There’s never been a better time to talk to your customers about upgrading their equipment. The 2026 incentive updates bring more opportunities and higher rebate amounts, helping make energy-efficient equipment even more accessible—and easier to sell.

Several key categories have increased incentives, giving you stronger selling points across high-demand equipment. Highlights include:

• Combination ovens: up to $2,700
• Conveyor broilers: up to $2,850
• Deck ovens: up to $1,700
• Dishwashers: up to $1,250
• Steam cookers: up to $6,050
• Fryers: up to $900

Demand-Controlled Kitchen Ventilation (DCKV) remains a valuable, cost-effective option to discuss with customers looking for impactful savings.

The bottom line for you: Higher incentives make it easier for customers to say yes to equipment upgrades.

Use these updated rebate levels to re-engage past leads, strengthen current conversations, and position upgrades as a smart move right now.

With more money on the table, you have a powerful reason to start the conversation today.

Helping customers understand available incentives is one thing—making it easy for them to take the next step is another.

That’s why we’ve created a ready-to-use Dealer Toolkit designed to help you promote energy-efficient upgrades and drive more conversations at every touchpoint.

This toolkit gives you simple, plug-and-play materials to use in-store and online, including:

• Ready-to-use social media content to keep your channels active and relevant
• QR code program cards to share directly with customers
• Storefront posters to promote incentives in your space
• Window clings customers can take with them and display
• Customer thank-you letters to reinforce relationships after the sale

The bottom line for you: The easier you make it for customers to see, understand, and act on savings opportunities, the more likely they are to move forward. This toolkit helps you do just that.

If you have not received your toolkit, reach out to your program outreach specialist today!

Spring and summer aren’t just busy seasons; they’re pressure tests for restaurant kitchens.

The busiest season is when efficiency matters most.

Energy-efficient equipment helps to protect fresh inventory, reduce heat, and lower costs when usage is at its peak.

The bottom line for you: Spring and summer are decision seasons. Connect energy efficiency to what operators are facing right now: handling higher volume, managing heat, and keeping up with seasonal demand.

When efficiency is positioned as a way to stay competitive during peak season, the conversation shifts from “upgrade later” to “we need this now.”

Not every customer will qualify for the Illinois Commercial Food Service Equipment Program, but that doesn’t have to slow down your sales.

When a project hits an eligibility roadblock, it’s an opportunity to step in as a trusted resource and guide customers toward other ways to save.

Many utilities across Illinois offer their own business incentive programs, with rebates available for a wide range of energy-efficient equipment. By pointing customers to these options, you can help them stay on track with upgrades while still reducing upfront costs, keeping momentum going instead of losing it.

The bottom line for you: “Not eligible” isn’t the end of the conversation, it’s a chance to build trust.

When you can confidently direct customers to other savings opportunities, you position yourself as a knowledgeable partner, not just a vendor. That kind of support goes a long way in strengthening relationships and winning future business.

Have a customer who didn’t qualify?
Help them explore additional savings opportunities through their local utility programs below.