Tesla Backup Switch Approved for ComEd Territory, Providing Reliable Backup Power for Illinois Residents

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

Tesla Backup Switch Approved for ComEd Territory, Providing Reliable Backup Power for Illinois Residents

Rockford, IL — Residents across ComEd territory in Illinois can now benefit from the Tesla Backup Switch, recently approved for installation with a CECHA-certified designation. A CECHA-approved sticker will accompany each Backup Switch installation, signaling full compliance with local regulations and expanding access to this innovative solution for backup power and grid independence.

With severe weather and power outages becoming more frequent, the Tesla Backup Switch offers homeowners an essential tool for energy security. The Backup Switch seamlessly disconnects a home from the grid when a power outage is detected, allowing the Tesla Powerwall to take over and instantly power essential appliances and systems. It’s a complete solution designed to keep homes running even during extended outages, helping families stay connected and comfortable.

Easy Installation for Homeowners

The Tesla Backup Switch has been designed with ease of installation in mind, ensuring a smooth, hassle-free setup for homeowners. Certified installers can integrate the Backup Switch into an existing solar or electrical system without major modifications, reducing both installation time and cost. Once the switch is installed, it operates automatically, requiring minimal ongoing maintenance, providing peace of mind for users. Tesla’s streamlined installation process is further enhanced by local partnerships with certified technicians, ensuring a fast and reliable deployment.

This approval is timely as Illinois prepares for upcoming changes to its net metering policies, set to take effect on January 1, 2025, in line with the Future Energy Jobs Act. Under the new framework, net metering benefits will be reduced for new solar customers, impacting how they are credited for excess power sent back to the grid. Existing customers will be grandfathered in under current net metering rules, but new customers will see credits only on the supply portion of their bill.

To support new solar users, Illinois will introduce a Distributed Generation (DG) Rebate, providing an upfront payment of at least $300 per kilowatt of generating capacity for systems that utilize smart inverters. The Tesla Backup Switch offers homeowners a way to get the most out of their solar investments by allowing them to access stored energy during grid outages and take full advantage of solar power on-site.

The Tesla Backup Switch and Powerwall solution is designed to meet the needs of Illinois residents looking to strengthen their energy independence, particularly those in areas where grid outages are common. This CECHA approval highlights Tesla’s commitment to local standards and requirements, ensuring that residents in ComEd territory have access to reliable and resilient energy solutions.

About Tesla’s Backup Switch
The Tesla Backup Switch is a key component of Tesla’s Powerwall system, designed to enhance home energy independence by providing whole-home backup capabilities. In the event of an outage, the Backup Switch instantly disconnects from the grid, enabling stored solar power to take over seamlessly. The system can only be installed in whole-home backup configurations, maximizing energy security for residents in areas prone to grid instability.

About Illinois Net Metering
Net metering benefits for renewable energy customers will change effective January 1, 2025. Full retail rate net metering will no longer be available to customers interconnecting renewable energy systems after December 31, 2024. Customers receiving permission to operate after such date will be eligible to receive only energy supply credits for their excess energy sent back to the grid.

In order to guarantee utility review prior to the deadline, all required documentation, including a Certificate of Completion (COC) and a Witness Test Request (WTR), as applicable, must be received by the utility no later than 5pm Central Time on December 31, 2024. A customer’s renewable energy system must be approved for interconnection, installed, and have requested permission to operate from ComEd prior to January 1, 2025 in order to be eligible to take service on one of the net metering rates which receives full retail rate net metering credits.

Customers with renewable energy systems that are eligible for one of these legacy rates on December 31, 2024, shall maintain eligibility for the lifetime of the system, with subsequent customers inheriting such eligibility. The current Interconnection Application review processes will not change.

For more information on the Tesla Backup Switch, the CECHA certification, or upcoming changes to net metering policies in Illinois, please contact SOL POWER Administration (815) 491-4445 or solmidwestinfo@gmail.com