Last updated: August 22, 2026 — re-checked application status against 3 independent sources and found a genuine conflict we can’t resolve from public info alone: one earlier source backs the February 28, 2026 standard-tier closure this article originally reported, but a source dated June 30, 2026 describes both tiers as still accepting applications with no interim closure. Core program facts (dollar amounts, income/EIEC thresholds, BESH rate-plan requirement, EVSP requirement) remain consistent across every source checked and are unchanged below — only the “is the $1,000 tier currently closed” claim is now flagged as unconfirmed rather than asserted.
Most utility rebate guides tell you what a program pays and assume it’s currently available. For ComEd’s 2026 residential EV charger rebate, we can’t make that assumption in good conscience — one set of sources says the $1,000 standard tier ran dry by the end of February 2026, while another set dated as recently as June 2026 says both tiers are still taking applications. Don’t apply based on either claim alone; call ComEd or your EVSP first.
What may have happened to the $1,000 tier
ComEd, the Exelon-owned utility serving roughly 4 million electric customers across Northern Illinois including Chicago, announced $70 million in EV rebates for 2026 back in February — more than $4 million of it earmarked specifically for residential Level 2 home chargers. The residential program split into two tiers from the start: a $1,000 standard rebate open to any ComEd residential customer, and a $2,500 Select Customer rebate for households that qualify by income or by living in a designated equity community.
The standard $1,000 tier is allocated first-come, first-served by completed application date, and at least one source reports it closed to new applications by February 28, 2026 with no waitlist. But a later-dated source (June 30, 2026) describes both tiers as still open — meaning ComEd may have reopened or replenished the standard tier’s funding since February, or the earlier closure report may have been specific to a moment that’s since changed. Either way, a non-qualifying ComEd customer shouldn’t assume there’s nothing to apply for without checking current status directly.
The $2,500 tier — here’s who qualifies
The Select Customer rebate, worth $2,500, is reserved for Low-Income or Equity Investment Eligible Community (LI/EIEC) households. It’s consistently reported open across every source we checked, accepting applications through December 31, 2026 (or until its own separate funding runs out) — this tier is the safer bet to plan around if you qualify. You qualify one of two ways:
- By income. ComEd’s threshold tracks roughly 80% of area median income. Using 2024 figures as a reference point, that’s about $57,650 for a single-person household or $65,850 for a two-person household, scaling upward for larger households.
- By address. If your home sits inside a designated Equity Investment Eligible Community — regardless of income — you qualify on location alone. Your installer can confirm EIEC status during the application.
| Tier | Rebate | 2026 status | Who qualifies |
|---|---|---|---|
| Standard | $1,000 | Sources conflict — reported closed since Feb 28, 2026 by one, still open by another (June 2026); confirm directly | Any ComEd residential customer |
| Select Customer (LI/EIEC) | $2,500 | Open through Dec 31, 2026 or until funds exhausted (consistent across sources) | Income ≤80% AMI, or home in a designated equity community |
Two requirements that apply to both tiers
Even the still-open $2,500 tier isn’t a simple buy-a-charger-and-submit-a-receipt process — two requirements apply regardless of which tier you’re in:
Rate plan enrollment. You have to enroll in ComEd’s Hourly Pricing plan (Rate BESH — Basic Electric Service Hourly Pricing) for a minimum of three years. This isn’t a loyalty checkbox — your electricity billing actually switches from a flat residential rate to an hourly, wholesale-linked structure, so it’s worth pulling BESH’s historical hourly rates against your current plan before committing to three years on it.
Approved installer. Installation has to be performed by a ComEd-approved EV Service Provider (EVSP), not just any licensed electrician. The EVSP typically files the rebate application as part of the job. The charger itself has to be ENERGY STAR-certified and NRTL-listed — a “smart,” Wi-Fi- or hardwired-connected unit, not a dumb charger.
ChargePoint Home Flex
- ENERGY STAR certification and app-based scheduling clear ComEd's "smart charger" requirement outright — useful to confirm with your EVSP before they file the Select Customer application.
- Adjustable 16–50A output lets your EVSP size the circuit to whatever your existing panel supports, which matters if you're trying to avoid a separate panel-upgrade line item.
- Read our full ChargePoint Home Flex review for the six SKU variants and how it compares to the competition.
Waiting on your EVSP to confirm Select Customer eligibility before you commit to a specific charger? Try Prime free for 30 days for free two-day delivery, so ordering doesn’t add days to a rebate application that’s already running against a first-come, first-served clock.
Emporia Classic Level 2 EV Charger
- The lowest-priced ENERGY STAR-certified option in our lineup — a real advantage against the $1,000 standard rebate's now-closed status, since a lower sticker price matters more when you're not counting on a rebate to cover the gap.
- Wi-Fi app scheduling satisfies the "smart charger" documentation your EVSP needs for the Select Customer application.
- See our full Emporia Classic review for the PowerSmart load-management tradeoffs.
The bottom line
ComEd’s EV charger rebate is a two-tier program in 2026: $1,000 standard and $2,500 Select Customer for households that qualify by income (roughly $57,650 single / $65,850 two-person, per 2024 figures) or by living in a designated equity community. What we can’t tell you with confidence is whether the standard tier is currently accepting applications — reports conflict, so call ComEd or a ComEd-approved EVSP before assuming either way. Both tiers require a three-year commitment to a ComEd time-variant rate plan plus a ComEd-approved installer. Our EV charger rebate guide covers other utilities nationally if ComEd isn’t paying out for your household, and our EV charger installation cost guide shows what the underlying wiring project runs with or without a rebate.