rider QF – Qualifying Facilities) or who they use to provide their electric supply service. However, please read the following section very carefully as your ability to select an alternate electric supplier may be limited based on decisions you make when accepting a rebate.

Receipt of a rebate that's tied to the generator or energy storage system triggers the following changes in a residential customer's electric billing and crediting:

For customers served under Rider NM – Net Metering and receive a rebate on their generator, credits for any excess generation pushed to the grid will no longer be applied to their delivery service charges. The crediting for their supply service and transmission service charges will continue.

All residential customers receiving an Energy Storage System rebate will be required to receive service under one of the following three options, and that choice is binding on the current customer at the residence as well as all future residential customers at that residence:

  • Peak Time Rewards (PTR) – Ameren Illinois' demand response program for residential customers. If customers select this program, they and any successor customers at their residence will not be able to participate in any similar demand response programs that might be offered by a third party in the future.



  • Real Time Pricing (Rider RTP) – a electric supply service offered by Ameren Illinois that uses the day-ahead hourly prices published by the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) to calculate charges for electric supply service. If you're served under Rider NM – Net Metering, the hourly prices will also be used to calculate the compensation that you receive for any excess generation pushed to the grid. If customers select this program, they and any successor customers at their residence will not be able to receive supply service under any other option, whether the service is offered by the Company or a third party supplier.



  • Power Smart Pricing (Rider PSP) –a electric supply service offered by Ameren Illinois that uses the same day-ahead hourly pricing compensation and crediting structure as Rider RTP. The difference is Rider PSP customers receive enhanced customer service and education in exchange for a monthly fee, which is currently $2.25. As with the Rider RTP option, if customers select this program, they and any successor customers at their residence will not be able to receive supply service under any other option, whether the service is offered by the Company or a third party supplier.

Customers receiving a rebate for the inverter used to interconnect their ESS to Ameren Illinois' grid are required to select service under either Rider PTR, RTP or PSP. However, if an application is made only for the ESS and not for the generator, a residential customer receiving service under Rider NM – Net Metering can continue receiving delivery service credits for excess generation pushed to the grid.
Yes, the same inverter can be used for both a generator and an ESS for purposes of receiving a rebate.
At this time, any ESS included in a smart inverter rebate application must be charged by an on-site generator that uses a renewable resource to generate electricity.

Small Commercial Customers (DS-2)

Ameren Illinois recently completed the programming necessary to provide rebates to small commercial Delivery Service Class 2 (DS-2) who use smart inverters to interconnect their renewable generator or energy storage system (ESS, or battery) to Ameren's electric grid. The rebate for inverters used to interconnect generators are $300/KW-DC, and the rebate available for inverters used to connect ESS is $300/KW-hour, and they're available to both customers with existing generation and/or ESS at their business and to customers who will be installing that equipment in the future.

Since this a new offering for the ESS for our small commercial customers, we've developed some FAQs to help you decide whether you should apply for this rebate, since the legislation that created the rebate also includes some requirements associated with receiving the rebate.

Both pieces of equipment have something called a nameplate physically attached to them that lists their sizes using the "KW-DC" and "KW-hour" terminology. Also, look at the installation documentation that your installer left with you to see if the sizes are listed there. If you can't find the nameplate or can't see the sizes on the leave-behind documentation, contact your installer.
Inverters need to include specific technical capabilities and pre-set programming before Illinois considers them "smart". Click here to learn more or reach out to your installer. Most of the installers active in our territory are very familiar with the smart inverter technical specifications.
Illinois law specifies that the owner of the generator/ESS/inverter can make application for, and receive, the rebate. If you lease the renewable energy facilities at your home from a third party, please refer to the contract you have with your installer to see who can claim the rebate.
The rebate is available to any small customer regardless of which tariff they use to monetize the output of their generation (i.e. either Rider NM – Net Metering or Rider QF – Qualifying Facilities) or who they use to provide their electric supply service. However, please read the following section very carefully as your ability to select an alternate electric supplier may be limited based on decisions you make when accepting a rebate.

Receipt of a rebate that's tied to the generator or energy storage system triggers the following changes in a residential customer's electric billing and crediting:

  • For customers served under Rider NM – Net Metering and receive a rebate on their generator, credits for any excess generation pushed to the grid will no longer be applied to their delivery service charges. The crediting for their supply service and transmission service charges will continue.

  • All small commercial (DS-2) customers receiving an Energy Storage System rebate will be required to receive service under the following option, and that choice is binding on the current customer at the business as well as all future business customers at that premise:

    Real Time Pricing (Rider RTP) – a electric supply service offered by Ameren Illinois that uses the day-ahead hourly prices published by the Midcontinent Independent System Operator (MISO) to calculate charges for electric supply service. If you're served under Rider NM – Net Metering, the hourly prices will also be used to calculate the compensation that you receive for any excess generation pushed to the grid. If customers select this program, they and any successor customers at their residence will not be able to receive supply service under any other option, whether the service is offered by the Company or a third party supplier.

Customers receiving a rebate for the inverter used to interconnect their ESS to Ameren Illinois' grid are required to select service under Rider RTP. However, if an application is made only for the ESS and not for the generator, a non-residential (DS-2) customer receiving service under Rider NM – Net Metering can continue receiving delivery service credits for excess generation pushed to the grid.
Yes, the same inverter can be used for both a generator and an ESS for purposes of receiving a rebate.
At this time, any ESS included in a smart inverter rebate application must be charged by an on-site generator that uses a renewable resource to generate electricity.

Large Commercial and Industrial Customers (DS-3, 4 and 6)

Ameren Illinois recently completed the programming necessary to provide rebates to Large Commercial and Industrial Delivery Service Class (DS-3, 4 and 6) who use smart inverters to interconnect their renewable generator or energy storage system (ESS, or battery) to Ameren's electric grid. The rebate for inverters used to interconnect generators are $250/KW-DC, and the rebate available for inverters used to connect ESS is $250/KW-hour, and they're available to both customers with existing generation and/or ESS at their business and to customers who will be installing that equipment in the future.

Since this a new offering for the ESS for our larger commercial customers, we've developed some FAQ to help you decide whether you should apply for this rebate, since the legislation that created the rebate also includes some requirements associated with receiving the rebate.

Both pieces of equipment have something called a nameplate physically attached to them that lists their sizes using the "KW-DC" and "KW-hour" terminology. Also, look at the installation documentation that your installer left with you to see if the sizes are listed there. If you can't find the nameplate or can't see the sizes on the leave-behind documentation, contact your installer.
Inverters need to include specific technical capabilities and pre-set programming before Illinois considers them "smart". Click here to learn more or reach out to your installer. Most of the installers active in our territory are very familiar with the smart inverter technical specifications.
Illinois law specifies that the owner of the generator/ESS/inverter can make application for, and receive, the rebate. If you lease the renewable energy facilities at your home from a third party, please refer to the contract you have with your installer to see who can claim the rebate. 
The rebate is available to any small customer regardless of which tariff they use to monetize the output of their generation (i.e. either Rider NM - Net Metering or Rider QF - Qualifying Facilities) or who they use to provide their electric supply service. However, please read the following section very carefully as your ability to select an alternate electric supplier may be limited based on decisions you make when accepting a rebate.
Receipt of a rebate that's tied to the generator or energy storage system triggers the requirement to participate in one or more programs determined through the Multi-Year Integrated Grid Planning process as they become available. 
Yes, the same inverter can be used for both a generator and an ESS for purposes of receiving a rebate?

At this time, any ESS included in a smart inverter rebate application must be charged by an on-site generator that uses a renewable resource to generate electricity.  

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