Indexed REC RFP – ANNOUNCEMENT: Stakeholder Comment Process on Benchmark Categories of Inputs, Assumptions and Data Sources

The 2026 Long-Term Plan provides for a procurement of Indexed Renewable Energy Credits (“Indexed RECs”) from new utility-scale wind projects, new utility-scale solar projects, new brownfield site photovoltaic projects, and new hydropower projects at an existing dam or modernized or retooled hydropower projects at an existing dam this Summer 2026.

Chapter 5.8 of the 2026 Long-Term Plan describes a comment process to be held as part of the benchmark development process for each Indexed REC procurement event. Recognizing that potential bidders have a strong interest in understanding and helping shape the inputs and assumptions informing benchmark development, while also balancing that interest against the need to maintain the confidentiality of benchmarks and ensure the integrity of the competitive bidding process, potential bidders and other stakeholders are provided an opportunity to comment on:

• Categories of cost, revenue, and other inputs and assumptions utilized within the benchmark development methodology; and
• General data sources potentially utilized by the Procurement Administrator.

Comments will be reviewed for consideration by the Procurement Administrator, Procurement Monitor, IPA, and ICC staff in the development of benchmark prices used for the upcoming Summer 2026 Indexed REC RFP. The IPA and the Procurement Administrator hope that this process will provide increased transparency into the Indexed REC procurement process.

Additional information on the comment process, benchmark development process, and benchmark use in competitive procurement events is provided in an Invitation to Comment posted on the procurement website. The Procurement Administrator invites feedback from participants of past procurement events for RECs, prospective participants, and other interested parties. The deadline to provide comments is on Friday, April 10, 2026 and all comments should be sent to Illinois-RFP@nera.com.

Please direct all questions to the Procurement Administrator at: Illinois-RFP@nera.com.