Solar in Decatur, IL
With Ameren Illinois's electricity at about 19.1¢ per kWh and 1,381 kWh of sun per kW, solar is worth it for a typical Decatur home today: about a 11.8-year payback.
- Payback, typical home
- 11.8 yrsIllinois: 13.5 yrs
- 25-year net
- $38,854after paying $23,520
- Sun
- 1,381kWh per kW per year
- Electricity
- 19.1¢6% above U.S. average
A typical Decatur home, by the numbers
| Utility | Ameren Illinois |
|---|---|
| Electricity use | 882 kWh a month |
| Best-value system | 7.7 kW, about 18 panels, 10,637 kWh a year (100% of use) |
| Cost | $25,830, or $23,520 after state incentives |
| First-year savings | $1,892 |
| Payback | 11.8 years |
| Exported power | 10¢/kWh (Ameren Illinois) |
Cash purchase, no federal credit, 3.5% yearly rate increases. Run it with your own numbers.
Homes in Decatur
- Owner-occupied homes
- 63%
- Single-family detached
- 74%
- Median home value
- $100k
- Median year built
- 1960
- Population
- 69,815
- Roofs suitable for solar†
- 65%
Census ACS 2020–2024. †Share of 14,043 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 Decatur
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 Decatur
Is solar worth it in Decatur, IL?
For a typical home in Decatur, solar is worth it at 2026 prices: a 7.7 kW system costs about $23,520 after state incentives, saves about $1,892 in year one and pays back in about 11.8 years. Enter your address for an estimate based on your roof and bill.
How much solar power does a system produce in Decatur?
About 1,381 kWh per year for each kW of panels on a south-facing roof, based on PVWatts and local weather. That's 3% more than the Illinois average. East- or west-facing roofs produce roughly 10–20% less.
Who is the electric utility in Decatur?
Most homes in Decatur are served by Ameren Illinois, at about 19.1¢ per kWh on average. Some areas are served by Shelby Electric Cooperative, Corn Belt Energy Corporation, Menard Electric Cooperative.
How much do solar panels cost in Decatur?
A fair cash price is around $3.40 per watt before incentives, so about $25,830 for a 7.7 kW system. There's no federal tax credit for homeowners who buy in 2026.
Nearby
- Springfield 16.5 yrs
- Champaign 12 yrs
- Urbana 11.8 yrs
- Bloomington 11.9 yrs
- Normal 11.9 yrs
- Pekin 11.7 yrs
- Peoria 11.9 yrs
- Danville 11.9 yrs
- All of Illinois
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.