Under a 2021 state law, Illinois utilities are providing free electrification upgrades to low-income households, helping them switch from gas appliances to efficient electric ones. This initiative allows utilities to meet energy-efficiency goals while reducing fossil fuel use amid fading federal incentives. Retiree Jean Gay-Robinson is one beneficiary who now enjoys lower bills and a safer home.
In Illinois, a provision of the 2021 Climate and Equitable Jobs Act enables electric utilities like ComEd to fulfill energy-conservation requirements by installing electric appliances in low-income homes, even if it increases overall electricity use. The law mandates ComEd to reduce electricity consumption by 2 percent of annual sales in the early 2020s, with 5 percent of savings from electrification since 2022, rising to 10 percent next year and 15 percent after 2029. A formula converts gas usage into kilowatt-hour equivalents to calculate savings from the switch.
ComEd's whole-home energy-efficient electrification program covers all upfront costs for households at or below 80 percent of area median income. Since launching in 2022, it has served over 700 such households, with a quarter of electrification savings dedicated to low-income customers. The utility ensures upgrades lower bills and has committed $162.3 million over the next four years for electrification and weatherization. ComEd also provides rebates for electric appliances to all income levels.
Jean Gay-Robinson, a Chicago retiree on a fixed income, experienced the benefits when ComEd replaced her gas equipment last summer. "I cried tears of joy," she said, noting lower energy bills and reduced risks like carbon monoxide. "I don’t have to worry about gas blowing up or carbon monoxide, that kind of nonsense," she added. She now has an induction stove, heat pump, and reliable cooling for extreme weather, and she recommended the program to a friend in poor health.
Experts highlight the policy's role in decarbonization. Nick Montoni, senior program director at the North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center, called it "a pretty interesting mechanism — not unique, but very rare." Electric appliances like induction stoves and heat pumps are more efficient than gas versions, cutting fossil fuel emissions and improving indoor air quality by eliminating pollutants from gas stoves.
As federal tax credits for heat pumps and water heaters expire in December and the Home Electrification and Appliance Rebates program faces uncertainty under the Trump administration, state-level efforts like Illinois' gain importance. Ameren, serving central and southern Illinois, will allocate $5 million through 2029 to help rural customers switch from propane to electric heat pumps. However, rising electricity prices from PJM Interconnection grid costs may limit future eligible upgrades, prompting calls for policy refinements, including integration with solar and battery storage.