ComEd extends EV incentives in Illinois, committing a fresh $168M

ComEd confirmed that the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) has approved its second Beneficial Electrification Plan. This plan builds upon an existing investment and will commit an additional $168 million over three years to support its Illinois ComEd customers who purchase or lease an EV or install a charger.

Commonwealth Edison, known more commonly as “ComEd,” is a 118-year-old company that currently operates as a subsidiary of Exelon. ComEd is hands-down the largest energy provider in Illinois and has made considerable contributions to EV adoption in the Land of Lincoln.

In 2023, ComEd proposed its first Beneficial Electrification (BE) Plan, which was approved under the guidance of the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) signed by Illinois Governor J.B. Pritzker in 2021. ComEd’s first BE Plan comprised a $231 million investment between 2023 and 2025.

Since February 2024, the energy company has used those funds to help Illinois residents purchase and install nearly 5,000 public and private EV charging ports (Level 2 and DCFC) and incentivize the purchases or leases of almost 1,000 new and pre-owned electric fleet vehicles. During this period, Illinois said it saw EV registrations grow nearly four times faster than the US as a whole.

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ComEd has committed another $168 million with BE Plan 2 to keep the momentum in Illinois EV adoption going, offering incentives through 2028.

ComEd commits to EV incentives in Illinois through 2028

According to a release from ComEd, the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) has approved its second BE Plan, enabling the energy company to invest approximately $168 million more in EV incentives in Illinois from 2026 to 2028.

As mentioned above, BE Plan 2 builds upon ComEd’s original $268 million investment, which expires at the end of the year. It will help residential and commercial customers transition to EVs. Per ComEd president and CEO, Gil C. Quiniones:

The shift to EVs is a major milestone on the road to Illinois’ clean energy future, and it is part of a broader effort to electrify more of our region’s energy system. Through the expansion of our Beneficial Electrification programs, ComEd is helping to reduce carbon emissions, improve air quality, and enable all communities to enjoy the benefits and opportunities that flow from the global energy transformation.

Per ComEd, here’s how the $168 million in fresh funding will be broken down across EV incentive programs for Illinois customers:

• $11 million toward the Residential EV Charger and Installation Program: Offers rebates of up to $2,500 per household to support the purchase and installation of residential Level 2 electric vehicle chargers.   
• $82 million toward the Business and Public Sector EV Purchase Program:  Offers rebates for the purchase or lease of new or pre-owned fleet EVs of all weight classes.  
• $44 million toward the Business and Public Sector Make-Ready Program: Rebates for costs associated with making sites ready for public or private Level 2 of DC Fast Charging equipment. 
• $11 million toward a Customer Education and Awareness Program: Fund multiple efforts to empower customers to make informed decisions about vehicle electrification and charging infrastructure deployment. Includes free access to ComEd support tools including Fleet Electrification Assessments, EV Toolkits, and training programs for municipalities interested in achieving “EV Ready” status, plus free Fleet Electrification Assessments.
• $11 million toward ComEd’s Research and Development Program: Will evaluate and demonstrate the impact of new transportation and electrification technologies.  
• $9 million toward a Portfolio Program: Funds a variety of initiatives spanning across multiple programs, to support a successful deployment of BE Plan 2 as a whole. 

ComEd also stated that future EV-centric projects from 2026 onward located in, or primarily serving, low-income or Equity Investment Eligible Communities (EIECs) in Illinois, will be eligible for higher rebate amounts and receive more than 50% of the BE Plan 2 budget. So far in its BE Plan, over 70% of its awarded rebates have gone to low-income customers, businesses, and public sector organizations in low-income and EIECs.

As an Illinois native, this investment news makes me happy and proud. You can learn more about ComEd’s EV program here, or see if you qualify for any EV tax incentives at the state level (in any state) by checking out this detailed breakdown.