January 8, 2026
Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has signed a new law aimed at lowering energy bills and securing the state’s long-term energy future. The Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act (CRGA), SB 25includes measures to expand energy storage capacity and create a “Solar Bill of Rights” in Illinois.
Building on the Future Energy Jobs Act (FEJA) and the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA), CRGA is addressing rising electricity costs caused by private grid operators, expanding cost-effective energy sources and continuing to grow Illinois’ renewable energy economy across the state.
“In Illinois, we are pursuing every available option to produce affordable, efficient, clean and abundant energy. We are leaving no stone unturned to produce more electricity, lower prices for our people and secure our long-term energy future,” Pritzker said. “The Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act sets a national standard in efforts to lower energy costs and marks a historic step forward in our clean energy vision. Illinois is once again stepping up where the federal government has failed.”
This critical legislation comes at a time when Illinois residents and working families across the country saw a significant increase in electric bills. As private grid operators raise rates and the Trump administration rejects low-cost, renewable energy options, Illinois is taking decisive action to make energy more affordable and help residents keep the lights on.
“Gov. Pritzker’s signing of the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act comes at a critical time for Illinois, with both electricity prices and energy demand rising at historic rates in Illinois and across the country,” said Abigail Ross Hopper, president and CEO of the Association of Solar Energy Industries (SEIA), in response to the signing of the bill:. “This groundbreaking law is a model for how states can secure their energy future and lower costs for families and small businesses.st-century economics needs a 21stcentury power grid, and solar, storage and virtual power plants were built for this moment. The solar and storage industry thanks Governor Pritzker and Illinois lawmakers for their leadership.”
Reducing energy costs
CRGA will reduce costs by encouraging the development of new energy sources, introducing new regulatory powers to support consumers, and creating and improving cost savings programs for consumers. The Illinois Power Agency (IPA) found that CRGA’s critical actions are expected to save Illinois energy customers $13.4 billion over the next 20 years.
“While Trump lines the pockets of billionaires, families struggle to make ends meet. Under this law, we will put an end to price gouging by private grid owners and start driving down costs here in Illinois, starting with people’s energy bills,” said Lt. Governor Juliana Stratton. “Energy prices will fall without sacrificing our other priorities. Illinois will continue to be a leader in renewable energy and grid reliability.”
The transition to sustainable energy in Illinois has already produced measurable results. Since the passage of CEJA, Illinois has supported more than 6 GW of renewable energy, with another 6 GW currently under development. Illinois currently ranks second in the Midwest in solar energy generation. The state also ranks fifth in the nation in wind energy generation – which has nearly tripled in the past decade – while also being among the top nuclear energy producers in the United States. exports about a fifth of its electricity to other states.
By addressing energy capacity needs and requiring utilities to help consumers achieve lower monthly bills, CRGA will take important steps in lowering Illinois utility bills and increasing available electricity supply.
- Establish a state purchase of 3 GW of grid-scale battery storage by 2030: Battery storage represents an essential technology that will meet Illinois’ growing need for energy capacity and lower energy bills.
- Lift the moratorium on new, large nuclear reactors: This measure will promote new, carbon-free energy sources.
- Create and expand programs to increase capacity and reduce energy bills: CRGA will require utilities to establish “Virtual Power Plant” programs that pay participating households and businesses to use smart thermostats, solar panels, small batteries and electric vehicles – putting money back into consumers’ pockets while strengthening our energy grid. The legislation will also expand energy efficiency programs to help households and businesses reduce their energy use, and therefore their energy bills.
- Promoting energy equality: CRGA programs will require utilities that administer the state’s energy efficiency programs to meet a minimum spending level for low-income households, while eliminating the formula rates they receive for administering those programs. In addition, utilities will be required to offer time-of-use pricing so residential customers can pay less for off-peak power consumption, providing immediate monthly savings for customers who sign up.
- Create an Integrated Resource Planning (IRP) process: This process will find cost-effective ways to keep utility bills low and make necessary adjustments to state programs. The Illinois General Assembly will also have a period to reject decisions by the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC) to increase rates.
Strengthening Illinois’ Sustainable Energy Economy
In addition to promoting energy efficiency and establishing new energy sources, CRGA will help grow Illinois’ renewable energy economy, create new jobs, promote employment equity and jump-start new energy projects across the state.
- Searching for new opportunities in the field of sustainable energy: Direct the IPA to propose tenders for long-term renewable energy contracts for approval by the ICC.
- Protect renewable energy growth from inflation: Prevent inflation from disrupting procurement by linking the Renewable Portfolio Standard budget cap to inflation.
- Encourage community-driven sustainable energy projects: Increase the maximum size for community solar projects to 10 MW.
- Extending renewable energy siting reforms to storage projects: Allow the ICC to accelerate renewable energy projects before federal tax credits expire.
- Establish a Solar Bill of Rights: Allow Illinois residents served by municipal and cooperative utilities to install rooftop solar panels.
- Create and maintain equal employment opportunities:
- Requires network-scale storage projects to meet labor and equity standards that ensure historically underserved communities benefit from new jobs created by these projects.
- Fund technical assistance to help small and disadvantaged businesses meet the requirements of the Project Labor Agreement.
- Require utilities to give the ICC 45 days’ notice before making substantial changes to their workforce, thereby improving employment stability.
The solar industry celebrates new law
Solar Powers Illinoisa partnership between the Illinois Solar Energy and Storage Association (ISEA), Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), and Coalition for Community Access to Solar Energy (CCSA), released the following statement regarding the CRGA Act:
“Today, Illinois became the first state to pass comprehensive legislation to address the electricity affordability crisis when Governor JB Pritzker signed the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability (CRGA) Act. CRGA is a critical step toward lowering Illinois’ rapidly rising energy bills over time as the state’s economy and clean energy pipelines continue to grow.
“By investing in solar energy, energy storage and virtual power plants, CRGA will save consumers $13 billion on electric bills over the next twenty years, create tens of thousands of good-paying jobs across the state, invest in Illinois’ economy and help achieve Illinois’ goal of a 100% clean electric grid.
“CRGA will also strengthen opportunities for the nearly 6,000 Illinoisans who work in the solar industry, creating new jobs in construction, manufacturing, sales and other positions for people entering this field.
“This legislation strengthens Illinois’ national leadership to ensure residents and businesses have access to an affordable, reliable, and clean electric grid, building on the legacy of previous landmark energy legislation, including the Future Energy Jobs Act (FEJA) of 2017 and the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) of 2021.”
Tags: Coalition for Community Solar Access, community solar, energy storage, Illinois, SEIA, utility scale
