Coming Soon — Illinois is considering plug-in solar legislation

No. The Homeowners' Energy Policy Statement Act (765 ILCS 165) prohibits HOAs, condo associations, and deed restrictions from banning solar energy systems outright. The association can regulate placement, but restrictions cannot cut a system's production by more than 10%.

Not directly. The 765 ILCS 165 protections focus on HOA/association rules for property owners, not landlord-tenant relationships. As of mid-2026, landlords can still restrict balcony or plug-in solar devices, since proposed legislation that would have limited such restrictions did not become law.

There's no law specifically banning small plug-in solar devices, but there's also no specific exemption from standard utility interconnection rules. A 2025-2026 bill (the Plug-In Illinois Act) that would have exempted units up to 1200W from interconnection requirements stalled after opposition, so legal clarity is still pending.

Since January 1, 2025, new solar customers are on 'Smart Solar Billing,' a supply-only net metering structure that credits excess exported electricity at a lower rate than the old full retail-rate net metering. ComEd customers also receive a one-time Distributed Generation rebate of $300 per kW to help offset the change.

Under current rules, any grid-connected generation device generally needs to go through Ameren Illinois or ComEd's Distributed Generation Interconnection process and receive a Certificate of Completion under Illinois Administrative Code Title 83 Part 466. Proposed legislation to waive this for very small plug-in units has not yet passed.