Typical home: Worth it

Solar in Belleville, IL

With Ameren Illinois's electricity at about 19.1¢ per kWh and 1,397 kWh of sun per kW, solar is worth it for a typical Belleville home today: about a 11.6-year payback.

Payback, typical home
11.6 yrsIllinois: 13.5 yrs
25-year net
$39,161after paying $23,260
Sun
1,397kWh per kW per year
Electricity
19.1¢6% above U.S. average

A typical Belleville home, by the numbers

UtilityAmeren Illinois
Electricity use882 kWh a month
Best-value system7.6 kW, about 18 panels, 10,615 kWh a year (100% of use)
Cost$25,540, or $23,260 after state incentives
First-year savings$1,893
Payback11.6 years
Exported power10¢/kWh (Ameren Illinois)

Cash purchase, no federal credit, 3.5% yearly rate increases. Run it with your own numbers.

Solar production per kW in Belleville

kWh per kW each month, south-facing at 20° tilt. PVWatts v8 with local typical-year weather.

Show as a table
PeriodValue
Jan82
Feb89
Mar114
Apr140
May141
Jun154
Jul146
Aug144
Sep131
Oct103
Nov77
Dec75

Homes in Belleville

Owner-occupied homes
60%
Single-family detached
66%
Median home value
$141k
Median year built
1962
Population
41,370
Roofs suitable for solar†
68%

Census ACS 2020–2024. †Share of 970 buildings Google Project Sunroof rated technically suitable (2019 snapshot).

Older housing stock. Many homes here were built before 1975. Have the roof and electrical panel checked before signing; a roof or panel upgrade can add thousands. Roof first?

Installers working in Belleville

Public installation records for Illinois don't name installers, so we can't rank local companies here. Browse installers in Illinois.

Always verify the license and get at least three quotes. Compare quotes side by side.

Questions about solar in Belleville

Is solar worth it in Belleville, IL?

For a typical home in Belleville, solar is worth it at 2026 prices: a 7.6 kW system costs about $23,260 after state incentives, saves about $1,893 in year one and pays back in about 11.6 years. Enter your address for an estimate based on your roof and bill.

How much solar power does a system produce in Belleville?

About 1,397 kWh per year for each kW of panels on a south-facing roof, based on PVWatts and local weather. That's 4% more than the Illinois average. East- or west-facing roofs produce roughly 10–20% less.

Who is the electric utility in Belleville?

Most homes in Belleville are served by Ameren Illinois, at about 19.1¢ per kWh on average. Some areas are served by Egyptian Electric Cooperative Association, Southwestern Electric Cooperative, Tri-County Electric Cooperative, Inc (IL).

How much do solar panels cost in Belleville?

A fair cash price is around $3.40 per watt before incentives, so about $25,540 for a 7.6 kW system. There's no federal tax credit for homeowners who buy in 2026.

Nearby

Data: PVWatts (National Laboratory of the Rockies), EIA-861 2025 adjusted to 2026, U.S. Census ACS, LBNL Tracking the Sun, state policy research as of October 2026.