Is solar worth it in Illinois?
For a typical Illinois home in 2026, solar is worth it: about a 13.5-year payback and $24,848 saved over 25 years after paying for the system. Check your own home, because roofs, usage and utilities vary a lot.
- Payback, typical home
- 13.5 yrs5.6 kW, paying cash
- Electricity price
- 18.8¢per kWh, U.S. 18.0¢
- Solar production
- 1,339kWh per kW per year
- Exports credited at
- ~48%Reduced export credit
The numbers for a typical Illinois home
| Electricity use | 699 kWh a month (Illinois average) |
|---|---|
| Best-value system | 5.6 kW, producing 7,499 kWh a year (89% of use) |
| Price | $19,740 at about $3.40/W |
| First-year savings | $1,341 |
| Payback | 13.5 years |
| 25-year net | $24,848 (6.5% a year return) |
| Rate increase assumed | 3.5% a year, from Illinois's 2015–2025 history |
Paying cash, no federal credit, 5% discount rate, microinverters, $25 per kW a year for maintenance and repairs. Methodology.
Why it comes out this way
- Electricity costs 18.8¢ per kWh, close to the U.S. average of 18.0¢.
- Exported solar is typically credited at about 48% of retail, so systems pay best when sized for what you use yourself.
- A typical system here produces about 1,339 kWh per kW per year (ranked #31 of 51).
- There is no federal tax credit for homeowners who buy in 2026, which adds several years to payback compared with 2025.
Net metering and export rules in Illinois
Reduced export credit. For ComEd and Ameren customers who connected on or after Jan 1, 2025, solar exports only offset the energy supply part of the bill (about 8-12 cents/kWh), not delivery charges. To compensate, the state pays an upfront $300 per kW rebate for solar with a smart inverter, and Illinois Shines pays for solar renewable energy credits.
Supply-only net metering: net exports credited at the energy supply and transmission rate (utility 'price to compare' or the retail supplier's rate); delivery charges billed on all grid imports. Customers who interconnected before 2025 keep full retail net metering.
- Netting: monthly
- Unused credits: Monthly credits carry forward within the annual period; annual true-up (credits generally expire at end of the annual period per tariff).
- System size limit: 2000 kW
- Fixed charges: Delivery customer charges and per-kWh delivery charges on all imports. CRGA requires optional TOU rates for ComEd and Ameren.
- Last major change: Jan 1, 2025: transition from full retail to supply-only netting under CEJA (2021). Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act (CRGA) signed Jan 8, 2026 (storage net metering, VPP program, TOU).
- Pending: Implementation of CRGA's virtual power plant and storage provisions; ICC proceedings ongoing.
Read net metering explained to see why export rules can swing payback by years.
| Utility | Export credit | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Commonwealth Edison (ComEd) | 9¢/kWh | Supply credit varies monthly (summer 2025 ~10 cents). Battery rebate requires hourly supply (BESH) rate. |
| Ameren Illinois | 10¢/kWh | Supply credit varies (summer 2025 ~12 cents). Battery rebate requires real-time pricing or demand response enrollment. |
Solar incentives in Illinois
The federal 30% Residential Clean Energy Credit ended for systems installed after December 31, 2025. What that means.
| Program | Type | What you get | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Distributed generation (smart inverter) rebate | rebate | $300 per kW (DC) of solar, and $300 per kWh of storage, for systems with smart inverters interconnected under supply-only net metering. Eligibility: ComEd and Ameren customers; storage rebate requires hourly/real-time pricing or DR enrollment. | active |
| Illinois Shines (Adjustable Block Program) | srec | IPA purchases 15 years of RECs from small systems, typically paid upfront to the installer/owner. Prices set per program year by group/size (2026-27 prices effective June 1, 2026; residential value commonly in the high tens of $/REC; exact figure not verified). Eligibility: Illinois systems through approved vendors. | active |
| Illinois Solar for All | low income | Enhanced REC incentives so income-eligible households get solar with no upfront cost and guaranteed savings. Eligibility: Households at or below 80% AMI and environmental justice communities. | active |
| Solar property tax special assessment | property tax exemption | Solar systems assessed no higher than a conventional energy system (35 ILCS 200/10-5 et seq.). Eligibility: Owners who apply with county assessor. | active |
What solar costs in Illinois
A fair cash price is around $3.40 per watt before incentives. For the 5.6 kW system that fits a typical home, expect roughly $16,200 to $22,800; smaller systems cost more per watt.
How many homes have solar
- Homes with net-metered solar (2025)
- 119,442
- Share of homes
- 2.2%
- Residential solar capacity
- 1,209 MW
- Growth over the past year
- +26.2%
Sources: EIA-861 (2025), EIA small-scale solar estimates, LBNL Tracking the Sun and state interconnection data.
Electric utilities in Illinois
| Utility | Homes served | Price (2026 est.) | Typical use | Typical-home verdict |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| ComEd | 3,753,924 | 19.3¢ | 622 kWh/mo | Worth it |
| Ameren Illinois | 1,062,810 | 19.1¢ | 882 kWh/mo | Worth it |
| MidAmerican Energy | 73,481 | 11.5¢ | 821 kWh/mo | Not worth it |
| City of Springfield | 59,366 | 13.9¢ | 864 kWh/mo | Close call |
| City of Naperville | 57,225 | 15.5¢ | 769 kWh/mo | Close call |
| Corn Belt Energy Corporation | 34,952 | 16.6¢ | 949 kWh/mo | Close call |
| Southwestern Electric Cooperative | 24,414 | 16.3¢ | 1,160 kWh/mo | Close call |
| Southeastern IL Electric Cooperative | 22,607 | 15.7¢ | 1,222 kWh/mo | Close call |
| Norris Electric Cooperative | 18,163 | 16.0¢ | 1,178 kWh/mo | Close call |
| Jo-Carroll Energy | 17,278 | 21.8¢ | 727 kWh/mo | Worth it |
| Tri-County Electric Cooperative, Inc (IL) | 16,203 | 17.2¢ | 1,241 kWh/mo | Worth it |
| City of St Charles | 14,901 | 15.5¢ | 711 kWh/mo | Close call |
| Egyptian Electric Cooperative Association | 13,695 | 17.2¢ | 1,208 kWh/mo | Worth it |
| Wayne-White Counties Electric Cooperative | 11,792 | 17.4¢ | 1,074 kWh/mo | Worth it |
| Eastern Illinois Electric Cooperative | 11,001 | 18.8¢ | 1,291 kWh/mo | Worth it |
| City of Batavia | 10,072 | 14.9¢ | 747 kWh/mo | Close call |
| Shelby Electric Cooperative | 9,882 | 22.9¢ | 1,087 kWh/mo | Worth it |
| Rock Energy Cooperative | 9,421 | 15.6¢ | 860 kWh/mo | Close call |
| Menard Electric Cooperative | 9,036 | 20.7¢ | 1,022 kWh/mo | Worth it |
| City of Geneva | 8,675 | 12.4¢ | 770 kWh/mo | Not worth it |
| Coles-Moultrie Electric Cooperative | 8,505 | 18.7¢ | 1,170 kWh/mo | Worth it |
| Rochelle Municipal Utilities | 5,993 | 14.0¢ | 639 kWh/mo | Not worth it |
| Scenic Rivers Energy Cooperative | 12 | 16.1¢ | 1,143 kWh/mo | Close call |
Solar by city in Illinois
- Chicago12.6-yr payback · Worth it
- Aurora12.4-yr payback · Worth it
- Naperville12.5-yr payback · Worth it
- Joliet12.4-yr payback · Worth it
- Rockford12.4-yr payback · Worth it
- Elgin12.5-yr payback · Worth it
- Springfield16.5-yr payback · Close call
- Peoria11.9-yr payback · Worth it
- Champaign12-yr payback · Worth it
- Waukegan12.5-yr payback · Worth it
- Cicero12.5-yr payback · Worth it
- Bloomington11.9-yr payback · Worth it
- Schaumburg12.6-yr payback · Worth it
- Evanston12.6-yr payback · Worth it
- Arlington Heights12.4-yr payback · Worth it
- Bolingbrook12.5-yr payback · Worth it
- Decatur11.8-yr payback · Worth it
- Palatine12.5-yr payback · Worth it
- Skokie12.7-yr payback · Worth it
- Des Plaines12.5-yr payback · Worth it
- Orland Park12.5-yr payback · Worth it
- Oak Lawn12.6-yr payback · Worth it
- Berwyn12.6-yr payback · Worth it
- Mount Prospect12.4-yr payback · Worth it
- Tinley Park12.5-yr payback · Worth it
- Normal11.9-yr payback · Worth it
- Wheaton12.5-yr payback · Worth it
- Oak Park12.6-yr payback · Worth it
- Hoffman Estates12.5-yr payback · Worth it
- Downers Grove12.7-yr payback · Worth it
- Glenview12.7-yr payback · Worth it
- Plainfield12.5-yr payback · Worth it
- Elmhurst12.5-yr payback · Worth it
- Lombard12.5-yr payback · Worth it
- Buffalo Grove12.5-yr payback · Worth it
- Moline21.8-yr payback · Not worth it
- Belleville11.6-yr payback · Worth it
- Romeoville12.5-yr payback · Worth it
- Crystal Lake12.5-yr payback · Worth it
- Bartlett12.5-yr payback · Worth it
- DeKalb12.4-yr payback · Worth it
- Carol Stream12.6-yr payback · Worth it
- Urbana11.8-yr payback · Worth it
- Quincy11.7-yr payback · Worth it
- Streamwood12.6-yr payback · Worth it
- Park Ridge12.6-yr payback · Worth it
- Wheeling12.6-yr payback · Worth it
- Carpentersville12.5-yr payback · Worth it
- Hanover Park12.6-yr payback · Worth it
- Oswego12.5-yr payback · Worth it
- Rock Island21.6-yr payback · Not worth it
- Addison12.5-yr payback · Worth it
- Calumet City12.6-yr payback · Worth it
- Northbrook12.6-yr payback · Worth it
- Woodridge12.6-yr payback · Worth it
- St. Charles12.5-yr payback · Worth it
- Glendale Heights12.5-yr payback · Worth it
- O'Fallon11.6-yr payback · Worth it
- Elk Grove Village12.3-yr payback · Worth it
- Mundelein12.5-yr payback · Worth it
- Pekin11.7-yr payback · Worth it
- North Chicago12.7-yr payback · Worth it
- Gurnee12.6-yr payback · Worth it
- Highland Park12.6-yr payback · Worth it
- Algonquin12.4-yr payback · Worth it
- Niles12.6-yr payback · Worth it
- Galesburg11.7-yr payback · Worth it
- Lake in the Hills12.4-yr payback · Worth it
- Burbank12.5-yr payback · Worth it
- Danville11.9-yr payback · Worth it
- Glen Ellyn12.6-yr payback · Worth it
- Lansing12.6-yr payback · Worth it
- McHenry12.5-yr payback · Worth it
- New Lenox12.6-yr payback · Worth it
- Huntley12.5-yr payback · Worth it
- Wilmette12.5-yr payback · Worth it
- Batavia12.5-yr payback · Worth it
- Round Lake Beach12.5-yr payback · Worth it
- Vernon Hills12.6-yr payback · Worth it
- Oak Forest12.4-yr payback · Worth it
- Chicago Heights12.6-yr payback · Worth it
- Granite City11.7-yr payback · Worth it
- Edwardsville11.7-yr payback · Worth it
- Lockport12.6-yr payback · Worth it
- Woodstock12.5-yr payback · Worth it
- West Chicago12.5-yr payback · Worth it
- Alton11.6-yr payback · Worth it
Protect yourself when buying
- Check the license. Installers must be ICC-certified Distributed Generation Installers (83 Ill. Adm. Code 468); electrical licensing is local (e.g., Chicago). Look up an installer
- Cancellation rights. 3 business days to cancel many home-solicitation sales. Illinois Shines (IPA) standardized disclosure form required for program projects; Consumer Fraud Act. How to cancel
- HOA and solar access. Yes. Homeowners' Energy Policy Statement Act requires HOAs to allow solar (with reasonable rules).
- Community solar. Yes - community solar via Illinois Shines and Solar for All.
Installers active in Illinois
Ranked by installations in public records, not by payment. Volume isn't quality: always check licenses and reviews.
- Solarcraft Services 47 installs
- Independent Energy Systems 2 installs
- All Energy Solar 1 installs
- The Solar Company 1 installs
- Eagle Point Solar 1 installs
- Advanced Renewable Solutions 1 installs
- Convergence Energy 1 installs
Questions about solar in Illinois
Is solar worth it in Illinois in 2026?
For a typical Illinois home, solar is worth it. A 5.6 kW system costing about $19,740 after state incentives saves about $1,341 in the first year and pays back in about 13.5 years. Your result depends on your roof, usage, utility and price, so run the calculator for your address.
How much do solar panels cost in Illinois?
A reasonable cash price is around $3.40 per watt before incentives, or roughly $16,200 to $22,800 for a 5.6 kW system.
Does Illinois have net metering?
For ComEd and Ameren customers who connected on or after Jan 1, 2025, solar exports only offset the energy supply part of the bill (about 8-12 cents/kWh), not delivery charges. To compensate, the state pays an upfront $300 per kW rebate for solar with a smart inverter, and Illinois Shines pays for solar renewable energy credits.
Is there a solar tax credit in Illinois?
The 30% federal credit for homeowners ended for systems installed after 2025. Illinois does not offer a state income tax credit for solar that we're aware of. Solar may be exempt from property tax.
How do I check a solar installer's license in Illinois?
Installers must be ICC-certified Distributed Generation Installers (83 Ill. Adm. Code 468); electrical licensing is local (e.g., Chicago).. Look up any installer with the state's license search at https://www.icc.illinois.gov/.
Policy research current as of October 2026; sources include citizensutilityboard.org, news.wttw.com, illinoisgreenalliance.org. Electricity data: EIA, through July 2026. Found something out of date? Tell us.