Illinois would offer rebates to some households using electricity

The Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity would set up a program to give rebates to eligible households. Households must use electricity and have median income from 100% through 500% of the federal poverty guidelines. The Department would set participation rules, which may include requirements used under the Energy Assistance Act and other requirements. Rebates would be paid from the Home Utility Rebate Relief Fund and would depend on program implementation. The Department would create the program as soon as practicable, and eligible households would receive rebates as soon as practicable after implementation.

The State Comptroller would direct and the State Treasurer would transfer $500 million into the Home Utility Rebate Relief Fund. The money would support household rebates for State fiscal years 2026 and 2027; remaining money could go to certain qualifying first-time small business owners. The fund's money could be spent only on the rebate program. The Department would decide which first-time small business owners qualify for any remaining money. Any leftover money could be awarded only after the second month following the end of that fiscal year's household payments. The transfer would support rebates during State fiscal years 2026 and 2027, and any leftover funds could be awarded after the stated two-month period.

The Department would adopt emergency rules to implement the rebate program, and the State treasury would hold program money in a special fund. The emergency rules would apply to the Home Utility Rebate Program, and the fund could receive money transferred under the program's funding section. The rules would have to follow the Illinois Administrative Procedure Act. Money in the fund could be used only for the rebate program, and interest would remain in the fund. The Act would take effect upon becoming law; the emergency-rule authority would end three years after that effective date.