Chicagoland HVAC Rebates & Help by Utility and Town (2026)
Updated October 2026
Part of our Chicagoland Local Data series.
The biggest heating and cooling incentive most Chicago-area homeowners can get in 2026 is ComEd’s instant discount of up to $2,000 on a high-efficiency ducted heat pump of 2.5 tons or more[7]. Gas furnace rebates are much smaller, and the federal tax credit that used to sit on top of them is gone for 2026 installs. This page lists what each utility pays, which utility serves each town, and where lower-income households, condo boards and building owners can find more help. Every amount is a 2026 maximum, comes from the utility or agency that runs the program, and changes every year.
Key Takeaways
- ComEd’s electric tariff covers all 40 towns in our service area, so the electric rebate program is the same everywhere; the gas utility is what changes by town.[1]
- Nicor Gas serves 38 of the 40 towns, Peoples Gas serves the City of Chicago, and Northbrook is split between North Shore Gas and Nicor.[2][3]
- Evanston, Skokie, Glenview, Morton Grove and Northfield are Nicor Gas towns, not North Shore Gas.[3]
- ComEd lists no rebate for a standard central air conditioner in 2026; its cooling incentives go through heat pumps.[7]
- Nicor Gas pays $275 for a 97% AFUE furnace installed with a smart thermostat.[10]
- Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas pay up to $500 for a 95% AFUE combination boiler that also heats your water.[12]
- Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas rebate applications are due within 30 days of installation, versus 90 days at Nicor Gas.[14][10]
- The federal 25C home-improvement credit covers work “through December 31, 2025.” Nothing is available for 2026 installs.[15]
- Illinois has $263 million in federal home energy rebates allocated, but the program has not launched and will not pay for past work.[17]
- The state weatherization program can spend up to $20,000 per home, including HVAC repair or replacement, for households at or below 200% of the federal poverty level.[18]
- A family of 4 can earn up to $8,250 in the 30 days before applying and still qualify for LIHEAP energy bill help in 2026-27.[19]
- ComEd’s free Whole Home Electric heat pump offer is fully allocated for 2026 for gas-heated homes.[23]
Which gas and electric utility serves your town?
ComEd is the electric utility in every town on this page. For gas, almost every suburb here is Nicor Gas, the City of Chicago is Peoples Gas, and Northbrook is the one town split between two gas companies.
This matters because rebates follow the utility, not the town. A furnace installed in Skokie and the same furnace installed in Chicago get different gas rebates. Many people assume the North Shore suburbs are North Shore Gas territory, but that utility’s tariff lists Northbrook as its only town in our area[3]. Nicor Gas reports about 2.3 million customers across roughly 17,000 square miles of northern Illinois[2]. Peoples Gas says it serves more than 898,000 customers in Chicago[5], and North Shore Gas nearly 166,000 in the northern suburbs[6]. Nicor also serves some annexed parts of Chicago, and Nicor’s ICC tax-rider sheet separately confirms many of the suburbs below[4]. If you live near a border, the company name on your gas bill is the final answer.
Gas utility for each of the 40 towns we serve, with ComEd as the electric utility everywhere. Built from Nicor Gas, North Shore Gas, Peoples Gas and ComEd service-area filings, checked October 2026.
| Gas utility | Towns | Electric utility |
|---|---|---|
| Nicor Gas | Addison, Arlington Heights, Bellwood, Broadview, Burbank, Carol Stream, Cicero, Countryside, Darien, Downers Grove, Elk Grove Village, Elmhurst, Elmwood Park, Evanston, Forest Park, Glen Ellyn, Glenview, Harwood Heights, Hinsdale, Hodgkins, Justice, La Grange, Lombard, Maywood, Morton Grove, Mount Prospect, Northfield, Oak Brook, Palos Hills, Prospect Heights, Riverside, Schaumburg, Schiller Park, Skokie, Summit, Willow Springs, Willowbrook, Wood Dale | ComEd |
| Peoples Gas | City of Chicago (Nicor serves some annexed areas) | ComEd |
| North Shore Gas and Nicor Gas (split) | Northbrook | ComEd |
What does ComEd pay toward a heat pump in 2026?
ComEd pays instant discounts on heat pumps, not on standard air conditioners. The discount comes off the price at the point of sale, and only when a ComEd heat pump-trained contractor does the install; self-installs do not qualify[8].
The amount depends on the efficiency tier and the unit’s heating capacity in tons. Adding an ENERGY STAR smart thermostat with the heat pump earns another $75, with no separate application[7]. A smart thermostat bought on its own can get the same amount through ComEd’s mail-in appliance rebate if it is purchased by December 31, 2026 and the claim is filed within 60 days or by February 28, 2027[9]. Geothermal systems can get up to $6,000 per home, and heat pump water heaters up to $750[8]. One equipment detail: ComEd excludes systems using refrigerants with a global warming potential above 700, such as R-410A, but says remaining R-410A stock became eligible again on July 27, 2026 under an EPA sell-through rule[7].
| ComEd 2026 heat pump discount | Minimum efficiency | Up to |
|---|---|---|
| Ducted heat pump, Tier 1, under 2.5 tons | 15.2 SEER2, 9.4 EER2, 8.1 HSPF2 | $900 |
| Ducted heat pump, Tier 1, 2.5 tons or more | 15.2 SEER2, 9.4 EER2, 8.1 HSPF2 | $1,400 |
| Ducted heat pump, Tier 2, under 2.5 tons | 17 SEER2, 9.4 EER2, 8.5 HSPF2 | $1,500 |
| Ducted heat pump, Tier 2, 2.5 tons or more | 17 SEER2, 9.4 EER2, 8.5 HSPF2 | $2,000 |
| Ductless mini-split, under 1.5 tons | 17 SEER2, 9.4 EER2, 9 HSPF2 | $500 |
| Ductless mini-split, 1.5 tons or more | 17 SEER2, 9.4 EER2, 9 HSPF2 | $1,000 |
ComEd says its offers are subject to change or cancellation due to funding limits[7].
What do Nicor Gas, Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas pay for a furnace or boiler?
A few hundred dollars. Gas rebates in 2026 reward condensing equipment rated 95% AFUE or higher, and the two gas programs pay different amounts for the same furnace, so always name the utility when quoting a number.
Equipment must be installed between January 1 and December 31, 2026. Nicor Gas customers apply within 90 days of installation or by January 31, 2027, whichever comes first[10]. Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas share one program, and their deadline is much tighter: the application must arrive by December 31, 2026 at the latest[14]. At Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas, a programmable thermostat installed with a new furnace does not qualify, but a smart thermostat does[14]. Nicor’s form adds that “an additional rebate may be available from your electric utility”[11]. Both gas programs also pay toward air sealing and insulation done by approved contractors; Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas cap that at $1,200 per project[12].
| 2026 gas rebate | Nicor Gas (38 suburbs, part of Northbrook) | Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas (Chicago, part of Northbrook) |
|---|---|---|
| Furnace, 95% AFUE or higher | $150 | $200 |
| Furnace, 97% AFUE or higher | $225 | $225 |
| Furnace + smart thermostat bundle, 95% / 97% AFUE | $200 / $275 | No bundle; furnace and thermostat rebates are claimed separately |
| Smart thermostat (one per account) | $25 | $25 |
| Hot water boiler, 95% AFUE or higher | $350 | $350 (also $300 at 90% AFUE) |
| Combination boiler, space heat + hot water | $500 at 95% AFUE | $500 at 95% AFUE, $400 at 90% AFUE |
| Steam boiler, 82.5% AFUE or higher | Not listed | $150 |
| Tankless water heater, 0.95 UEF | $150 | $150 |
Sources for the table: Nicor Gas rebates page and 2026 application[10][11]; Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas rebate pages and 2026 HVAC application[12][13][14].
What would rebates cover when replacing a furnace and AC in Elmwood Park?
About $275 if you stay with a gas furnace and a standard AC, and as much as $2,075 if the AC is replaced with a qualifying ducted heat pump. Elmwood Park is a ComEd and Nicor Gas town, so those are the two programs that apply.
| Line item | Path A: new gas furnace + new central AC | Path B: new ducted heat pump (Tier 2, 2.5 tons or more) |
|---|---|---|
| ComEd | $0 (no central AC rebate listed in 2026) | Up to $2,000, plus $75 for a smart thermostat installed with it |
| Nicor Gas | $275 (97% AFUE furnace + smart thermostat) | If a new 97% AFUE furnace is kept as backup heat, its furnace rebate may also qualify. Confirm with Nicor Gas. |
| Federal 25C credit | $0 (ended for work after 2025) | $0 (ended for work after 2025) |
| Total, 2026 maximum | $275 | Up to $2,075, before any Nicor furnace rebate |
The Path B furnace line is the open question. Neither ComEd nor Nicor Gas spells out whether a ComEd heat pump discount and a Nicor furnace rebate combine on the same dual-fuel install, so treat that line as unconfirmed and ask Nicor Gas (877-886-4239) before you count on it[10]. Nicor does say that a customer who got a ComEd thermostat rebate may still be eligible for the Nicor thermostat rebate[10]. The same job in Chicago would get Peoples Gas’s furnace rebate plus its smart thermostat rebate, a total of $250, under the 30-day deadline[14].
Two ways to replace a furnace and AC in Elmwood Park, and what the 2026 rebates add up to on each. Amounts are maximums from ComEd, Nicor Gas, Peoples Gas/North Shore Gas and the IRS, and change every year.
Comparing furnace, AC or heat pump quotes? Eco Air Pros Heating & Cooling installs and repairs furnaces, boilers, air conditioners and heat pumps in Chicago and the suburbs. 2303 N 77th Ct, Elmwood Park, IL 60707. Call (312) 465-8060.
Is there still a federal tax credit or state rebate for HVAC in 2026?
No federal credit applies to a furnace, AC, boiler or heat pump installed in 2026, and the Illinois rebate program funded by the same federal law has not opened yet.
The IRS says the Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit (25C), worth up to $3,200 a year with $2,000 of that for heat pumps, can be claimed for improvements made through the end of 2025[15]. The Residential Clean Energy Credit (25D), which covered geothermal heat pumps, “is not available for any property placed in service after December 31, 2025”[16]. On the state side, the Illinois EPA says the HOMES rebate pilot’s launch “is pending USDOE approval” and the HEAR application “has not yet been processed by USDOE.” Illinois plans to start with households below 80% of area median income and to set aside at least 10% for low-income multifamily buildings[17]. Because the state says only program-approved projects will qualify after launch, keeping receipts from a 2026 install will not unlock a rebate later.
What help is there for lower-income households?
More than most people expect. State weatherization, utility income-eligible programs and Chicago’s emergency heating program can repair or replace a furnace at no cost to qualifying homeowners, and LIHEAP and discount rates help with the bills.
| Program | What it covers | Who qualifies | Status, October 2026 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois Home Weatherization Assistance Program (DCEO) | Air sealing, insulation, HVAC repair or replacement, plus up to $4,000 for health and safety work | At or below 200% FPL ($66,000 a year for 4 people) | Apply through your local community action agency[18] |
| LIHEAP (DCEO) | One-time bill payment of $58 to $2,564; furnace tune-up, repair or replacement for homeowners | At or below 300% FPL for ComEd, Nicor, Peoples and North Shore Gas customers ($99,000 a year for 4) | Priority groups from Oct 1, 2026, everyone else from Nov 1, through Aug 13, 2027; furnace help until May 28, 2027 or until funds run out[19][20] |
| Emergency Heating Repair Program (City of Chicago) | Furnace or boiler repair or replacement at no cost | Chicago owner-occupants of 1 to 4 unit homes at or below 80% AMI | Reopens Nov 2, 2026; applications through Apr 1, 2027[26] |
| Nicor Gas income-eligible offerings | Free assessment, free weatherization, furnace repair or replacement | Nicor customers at or below 80% AMI | Open[24] |
| ComEd Whole Home Electric | Free heat pump and other upgrades | At or below 80% AMI ($95,900 for 4 people) | Still open to propane-heated homes; ComEd says check back in January 2027[23] |
| Nicor Gas Percentage of Income Payment Plan | Bill capped at 6% of income | Low-income Nicor customers | Closed to new applicants[25] |
DCEO says this year’s LIHEAP funding is $240 million, and that last year’s program helped 360,500 households with an average of $676 each[21]. The same release describes eligibility as “up to two times the federal poverty level,” but DCEO’s application page uses the higher 300% table above for regulated-utility customers, so check the table. Low-income discount rates take 5% to 83% off monthly gas bills depending on utility and income tier, and ComEd offers a 5% to 80% sliding-scale electric discount[22].
What can condo boards and apartment buildings get?
Buildings with 3 or more units go through a joint program run by ComEd, Nicor Gas, Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas, which starts with a free energy assessment and pays incentives for larger projects such as boiler upgrades[27].
The Multi-Family Energy Savings offering also installs free or discounted products in units and common areas, and buildings in lower-income census tracts or with subsidized tenants may qualify for more[27]. ComEd describes it as being for owners of multi-family buildings of 3 units or more and public housing authorities[28], and Peoples Gas runs it in partnership with ComEd[29]. Nicor Gas publishes its own 2026 multifamily rebates: $200 per qualifying furnace, $1.50 per MBTUH for condensing boilers, and up to $1,500 for boiler reset controls[30]. How a condo owner applies depends on metering. Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas say owners of individually metered condos and townhomes use the regular home rebates[12]; master-metered buildings should call the multifamily program (855-993-0940) before budgeting around any amount.
More local data
- Chicagoland Home Heating & Cooling by the Numbers (2026): climate, housing age, heating fuel and energy prices for the 40 towns.
- Furnace & AC Replacement Permits by Chicago-Area Town (2026): when a furnace or AC swap needs a permit and what it costs.
- Heat & Cooling Rules for Chicago-Area Rentals and Condos (2026): minimum heat rules, tenant remedies and condo board duties.
How we put this together
Every amount on this page comes from the utility or government agency that runs the program: ComEd, Nicor Gas, Peoples Gas, North Shore Gas, the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, the Illinois EPA, the Illinois Commerce Commission, the City of Chicago and the IRS. We read the live rebate pages and the 2026 application forms, and used the application form where a web page and a form could differ. Town-to-utility matches come from the utilities’ own service-area lists and the tariffs they file with the Illinois Commerce Commission. All program amounts and statuses were rechecked on October 29, 2026, and will be updated when 2027 amounts are published. Where a rule is not stated by the program, we say so instead of guessing.
Sources
- Commonwealth Edison Company, Schedule of Rates for Electric Service (2026 Ratebook), Ill. C.C. No. 10, municipality sheets, https://www.comed.com/cdn/assets/v3/assets/blt3ebb3fed6084be2a/blt86ebee5fe6ed02f8/6abfcfc2794a17442cb9eaae/2026_Ratebook.pdf, checked Oct 29, 2026.
- Nicor Gas, Where We Are, https://www.nicorgas.com/company/where-we-are.html, checked Oct 29, 2026.
- North Shore Gas Company, Municipalities and Unincorporated Areas to Which This Schedule is Applicable, Ill. C.C. No. 17, Second Revised Sheet No. 5, https://www.northshoregasdelivery.com/company/tariffs/muni.pdf, checked Oct 29, 2026.
- Nicor Gas, Rider 8 Information Sheet (effective June 1, 2026), https://www.nicorgas.com/content/dam/southern-co-gas/nicor-gas/docs/rates-and-riders/nicor-rider-8-info.pdf, checked Oct 29, 2026.
- Peoples Gas, About Us, https://www.peoplesgasdelivery.com/company/about, checked Oct 29, 2026.
- North Shore Gas, Service Area Map, https://www.northshoregasdelivery.com/company/area, checked Oct 29, 2026.
- ComEd, Home Heating & Cooling Discounts, https://www.comed.com/ways-to-save/for-your-home/rebates-discounts/heating-cooling-discounts, checked Oct 29, 2026.
- ComEd, Home Heating and Cooling Offering Overview (2026), https://azure-na-assets.contentstack.com/v3/assets/blt3ebb3fed6084be2a/bltb8206206cff6f9c9/6a72470d1e5d0f7838754cb1/2026_HHC_Offering_Overview_August.pdf, checked Oct 29, 2026.
- ComEd, Residential Appliance Rebate Application, https://comedappliancerebates.com, checked Oct 29, 2026.
- Nicor Gas, Energy Efficiency Rebates for Your Home, https://www.nicorgas.com/ways-to-save/residential-savings/rebates.html, checked Oct 29, 2026.
- Nicor Gas, 2026 Residential Rebate Application, https://www.nicorgas.com/content/dam/southern-co-gas/nicor-gas/docs/energy-efficiency/residential/20251211-heer-residential-rebate-application.pdf, checked Oct 29, 2026.
- Peoples Gas, Home Energy Rebates, https://www.peoplesgasdelivery.com/savings/rebates-residential, checked Oct 29, 2026.
- North Shore Gas, Home Energy Rebates, https://www.northshoregasdelivery.com/savings/rebates-residential, checked Oct 29, 2026.
- Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas, Home Energy Rebate Program HVAC and Water Heating Application (valid Jan. 1, 2026 to Dec. 31, 2026), https://www.peoplesgasdelivery.com/savings/pdf/residential_hvac.pdf, checked Oct 29, 2026.
- Internal Revenue Service, Energy Efficient Home Improvement Credit, https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/energy-efficient-home-improvement-credit, checked Oct 29, 2026.
- Internal Revenue Service, Residential Clean Energy Credit, https://www.irs.gov/credits-deductions/residential-clean-energy-credit, checked Oct 29, 2026.
- Illinois Environmental Protection Agency, Office of Energy, Energy Rebates, https://epa.illinois.gov/topics/energy/residential/energy-rebates.html, checked Oct 29, 2026.
- Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Home Weatherization (PY2027 income guidelines), https://dceo.illinois.gov/communityservices/homeweatherization.html, checked Oct 29, 2026.
- Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, How To Apply: Utility Bill Assistance, https://dceo.illinois.gov/communityservices/utilitybillassistance/howtoapply.html, checked Oct 29, 2026.
- Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, FY2027 LIHEAP State Plan, https://dceo.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/dceo/communityservices/utilitybillassistance/documents/fy27-liheap-state-plan.pdf, checked Oct 29, 2026.
- Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity, Governor Pritzker Announces LIHEAP Application for Utility Bill Assistance (Sept 24, 2026), https://illinois-department-of-commerce-and-economic-opportunity.prezly.com/governor-pritzker-announces-liheap-application-for-utility-bill-assistance, checked Oct 29, 2026.
- Illinois Commerce Commission, Utility Energy Assistance, https://icc.illinois.gov/consumers/utility-energy-assistance/, checked Oct 29, 2026.
- ComEd, Whole Home Electric, https://www.comed.com/ways-to-save/for-your-home/income-eligible/whole-home-electric, checked Oct 29, 2026.
- Nicor Gas, Income-Eligible Offerings, https://www.nicorgas.com/ways-to-save/residential-savings/income-eligible-offerings.html, checked Oct 29, 2026.
- Nicor Gas, Percentage of Income Payment Plan, https://www.nicorgas.com/residential/billingandpaymentoptions/bill-payment-assistance/pipp.html, checked Oct 29, 2026.
- City of Chicago, Department of Housing, Emergency Heating Repair Program, https://www.chicago.gov/city/en/depts/doh/provdrs/homeowners/svcs/emergency-heating-repair-program.html, checked Oct 29, 2026.
- ComEd, Nicor Gas, Peoples Gas and North Shore Gas, Multi-Family Energy Savings: Frequently Asked Questions, https://multifamilyportal.com/frequently-asked-questions, checked Oct 29, 2026.
- ComEd, Multi-Family Energy Savings, https://www.comed.com/ways-to-save/for-your-home/home-energy-savings/multi-family, checked Oct 29, 2026.
- Peoples Gas, Multifamily Program, https://www.peoplesgasdelivery.com/savings/rebates-multifamily, checked Oct 29, 2026.
- Nicor Gas, Multi-Family Rebates (2026), https://www.nicorgas.com/ways-to-save/multi-family-savings/multi-family-rebates.html, checked Oct 29, 2026.
Glossary
- AFUE: Annual Fuel Utilization Efficiency, the share of a furnace’s or boiler’s fuel that becomes heat in the home.
- AMI: Area Median Income, the income limit used by many housing and utility programs.
- Combination boiler: one gas boiler that heats the home and the household’s hot water.
- EER2 / SEER2: cooling efficiency ratings for air conditioners and heat pumps under the current federal test.
- FPL: Federal Poverty Level.
- HOMES / HEAR: the two federal home energy rebate programs Illinois has not yet launched.
- HSPF2: heating efficiency rating for heat pumps.
- LIHEAP: Low Income Home Energy Assistance Program.
- MBTUH: thousand British thermal units per hour, a measure of boiler size.
- UEF: Uniform Energy Factor, the efficiency rating for water heaters.
Get in Touch with Eco Air Pros Today
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