Policy

Information on Illinois energy efficiency policies developed through SAG is available on this page.

Policy Manual Background

The Illinois Attorney General’s Office requested the development of an “Illinois energy efficiency Policy Manual” in the 2014-2017 EE Plan dockets. In the Final Commission Orders approving the three-year gas and electric energy efficiency plans covering June 2014 through May 2017, the Commission directed the utilities to work with SAG to complete an Illinois Energy Efficiency Policy Manual. See Ameren IL Final Order, ICC Docket No. 13-0498 (p. 129); ComEd Final Order, ICC Docket No. 13-0495 (p. 130); DCEO Final Order, ICC Docket No. 13-0499 (p. 23); Nicor Gas Final Order, ICC Docket No. 13-0549 (p. 57-58); and Peoples Gas-North Shore Gas Final Order, ICC Docket No. 13-0550 (p. 56).

  • Policy Manual Version 1.0: A Policy Manual Subcommittee was formed in summer 2014 to discuss and reach agreement on an Illinois Policy Manual. Meetings were held from July 2014 to July 2015 to develop the first version of the Policy Manual. Policy Manual Version 1.0 was approved by the Commission in December 2015.
  • Policy Manual Version 1.1: Policy Manual Version 1.1 was developed in spring 2017 and approved by the Commission in October 2017, to incorporate updates needed due to the passage of the Future Energy Jobs Act.
  • Policy Manual Version 2.0: Policy Manual Version 2.0 was developed from September 2018 to September 2019, to incorporate various new policies and policy updates proposed by interested Policy Manual Subcommittee participants. Version 2.0 was approved by the Commission in December 2019.
  • Policy Manual Version 2.1: Policy Manual Version 2.1 was updated in fall 2021, to incorporate corrections needed due to passage of the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act.
  • Policy Manual Version 3.0: Policy Manual Version 3.0 was updated from June 2o22 to fall 2023, to incorporate various proposed policy updates submitted by interested Subcommittee participants.
  • Policy Manual Version 3.1: Policy Manual Version 3.1 was updated in fall 2025, to update the cadence of certain utility reporting from quarterly to semi-annually, as well as clarify and align reporting requirements and procedures.

Illinois Policy Documents

Illinois Energy Efficiency Policy Manual

See below for links to previous versions of the Illinois Energy Efficiency Policy Manual.

Illinois Technical Reference Manual (TRM) Policy Document

SAG Policy Tracker

The purpose of the SAG Policy Tracker is to track policy issues to be considered in a future update to the IL EE Policy Manual or IL-TRM Policy Document.  The Policy Tracker will be updated following resolution of policy issues, or when policy questions are raised that may need to be addressed in a future update to the Policy Manual. The following policy issue is on the tracking list for inclusion in a future policy update process:

Process for Addressing Policy Issues

  • Policy issues are typically resolved through the SAG Policy Manual Subcommittee update process, which occurs once every 3-4 years. However, policy questions may arise that require discussion and resolution while the Policy Manual Subcommittee is inactive.
  • The Policy Manual Subcommittee is currently inactive, since Policy Manual Version 3.0 and IL-TRM Policy Document Version 4.0 were approved by the Commission in December 2023.
  • While the Policy Manual Subcommittee is inactive, open policy issues will be resolved in the following manner:
    1. The SAG Facilitator will review policy requests and schedule for SAG discussion as needed.
    2. Background on the policy request will be presented to interested SAG participants.
    3. Proposed policy resolution will be circulated to SAG for review, including a request for edits or questions, with a minimum of ten (10) Business Days provided for review.
    4. If the SAG Facilitator receives substantive edits, questions or concerns regarding proposed resolution of an open policy issue, a follow-up SAG discussion will be held with interested SAG participants.
    5. Final resolution will be documented on this Policy page.
    6. The SAG Facilitator will maintain a “Policy Tracker” describing any policies to be considered in a future update to the Policy Manual or IL-TRM Policy Document.
  • Policy resolution may require a Stipulated Agreement. Whether or not a stipulated agreement is required will be determined by utilities and non-financially interested stakeholders.

The following policies were resolved outside of a comprehensive policy update process:

SAG Financial Conflict of Interest Policy

The SAG Process Guidance Document includes a “SAG Financial Conflict of Interest Policy”: SAG Process Guidance 2026 Update (Final 7/30/2026)

2026 NTG for Disadvantaged Areas Policy Interpretation Issue

In December 2025, questions were raised about how Illinois evaluators are interpreting the Net-to-Gross (NTG) for Disadvantaged Areas Policy (from Section 7.4 of the Illinois Energy Efficiency Policy Manual). This issue was discussed during the June 8 Large Group SAG meeting, with an opportunity for written feedback. There was a second opportunity for written feedback in August 2026, on a potential compromise. This issue did not reach consensus in 2026. Click here for additional information on the NTG for Disadvantaged Areas policy interpretation issue, and to review the comments that were submitted.

2026 Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) Attribution Policy

An Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) savings attribution policy proposal was presented by Illinois utilities during the January 13 Large Group SAG meeting. A SAG Small Group meeting was held on March 3, 2026, to discuss feedback received on the Inflation Reduction Act (IRA) savings attribution policy proposal presented in January. In June 2026, proposed policy language was circulated for review, prepared by Illinois utilities, in coordination with Illinois EPA and DCEO. Comments were due in July 2026. Click here for additional information and to review the comments that were submitted. The final policy was circulated to SAG Small Group participants in October 2026:

2025 ComEd New Construction Eligibility Policy Proposal

During the July 23, 2025 Large Group SAG meeting, ComEd presented a proposed policy regarding income eligibility verification guidelines for the Electric Homes New Construction (EHNC) Program. ComEd proposed policy language and there was an opportunity for written feedback, due in August 2025. There was a follow-up discussion during the September 8, 2025 Reporting Working Group meeting, with an opportunity for additional written feedback after the meeting. This issue did not reach consensus in 2025. Click here for additional information on the new construction eligibility policy proposal, and to review the comments that were submitted.

2025 Illinois TRM Policy Issues

Four TRM policy issues were introduced to the Large Group SAG on June 9, 2025:

  1. Review and potential update of stakeholder compromise on general service lamps
  2. New measures involving renewable/solar generation
  3. Energy efficiency upgrades at a site with significant on-site generation
  4. Revisiting the Electric Vehicle as an efficiency measure issue

There was a follow-up discussion on solar policy issues on June 23, 2025. A SAG Small Group meeting was held on July 9, 2025 to follow-up on policy issues 1 and 4. Click here for additional information on the 2025 TRM policy issues, and to review the comments that were submitted. The solar policy issue was resolved in 2026 by the ICC in Docket No. 25-1066.

ICC Dockets to Update the Policy Manual

  • 15-0487: Petition to approve an Illinois Energy Efficiency Policy Manual Version 1.0
  • 17-0270: Adoption of the Policy Document for the Illinois Statewide Technical Reference Manual for Energy Efficiency Version 2.0 and the Illinois Energy Efficiency Policy Manual Version 1.1
  • 19-0983: Petition to Approve Illinois Energy Efficiency Policy Documents (Policy Manual Version 2.0 and IL-TRM Policy Document Version 3.0)
    22-0005: Adoption of the Policy Document for the Illinois Statewide Technical Reference Manual for Energy Efficiency Version 3.1 and of the Illinois Energy Efficiency Policy Manual Version 2.1
  • 23-0761: Adoption of the Policy Document for the Illinois Statewide Technical Reference Manual for EE Version 4.0 and of the Illinois EE Policy Manual Version 3.0
  • 25-0984: Adoption of Illinois Energy Efficiency Policy Manual Version 3.1