What Nicor Gas pays in 2026
Buy and install the product between January 1 and December 31, 2026, then apply within 90 days of the install or by January 31, 2027, whichever comes first.
High-efficiency gas furnace
$150 for a furnace rated at least 95% efficient and $225 for one rated at least 97%. The rating is called AFUE, which is the share of the gas that becomes heat.
Smart thermostat
One per household. Bundle it with a furnace on the same application and the pair pays $200 (95% furnace) or $275 (97% furnace).
Boilers and water heaters
Boiler $350, boiler that also heats your hot water $500, gas tankless water heater $150, power-vented or condensing tank water heater $150.
Air sealing and insulation
Air sealing $500, attic insulation $400, wall insulation $150, foundation wall insulation $200 and duct sealing $600. A program-approved contractor must do the work.
Windows
Storm window inserts $100 each up to $1,000, and high performance replacement windows $100 to $125 each up to $3,000 per home.
Nicor Gas also lists pool covers ($1.25 or $0.75 a square foot) for gas-heated pools. Rebates cannot be more than what you paid, and all of them depend on the funding that is left.
Who gets Nicor Gas rebates
You must be a current Nicor Gas residential customer, and the home must be your main residence. The product must be new, installed in a single-family home or a building with up to two units, and installed in a home you own or have the owner's permission to change. A landlord can apply too.
If your bill comes from Peoples Gas, you live in Chicago and should read our Peoples Gas guide. If your gas comes from Ameren Illinois, see the Ameren Illinois page.
The rule about replacing gas with gas
Nicor's terms say the new product must replace an existing natural gas product used for the same purpose. Products that replace electric equipment do not count, and neither do electric products that replace gas ones. So the furnace rebate is for gas furnace owners who stay with gas. If you plan to switch to a heat pump, your electric company is the one to ask. In most of the Nicor area that is ComEd, and in Naperville it is Naperville Electric.
You can still get a Nicor rebate for air sealing and insulation even if you later add a heat pump. Sealing the house first often lets you buy a smaller heat pump, and that saves money.
Insulation rules in plain words
The attic rebate has three conditions. Air sealing must be done first, the old insulation must be R-20 or less, and the new total must be R-49 or more. R-value is a number for how well the layer stops heat, and a bigger number is better. You must send before and after photos with a ruler showing the depth. If your attic has vermiculite or perlite, which looks like small gray pebbles, Nicor says to talk to a trained person first because it can contain harmful material.
The air sealing rebate needs a drop of at least 200 on the blower door test, which is a fan test that measures air leaks. Wall insulation rebates only apply to walls with R-5 or less already in them. Duct sealing is for ducts that run through unheated spaces such as a crawl space.
Window rebates
High performance windows must be ENERGY STAR certified for your climate zone and at least 8 square feet. The most you can get is $3,000 a home. If you also seal the air leaks, that work has to be finished and tested before the windows go in. The invoice must show the rebate as a line that lowers your price, along with the size and number of each window. Storm window inserts are the cheaper path, at $100 each for up to 10 windows.
Free help for lower-income households
The state's Home Weatherization Assistance Program gives free insulation, air sealing and heating repair to households at or below 200 percent of the federal poverty level. Gas customers get help through their local community action agency. See the Illinois guide for the limits.
How to claim a Nicor Gas rebate
- Check that your gas bill says Nicor Gas.
- Use Nicor's Find a Contractor tool for air sealing, insulation, duct sealing and window work.
- Make sure the installer's quote lists the model and efficiency rating.
- After the work, apply online at nicorgas.com/apply or mail the paper form with the invoice and proof of payment.
- Keep serial numbers and photos, which Nicor can ask for. Rebates arrive in six to eight weeks, as a prepaid card or a check.
Our pages for Nicor Gas customers
- Aurora: ComEd electricity and Nicor Gas.
- Naperville: City electric utility and Nicor Gas.
Guides
- Illinois rebate hub
- ComEd rebates
- Aurora heat pump rebates
- Naperville insulation rebates
- Illinois appliance rebates
Common questions
How much is the Nicor Gas furnace rebate?
$150 for a furnace rated 95% efficient or better and $225 for 97% or better. If you add a smart thermostat on the same application, the total becomes $200 or $275.
Does Nicor Gas pay for a heat pump?
Not on the pages we read. Nicor's rebates replace gas equipment with gas equipment. Ask your electric company about heat pump discounts.
What is the deadline to apply?
Install in 2026 and apply within 90 days of the install or by January 31, 2027, whichever comes first.
Can I stack the Nicor furnace rebate with ComEd's thermostat rebate?
Nicor's page says a ComEd thermostat rebate does not block the Nicor thermostat rebate, as long as everything else qualifies. A Nicor rebate you got from another Nicor offer would block it.
Do I need a special contractor?
For air sealing, insulation, duct sealing and window work, yes. They must be program-approved. For furnaces, boilers and water heaters, a professional installer is required unless the page says otherwise.
Is there a limit per home?
Smart thermostats are limited to one per household. Window rebates top out at $3,000, storm inserts at $1,000, and air sealing at $500.
By Sam Menard. Sources, last read October 6, 2026: Nicor Gas residential rebates, Nicor Gas 2026 residential rebate application, Illinois Home Weatherization Assistance Program. All rebate programs →