Illinois businesses and public facilities with qualifying ComEd projects have two important final application dates ahead: September 30 and October 31, 2026. The submission date determines the limited-time Kickstart additional incentive available through ComEd’s Standard offering. Some projects may also qualify for Select Communities and Made in Illinois incentives.
The Kickstart pre-application window closed March 31, 2026. The deadlines in this article apply to projects that submitted a qualifying pre-application during that window. If your project has an active reservation, now is the time to confirm its incentive rate and prepare the final application. ComEd’s 2026 fact sheet sets out the Kickstart terms.
Key Takeaways
Kickstart savings depend on the project type, final-application date, and eligibility for other additional incentives.
What should project teams check before the remaining 2026 deadlines?
- Eligible private-sector projects can receive a 20% additional Kickstart incentive with a final application submitted by October 31, 2026.
- Eligible public-facility projects can receive 40% by September 30, 2026, or 30% by October 31, 2026.
- Kickstart, Select Communities, and Made in Illinois additional incentives can be combined when the project meets each offer’s requirements.
- ComEd lists a maximum combined 70% additional incentive for a qualifying public-facility project that meets the September 30 deadline and qualifies for both other adders.
- The Kickstart pre-application window is closed; these final-application deadlines concern projects that already met that requirement.
What Is the ComEd Kickstart Incentive?
Kickstart is a limited-time additional incentive for eligible projects in ComEd’s 2026 Standard offering. Its percentage is calculated against the base Standard offering incentive, not the project’s total purchase or installation cost.
For example, suppose a qualifying private-sector project has a $10,000 base Standard incentive and also meets the requirements for Select Communities and Made in Illinois:
| Incentive component | Illustrative amount |
| Base Standard offering incentive | $10,000 |
| 20% Kickstart additional incentive | +$2,000 |
| 20% Select Communities additional incentive | +$2,000 |
| 10% Made in Illinois additional incentive | +$1,000 |
| Illustrative combined incentive | $15,000 |
The three adders total $5,000, or 50% of the $10,000 base incentive. The $15,000 is an example, not a promised payment: the project must meet every eligibility requirement and ComEd’s payment limits, and ComEd must approve the final application.
The Standard offering includes measures such as indoor and outdoor lighting, HVAC and variable-speed drives, commercial equipment, compressed air, laboratory equipment, and industrial equipment. Each measure has its own specifications and documentation requirements.
What Are the Remaining 2026 ComEd Kickstart Deadlines?
For a project that met Kickstart’s pre-application requirement, the final application submission date determines the available rate:
| Project type | Remaining Kickstart additional incentive and deadline |
| Private sector | 20% when the final application is submitted by October 31, 2026 |
| Public facilities | 40% when submitted by September 30, 2026, or 30% when submitted by October 31, 2026 |
The September deadline matters most for public facilities because it preserves an additional 10 percentage points compared with the October Kickstart rate. These are ComEd’s published Kickstart deadlines; other ComEd offerings may have different deadlines.
Can You Stack ComEd Energy Efficiency Incentives?
Yes. ComEd says you can combine qualifying Kickstart, Select Communities, and Made in Illinois incentives. Eligibility for one does not establish eligibility for the others.
| Additional incentive | Amount | Requirement to check |
| Kickstart | 20%–40%, depending on project type and submission date | The project meets the Standard offering and Kickstart requirements |
| Select Communities | 20% | The customer facility is in an eligible city or ZIP code |
| Made in Illinois | 10% | Eligible equipment meets the Illinois manufacturing or assembly threshold, supported by a manufacturer affidavit |
For Select Communities, check the facility address against ComEd’s eligible cities and ZIP codes. For Made in Illinois, eligible equipment must be at least 50% manufactured and/or assembled in Illinois. Packaging and installation do not count toward that threshold. ComEd requires a manufacturer affidavit confirming the equipment meets the criteria. Its 2026 fact sheet confirms that the qualifying adders may be combined.
Stacking remains subject to payment limits. Under ComEd’s 2026 Standard Incentives Application terms, the total Standard incentive paid cannot exceed 90% of the incremental measure cost or 90% of the total project cost, whichever is less. The terms also specify an annual $2 million per-account cap across several ComEd program offerings. Teams should verify the limit that applies to their project before treating a stacked estimate as a final award.
Don’t Let Valuable ComEd Incentives Go Unclaimed
Limited-time incentives and program deadlines can create valuable opportunities for Illinois businesses, but capturing those savings requires careful planning. Eligibility requirements, pre-approvals, documentation, and submission deadlines all need to be addressed at the right stage of the project to help maximize available incentives.
Review our process to see how Incentive Rebate360 manages commercial rebates from initial opportunity identification and pre-approval through application, documentation, and final incentive payment, then connect with our commercial rebate experts to discuss potential ComEd incentives for your upcoming projects.https://bookings.cloud.microsoft/book/[email protected]/?ismsaljsauthenabled=true
How Can Businesses Prepare Their Final Applications?
Start with the project reservation and the worksheet for the applicable measure. Confirm that the installed equipment and completed work match the submitted project. Gather the required product specifications, dated itemized invoices, installation details, and any measure-specific records.
If claiming Select Communities, confirm the facility’s eligible location. If claiming Made in Illinois, obtain the manufacturer affidavit. Reviewing each adder separately makes it easier to spot a missing document before submission.
Eligible projects can use the ComEd Energy Efficiency Standard online application to submit and track their applications. ComEd’s 2026 application instructions also explain submission requirements and identify measures that cannot use the online route. Check your reservation end date and allow time to review the final documents before the applicable Kickstart deadline.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does October 31 apply to every ComEd business incentive?
No. It is the final-application deadline for the remaining Kickstart rates described here. Other ComEd offerings and measures may have different requirements.
Does installing equipment in Illinois qualify it for Made in Illinois?
No. Installation does not count as assembly under this offer. Eligible equipment must meet ComEd’s manufacturing or assembly threshold and be supported by a manufacturer affidavit.
Does a project reservation guarantee the estimated incentive?
No. ComEd determines the final incentive after reviewing and approving the completed project’s final application and documentation.
Prepare for the Remaining Kickstart Deadlines
For projects with a qualifying Kickstart pre-application, the immediate priority is September 30, 2026, for public facilities seeking the 40% rate. October 31, 2026, is the final application deadline for the remaining 20% private-sector and 30% public-facility rates. Check Select Communities and Made in Illinois eligibility while assembling the final submission so every claimed adder has supporting documentation.
Have an active ComEd project nearing completion? Incentive Rebate360 can help review documentation, verify potential stackable adders, and prepare a submission for the applicable deadline. Contact our team to discuss your project.
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