Ameren Illinois Solar + Time-of-Use Rates in 2026: Does When You Use Electricity Matter?

Updated: September 18, 2026 · Estimated read time: 11 minutes

You installed solar.

Your panels produce electricity during the day.

You use electricity all day and all night.

So here's a question that many Illinois solar homeowners never get asked:

Does when you use electricity matter almost as much as how much electricity you use?

For Ameren Illinois customers, that question became more interesting in 2026.

Ameren now states that, as of June 1, 2026, net-metering customers can choose from all five available rate options and can use the rate-comparison tool available through their online Account Dashboard.

That doesn't mean every solar homeowner should immediately switch rates.

It means homeowners now have another variable worth understanding:

Solar production + household usage + rate structure.

For some homes, shifting certain electricity use could potentially improve the economics.

For others, changing rates could actually increase the bill.

Let's break down why.

Quick Answer

Yes, when you use electricity can matter for an Ameren Illinois solar home.

But exactly how it matters depends on the rate or program.

Ameren Illinois currently offers options that include:

• Standard residential service

• Hourly supply pricing through Power Smart Pricing

• EV-focused time-sensitive delivery pricing through ChargeSmart

• Other eligible rate choices available through the customer's Ameren account

Ameren says net-metering customers gained access to all five rate choices beginning June 1, 2026.

The important thing is that these options do not all work the same way.

For example:

Power Smart Pricing changes the price of the electricity supply hour by hour.

ChargeSmart changes parts of the delivery economics for eligible EV owners depending on when household electricity is used.

And Ameren's standard residential delivery structure doesn't require you to constantly watch the clock.

So the right answer isn't:

“Solar customers should switch to time-of-use pricing.”

It's:

“Compare the rate against how your particular household actually uses electricity.”

Table of Contents

1. What changed for Ameren solar customers in 2026?

2. Why does your rate still matter after solar?

3. Supply charges vs. delivery charges

4. How Power Smart Pricing works

5. How ChargeSmart works for EV owners

6. Solar production vs. household usage

7. The problem with evening electricity use

8. Solar-only example

9. Solar + EV example

10. Solar + battery example

11. Why changing rates can also cost more

12. What does net metering change?

13. How to use Ameren's rate-comparison tool

14. Should you change your rate before installing solar?

15. Questions to ask before switching

16. Frequently asked questions

What Changed for Ameren Illinois Solar Customers in 2026?

This is the development that makes this article timely.

Ameren Illinois currently states:

As of June 1, 2026, net-metering customers can choose from all five rate options.

Ameren also says those customers have access to its rate-comparison tool through the online Account Dashboard.

That's important because solar customers historically had additional billing and net-metering considerations that could limit or complicate rate selection.

Now homeowners can evaluate more options.

You can verify the current policy through Ameren's official Customer-Owned Solar resources.

But having more choices doesn't automatically mean changing rates is a good idea.

First you need to understand your electricity pattern.

Why Does Your Electric Rate Still Matter After Solar?

Because solar doesn't usually eliminate your connection to the grid.

Your home might follow a pattern like this:

1:00 PM

Your panels are producing strongly.

Your home consumes some of that electricity.

Excess production may go to the grid.

6:00 PM

Solar production is falling.

But your household usage may be rising.

You're:

• Cooking dinner

• Running air conditioning

• Using appliances

• Watching television

• Charging electronics

• Doing laundry

Midnight

Your panels produce:

0 kWh

but your home still uses electricity.

So even if your solar system produces enough electricity over an entire year to offset much of your annual consumption, your home still interacts with the electric grid.

That's why:

Solar production timing and electricity-consumption timing are different things.

Our Illinois Net Metering 2026 guide explains this relationship in more detail.

Supply Charges and Delivery Charges Are Different

This distinction is extremely important before discussing Ameren rate options.

Your electric bill isn't simply:

Electricity × one rate

There are different components.

Two of the most important are:

Supply

The electricity itself.

Delivery

The infrastructure and service involved in delivering electricity to your property.

Different Ameren programs can affect different portions of that bill.

For example:

Power Smart Pricing

Changes how the supply portion of electricity is priced.

ChargeSmart

Primarily affects delivery charges for eligible EV-owning households.

Those are not interchangeable programs.

That's why a homeowner shouldn't simply hear:

“This is a time-of-use rate.”

and assume they understand the economics.

Ask:

“Which part of my bill changes?”

What Is Ameren Illinois Power Smart Pricing?

Ameren Illinois' Power Smart Pricing, or PSP, is an optional hourly electricity-supply program for residential customers.

Instead of paying one supply price throughout the day, your electricity supply price varies:

Hour by hour.

Ameren says the hourly market prices are established ahead of time, with the following day's prices posted after approximately 5 PM.

That means tomorrow might look something like this conceptually:

2:00 AM — lower price

10:00 AM — moderate price

5:00 PM — higher price

The actual hourly prices vary.

There isn't one permanent:

“Peak period from X to Y”

for Power Smart Pricing.

The market determines the hourly supply price.

That's an important distinction from fixed time-of-use programs.

You can review current information through Ameren Illinois Power Smart Pricing.

Why Could Hourly Pricing Matter for a Solar Home?

Solar production often overlaps with daylight hours.

Imagine your solar system produces strongly from:

10 AM through 3 PM.

Your house directly uses much of that electricity.

Then your grid consumption shifts later into the evening.

Under hourly pricing, the cost of the electricity you pull from the grid depends partly on the market price during those particular hours.

This makes a homeowner's load profile more important.

Two households can consume:

12,000 kWh per year

and have very different bills.

Why?

Because Household A uses electricity heavily during one group of hours.

Household B uses the same annual amount at completely different times.

Solar adds another layer because some daytime electricity demand can be supplied directly by the roof instead of the grid.

Solar Production Is Already a Form of Load Management

This is an interesting way to think about rooftop solar.

Imagine your home normally consumes:

4 kW

at 1 PM.

Your solar system is producing:

3 kW

at that moment.

Instead of pulling:

4 kW from the grid

you're effectively pulling:

1 kW from the grid

while your solar supplies the rest.

That's one reason self-consumption can matter.

Under Illinois' newer supply-only net-metering structure, the economics of:

Using solar directly

and:

Exporting solar and buying electricity back later

can differ.

For Ameren customers beginning net-metering service after January 1, 2025, Ameren currently says excess generation credits apply to the supply portion of the bill rather than delivery.

Read our Ameren vs. ComEd vs. CWLP Solar guide for the broader utility comparison.

CHECK MY HOME

Want to understand how solar fits your actual Ameren electricity usage?

CHECK MY HOME

A useful solar analysis should consider more than annual electricity consumption.

It should also consider:

Your utility.

Your expected solar production.

Your future energy needs.

Whether you have an EV.

Whether you're considering battery storage.

Solar production, rate-plan savings, net-metering credits, incentives, and utility costs vary. Ameren tariffs and program rules can change.

What Is Ameren Illinois ChargeSmart?

ChargeSmart is especially interesting for homeowners who own or lease an:

Electric vehicle.

Unlike Power Smart Pricing, ChargeSmart primarily affects the delivery portion of the electric bill.

Ameren currently divides the day into three periods.

Preferred Charging Period

11 PM – 7 AM

Ameren currently gives participating residential customers a delivery credit for electricity used during this period.

As of the current 2026 program:

Summer: $0.02/kWh delivery credit

Non-summer: $0.01/kWh delivery credit

Standard Charging Period

7 AM – 11 AM

and:

7 PM – 11 PM

No special ChargeSmart credit or peak-use charge applies during those hours.

Non-Preferred Charging Period

11 AM – 7 PM

Here's where the program becomes particularly important.

Ameren currently assesses an additional charge based on the household's single highest-use hour during this period in the billing cycle.

The current program lists that charge at:

$0.65 per kWh for that highest-use hour.

Ameren also currently provides a:

$4 monthly enrollment credit

during the first 12 consecutive months of participation.

Program terms can change, so verify the current numbers through Ameren Illinois ChargeSmart.

Can Solar and ChargeSmart Work Together?

Yes.

Ameren specifically says:

Solar net metering and ChargeSmart can be used together.

And here's where it becomes interesting.

Suppose it's:

2 PM

on a sunny day.

Your air conditioner, appliances, and other household equipment create significant electric demand.

Normally, that usage could contribute to the household's high-demand period.

But your solar array is producing electricity at the same time.

Some of the household demand is being supplied by:

Solar → Home

instead of:

Grid → Home

Ameren itself notes that solar production can potentially help reduce a ChargeSmart customer's peak-hour delivery charge.

That doesn't guarantee savings.

But it demonstrates why solar production timing can matter.

EV Charging Changes the Solar Conversation

An EV can become one of the largest controllable electrical loads in a home.

Imagine arriving home at:

5:30 PM

and immediately plugging the car in.

Your vehicle starts drawing:

7 kW

while:

• Air conditioning is running

• Dinner is being cooked

• Other household loads are active

That's a very different load profile from scheduling the EV to begin charging at:

11:30 PM

when many other household loads have decreased.

ChargeSmart specifically encourages EV charging during:

11 PM – 7 AM.

Ameren also offers FlexCharge, which can automatically schedule compatible EV charging around more favorable times.

You can learn more through Ameren's FlexCharge program.

But Wait—Wouldn't It Be Better to Charge an EV During the Day With Solar?

Sometimes.

This is where solar design becomes more interesting than generic advice.

Suppose your vehicle is parked at home during a sunny afternoon.

Your solar array is producing excess electricity.

Charging your EV directly could allow:

Solar → EV

rather than:

Solar → Grid

Under Illinois' newer supply-only net-metering rules, directly consuming solar can potentially have more value than exporting electricity and later pulling replacement electricity from the grid.

So now there are two potential strategies.

Strategy A

Charge EV during daylight hours using excess solar.

Strategy B

Charge EV overnight to take advantage of ChargeSmart's preferred charging period.

Which is better?

It depends.

You need to consider:

• Solar production

• How much excess solar is available

• Net-metering credit value

• Delivery credits

• Household peak demand

• EV charging speed

• Whether the car is home during the day

• Your rate structure

There is no universal answer.

Example 1: Solar-Only Household

Imagine a household with:

12,000 kWh annual usage

and:

No EV

The family leaves for work around 8 AM.

The house is relatively quiet during daylight hours.

Solar production is high.

Household usage rises substantially after:

5 PM.

This home may export a meaningful amount of daytime solar and pull substantial electricity from the grid during evening hours.

For this household, it could be worth comparing:

• Standard pricing

• Hourly supply pricing

• Load shifting

• Battery economics

But the fact that the home has solar does not automatically make hourly pricing better.

The household should compare its actual historical load pattern.

Example 2: Solar + Work-From-Home Household

Now imagine the same annual usage.

But someone works from home.

During the day they're:

• Running HVAC

• Cooking lunch

• Running computers

• Doing laundry

• Using appliances

This household naturally consumes more solar electricity while it's being produced.

Its grid-demand pattern can therefore look very different.

Same annual usage.

Same size solar system.

Different interaction with the grid.

That means a different rate could potentially produce a different result.

Example 3: Solar + EV Household

Now add an EV.

The home's annual electricity usage rises.

But the owner can control when a major portion of that additional electricity is consumed.

They could charge:

During sunny afternoons

or:

Overnight

or:

Immediately after arriving home

Those choices can interact differently with:

• Solar production

• ChargeSmart

• Power Smart Pricing

• Net metering

• Household demand

The EV isn't just:

More annual kWh.

It's a large, schedulable load.

That's why future EV ownership should be considered when designing the solar system in the first place.

Our 100% vs. 110% Solar Offset guide explains why future electricity needs can affect system sizing.

Example 4: Solar + Battery Household

Now add battery storage.

During strong solar production:

Solar → Home

then potentially:

Excess solar → Battery

Later:

Battery → Home

That means less electricity may need to be pulled from the grid during certain hours.

In theory, this gives the homeowner more control over the timing of grid consumption.

But don't immediately conclude:

“Hourly pricing + battery = guaranteed savings.”

Battery economics still depend on:

• Battery cost

• Capacity

• Power output

• Efficiency

• Degradation

• Utility rebate

• Program obligations

• Household consumption

• Actual hourly electricity prices

Read LuNova's Solar Battery or No Battery? Illinois Homeowner Guide before treating storage purely as a rate-arbitrage tool.

Don't Change Your Rate Just Because You Have Solar

This section may be the most important part of the article.

Having solar doesn't automatically make a time-sensitive or hourly rate better.

Suppose hourly electricity prices happen to be high during the hours when your home regularly pulls large amounts of electricity from the grid.

Your costs could increase.

Ameren itself emphasizes that Power Smart Pricing works best when customers can shift electricity use toward lower-priced hours.

The same general principle applies to ChargeSmart:

If you consistently create your largest household demand during the Non-Preferred Charging Period, the program may work very differently than it does for a homeowner who shifts major loads overnight.

A rate isn't:

Good

or:

Bad

in isolation.

It has to match the household.

What Loads Can You Actually Shift?

Some household loads are easier to move than others.

Dishwasher

Easy.

Use a delay-start timer.

Laundry

Often flexible.

Electric dryer

Potentially flexible.

EV charging

Very flexible for many households.

Electric water heater

May offer some scheduling opportunities depending on equipment.

Pool pump

Often schedulable.

Hot tub

Potentially schedulable.

Battery charging

Potentially controllable.

But other loads aren't so simple.

Central air conditioning

You probably don't want to shut the AC off completely during an Illinois heat wave simply because electricity is expensive.

Cooking

Dinner still tends to happen around dinner time.

Medical equipment

Not flexible.

Refrigeration

Needs continuous electricity.

That's why realistic load shifting matters more than theoretical load shifting.

Can a Smart Thermostat Help?

Potentially.

A solar household could potentially:

Pre-cool during strong solar production

and then reduce HVAC demand later.

But the actual benefit depends on:

• Home insulation

• Weather

• HVAC system

• Comfort preferences

• Solar production

• Rate plan

Don't sacrifice comfort trying to micromanage every kilowatt-hour.

The goal is:

Intelligent energy use.

Not:

Living your life around the electric meter.

How Does Ameren Net Metering Affect This?

For applications beginning after January 1, 2025, Ameren currently gives excess solar generation credits on the:

Supply portion of the bill.

Ameren currently allows new net-metering customers to choose between:

kWh Usage Netting

Excess generation and accumulated kWh credits reduce qualifying supply usage.

or:

Monetary Value Netting

Excess generation is converted into monetary supply credits based on applicable supply pricing.

Ameren currently states that the selection is:

A one-time decision.

and cannot later be changed.

Ameren also says these newer excess-generation credits do not expire and carry forward until used.

That's something homeowners should understand before completing the net-metering election.

For a broader explanation, read our Illinois Net Metering 2026 guide.

Hourly Pricing Makes the Net-Metering Conversation More Interesting

Ameren's tariff recognizes time-of-use supply arrangements such as:

• Real-time pricing

• Hourly supply service

Under an hourly structure, the economic value associated with electricity can vary depending on timing.

That creates a more complicated question than:

“How many kWh did I export?”

Now timing may matter too.

For the average homeowner, the best approach is not to manually model wholesale energy markets.

Use the tools Ameren provides.

Use Ameren's Rate Comparison Tool

This is one of the biggest reasons I like this 2026 change.

Ameren says net-metering customers now have access to the:

Rate Comparison Tool

through their online Account Dashboard.

That means you don't necessarily have to guess whether another rate would have worked better.

Your own historical electricity usage can help inform the comparison.

Before changing anything:

1. Log into your Ameren Illinois account.

2. Review your usage history.

3. Use the available rate-comparison information.

4. Look at several months rather than one unusual week.

5. Consider seasonal differences.

6. Think about future loads such as an EV.

7. Compare the result again after solar if your usage pattern materially changes.

The more the decision uses:

Your actual data

instead of:

Generic assumptions

the better.

Should You Change Rates Before Installing Solar?

Not necessarily.

Installing solar can materially change your grid-usage profile.

Before solar, your meter sees nearly all household electricity demand.

After solar, some of that electricity is supplied behind the meter by your panels.

Your post-solar pattern may therefore look different.

If a battery or EV is also being added, it could change again.

So it may make sense to understand the available rate options during the solar-design process while recognizing that actual post-installation data may provide the clearest picture.

Don't force the decision simply because the solar proposal says:

“Time-of-use optimization.”

Ask to see the assumptions.

Should Your Solar Proposal Include Rate-Plan Savings?

If it does, pay attention.

Suppose your proposal claims:

$125/month solar savings

plus:

$40/month rate optimization savings.

Ask:

Which Ameren rate is being modeled?

Is that rate actually available to me?

Is the estimate based on my hourly usage?

Does the calculation assume I change my behavior?

Does it assume EV charging moves overnight?

Does it include battery dispatch?

What happens if I stay on my current rate?

Rate-plan savings should not be quietly inserted into a solar-savings number without explaining the assumptions.

Our Solar Quote Checklist explains how to evaluate claims like these before signing.

What About Ameren's Solar and Battery Rebates?

Ameren Illinois currently offers qualifying residential customers smart-inverter rebates associated with distributed generation and energy storage.

Current Ameren materials list:

Solar generation

$300/kW-DC

for qualifying residential/small-commercial generator interconnection equipment.

Energy storage

$300/kWh

for qualifying storage.

But eligibility, ownership, billing treatment, storage-program participation, and other requirements matter.

A rebate doesn't automatically make:

A larger solar system

or:

A battery

the better choice.

Our Illinois Solar Incentives 2026 guide covers the broader incentive structure.

10 Questions to Ask Before Changing Your Ameren Rate

1. What rate am I on now?

Start with the actual account.

2. Which part of my bill changes?

Supply?

Delivery?

Both?

3. How much electricity do I use by hour?

Annual kWh isn't enough for this decision.

4. When does my solar system produce the most electricity?

Compare production with consumption.

5. How much solar am I exporting?

This affects the net-metering picture.

6. Do I own an EV?

And when do I normally charge it?

7. Do I have a battery?

How is it currently configured?

8. Can I realistically shift my household usage?

Not every home can.

9. What does Ameren's rate-comparison tool show?

Use your own account information.

10. What happens if my lifestyle changes?

New EV?

Work-from-home?

Retirement?

New HVAC?

Pool?

Rate decisions should reflect the household you actually expect to have.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can Ameren Illinois solar customers use time-based rates?

Yes. Ameren currently states that as of June 1, 2026, net-metering customers can choose from all five available rate options and access the rate-comparison tool in their Account Dashboard.

Is Power Smart Pricing a time-of-use rate?

Power Smart Pricing is more accurately described as hourly pricing. Electricity supply prices change hourly based on market prices established the day before rather than using one permanent peak/off-peak schedule.

Does Power Smart Pricing affect supply or delivery?

Power Smart Pricing primarily changes how electricity supply is priced.

What is ChargeSmart?

ChargeSmart is an optional Ameren Illinois EV program that changes parts of the delivery economics depending on when household electricity is consumed.

What is the best time to charge an EV on ChargeSmart?

Ameren currently identifies 11 PM to 7 AM as the Preferred Charging Period and gives qualifying participants delivery credits for usage during that time.

Can solar and ChargeSmart be used together?

Yes. Ameren explicitly states that solar net metering and ChargeSmart can work together.

Does solar automatically make hourly pricing cheaper?

No. Savings depend on when your home draws electricity from the grid and the hourly market prices during those periods.

Does a battery make hourly pricing better?

Potentially, because a battery can shift some electricity consumption between times. But battery cost, efficiency, degradation, incentives, and usage patterns must also be considered.

Do Ameren solar credits expire?

For new net-metering applications after January 1, 2025, Ameren currently says excess-generation credits carry forward until used and do not expire.

Should I change my rate based on this article?

No rate option is universally best. Review your actual Ameren account, historical usage, future energy needs, and current tariff information before changing rates.

The Bigger Lesson: Solar Isn't Just About Annual kWh

For years, solar proposals often boiled the homeowner down to:

Annual electricity usage: 12,000 kWh

Then:

Design a system producing about 12,000 kWh.

But two homes using the same annual electricity can behave completely differently.

One home consumes heavily during daylight.

Another consumes heavily after sunset.

One has an EV.

Another doesn't.

One can charge overnight.

Another has the car away from home all day.

One has a battery.

Another is solar-only.

So the next generation of better solar design shouldn't ask only:

“How much electricity do you use?”

It should also ask:

“When do you use it?”

That's increasingly important as solar, EVs, batteries, smart appliances, and more flexible electric-rate options begin interacting inside the same home.

See What Solar Looks Like for Your Ameren Home

At LuNova Solar, we believe a useful solar design should look beyond the panel count.

It should consider:

Your electricity usage.

Your utility.

Your solar-production profile.

Your future EV plans.

Your battery goals.

And when your home actually uses energy.

SEE IF YOUR HOME QUALIFIES

No one-size-fits-all rate assumptions.

Just a clearer look at how solar fits your actual home.

Related Illinois Solar Guides

Ameren vs. ComEd vs. CWLP Solar: Why Your Utility Changes Everything

Illinois Net Metering Changed: What Homeowners Need to Know in 2026

Solar Battery or No Battery? What Illinois Homeowners Actually Need

100% vs. 110% Solar Offset: How Much Solar Does an Illinois Home Actually Need?

I Got a Solar Quote. Now What? 10 Numbers to Check Before Signing

Illinois Solar Incentives in 2026

Before You Go Solar in Illinois: 7 Things Every Homeowner Should Check

Ameren Illinois Solar Guide

Illinois Solar Questions & Answers

Sources & References

Ameren Illinois — Customer-Owned Solar

Ameren Illinois — Power Smart Pricing

Ameren Illinois — ChargeSmart

Ameren Illinois — FlexCharge

Ameren Illinois — Residential Rates and Tariffs

LuNova Solar provides general educational information and does not provide financial, tax, legal, engineering, or utility-rate advice. Ameren tariffs, rate options, net-metering rules, rebates, hourly prices, EV programs, and eligibility requirements can change. Actual costs and savings vary by household, solar production, electricity use, equipment, rate selection, and other factors. Review current Ameren Illinois information and your actual account before changing rates.

Stay Ahead of Illinois Energy Changes

Solar isn't only changing how Illinois homeowners produce electricity.

It's changing how we think about when electricity is used.

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