The Illinois Energy Office creates jobs and stimulates economic development in Illinois through programs and policies that spur investment in Illinois' Green Economy. These programs and policies benefit our economy, improve our environment and increase our energy independence.
In addition, the Office will continue to promote the leadership of the State of Illinois, through its own energy and recycling policies and practices, at state facilities. Individually tailored programs are available to assist Illinois citizens, communities, non-profit organizations, businesses, industry, and other government agencies in an effort to achieve the Office's mission.
Click here for a summary of Office of Energy and Recycling programs.
WHAT'S NEW
October 5, 2012 – Applications for designation as a Self-Directing Customer or Exempt Customer under the Natural Gas Efficiency Programs are now available for the next three year planning period. Under the Natural Gas Efficiency Programs created by Section 8-104 of the Public Utilities Act (220 ILCS 5/8-104), customers of a natural gas utility that have a North American Industry Classification System (NAICS) code number beginning with 31, 32, or 33 and have an annual usage of natural gas in the aggregate of i) 4 million therms or more within a particular natural gas service territory or ii) 8 million therms or more in the state, may apply to become a Self-Directing Customer or Exempt Customer. Applications for existing natural gas customers seeking to be designated by the Department as a Self-Directing Customer (SDC) or as an Exempt Customer for the next 3-year planning period are due on or before January 7, 2013. If a designation is granted by the Department, the designation will be effective June 1, 2014. Existing designated SDC or Exempt Customers do not need to reapply for the next three year cycle. A new customer that commences taking service from a natural gas utility after February 1, 2010 may apply for designation as a SDC or an Exempt Customer up to 30 days after beginning service. If an application for a new customer is not filed within the 30 day period, the customer may apply during the open application period for the next three year planning period. Click here for the program application.
June 13, 2012 – The Energy Efficient Affordable Housing Construction Program Guidelines and Application for the 2012-2013 program year have released. The Program year begins June 1, 2012, and application will be accepted through 5:00 p.m. May 15, 2013. Eligible projects must be located in the Illinois electric service territories of Commonwealth Edison or Ameren Illinois or the Illinois natural gas service territories of Ameren Illinois, Nicor Gas, Peoples Gas, or North Shore Gas. Click here for the program application or for further information.
June 11, 2012 - Public Sector Energy Efficiency Standard and Custom Incentives Program Guidelines for electric and gas rebates released. Program year begins June 1, 2012, and ends May 15, 2013. For further information see
Public Sector Energy Efficiency Program
Program areas include the following:
ECONOMIC STIMULUS
On February 17, 2009, President Obama signed into law the $787 billion economic stimulus bill known as the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act. The Act includes substantial investment in Energy Initiatives. DCEO’s Office of Energy and Recycling is charged with implementing these provisions in order to create jobs, stimulate the economy, improve the environment and further our Nation toward energy independence.
ENERGY EFFICIENCY PROGRAMS
Energy efficiency investments in Illinois’ economy brings strong and diverse benefits, including protecting consumers and businesses from higher energy prices, improving electric reliability by reducing congestion on the electricity grid, supporting the retention of manufacturing jobs by reducing manufacturing energy costs and supporting the manufacture of new high-efficiency products, hedging risk against fuel price volatility, supporting public health and the environmental quality by reducing energy waste, and helping to keep Illinois’ energy dollars in the local economy.
Illinois Energy Assurance Plan The State of Illinois Energy Assurance Plan (IEAP) was developed in cooperation with the Illinois Commerce Commission and the Illinois Emergency Management Agency. The purpose of the IEAP is to provide guidance to state agencies, private sectors and local governments on how the state will prepare, monitor, respond to, and recover from disruptions in energy supply and delivery.
RENEWABLE ENERGY PROGRAMS
Illinois boasts significant potential for renewable power and heating: wind, solar, and biogas offer both economic and environmental benefits. Wind energy costs have fallen significantly, and modern wind farms provide both stable income for farmers and significant property tax revenues for local governments. Biogas facilities allow livestock owners to transform wastes from pollution into clean energy, and solar thermal technologies offer an increasingly cost-effective alternative to volatile natural gas prices. Illinois strongly supports the development of these resources.
BIOFUELS PROGRAMS
Home-grown fuels such as ethanol and biodiesel reduce Illinois' dependence on foreign oil, keep energy dollars in the local economy, support local corn and soybean prices, and make a cleaner and healthier environment for Illinois. Illinois is the nation's largest ethanol producer, and is working hard to maintain leadership in biofuels technology development and production.
RECYCLING PROGRAMS
Every year, recycling in Illinois diverts over 9.1 million tons of useful materials from landfills and saves enough energy to heat and light 578,000 homes. Recycling paper in Illinois saves 53.3 million trees alone. Recycling material versus land-filling creates up to 10 times as many jobs, saves energy and generates cost-effective materials that are cycled back into the economic mainstream as manufacturing feedstock. Illinois is proud of its performance in advancing recycling and best practices in solid waste management, while creating and retaining jobs for Illinois citizens.
ELECTRIC VEHICLES
Illinois has provided early leadership in supporting the adoption and use of electric vehicles (EVs). The Illinois Environmental Protection Agency (IEPA) offers rebates toward EV purchases; the Illinois General Assembly appropriated up to $10 million in capital funding for the Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity (DCEO) to award EV manufacturing and infrastructure grants and loans; and the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) launched a Plug‐in Electric Vehicle Initiative (PEV Initiative) to explore regulatory issues related to EV deployment.