WattBuy’s Guide to

Solar Energy in
Illinois

Header Graphic

The State of Solar in Illinois

Here are a few numbers showing how popular solar energy is in Illinois and how much solar energy potential there is on average.

2,453

Houses with solar panels

(circa 2019)*

746 kWh

Average monthly energy use per household

9 kW

Average system size

802 kWh

Energy generated by average sized system

How much does solar cost in Illinois?

Average solar panel installation

$18,158

Federal Incentives

$5,447

Total

$12,711

Average monthly bill without solar

$129

Average monthly bill with solar

$0

Solar will pay for itself in

9 years
Tax Credits Available

Free money (kind of)

The Inflation Reduction Act has made it easier and more affordable than ever to go solar, thanks to a 30% federal tax credit. This means that for every $10,000 you spend on solar panels, you can deduct $3,000 from your federal taxes.

LEARN MORE
Net Metering Available

Get paid for the extra solar you produce

Net metering policies in Illinois can help solar panel owners save money and reduce their carbon footprint. When your solar panels generate more electricity than you use, you can send the excess back to the grid and receive credit on your next bill. Just something to keep in mind when considering solar panels.

Solar Incentives in Illinois

Special Assessment for Solar Energy Systems
City of Chicago - Green Building Permit ProgramsSee Details
Improvement Valuation of Commercial Solar Energy SystemsSee Details

The Solar Process

Getting solar panels may seem complicated, but it doesn’t have to be. Here’s what you can expect.

1

Understand your energy needs

Take a closer look at your energy usage to determine how much solar power you'll require.

2

Get quotes and choose an installer

Reach out to multiple solar companies to gather quotes and select the one that best fits your needs and budget.

3

Design the system

Work with your chosen installer to design a solar system customized to your specific requirements and goals.

4

Obtain the necessary permit

Take care of the paperwork and permits required by local authorities before installing your solar panels.

This takes 9 days on average.

5

Install solar panels

Let the professionals handle the installation of your solar panels and related equipment.

This takes 9 days on average.

6

Inspection time

Have your newly installed solar system inspected to ensure it meets safety and quality standards.

This takes 12 days on average.

7

Lights on!

Connect your solar system to the electrical grid and start generating clean, renewable energy for your home or business.

This takes 7 days on average.

Solar Installers in Illinois

Bright Planet Solar

www.brightplanetsolar.com

Coverage

CA, CT, IL, MA, NH, NJ, RI, UT

Sunrun

sunrun.com

Coverage

AZ, CA, CO, CT, FL, HI, IL, MA, MD, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, PA, PR, RI, SC, TX, VA, VT, WI

Freedom Forever

freedomforever.com

Coverage

AK, AZ, CA, CO, CT, DE, FL, GA, ID, IL, MA, MD, ME, NC, NH, NJ, NM, NV, NY, OH, PA, RI, SC, TX, UT, VA, VT, WI

Palmetto Solar

palmetto.com

Coverage

AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, IL, MA, MD, MI, MO, NC, NJ, NV, OH, PA, RI, SC, TX, UT, VA

National Solar Service

nationalsolarservice.com

Coverage

IL, MI

ECG Solar

ecgsolar.com

Coverage

IA, IL, MN, WI

Stateline Solar

statelinesolar.net

Coverage

IL

Tron Solar

tron.solar

Coverage

IL

GRNE Solar

www.grnesolar.com/residentialsolar

Coverage

CO, IA, IL, IN, MI, MO, NE, NY, OH, WI

Tesla

tesla.com

Coverage

Nationwide

ADT Solar

www.adt.com/solar

Coverage

AK, AZ, CA, FL, GA, IA, IL, KS, LA, MO, MS, NC, NE, NM, NV, OH, OK, SC, TN, TX, VA

Titan Solar Power

titansolarpower.com

Coverage

AZ, CA, CO, FL, GA, IL, LA, MD, MO, MS, NC, NJ, NM, NV, OH, SC, TN, TX, UT, VA

All Energy Solar

www.allenergysolar.com/solar-install/residential

Coverage

IA, IL, MA, MN, NH, WI

Fresh Coast Solar

freshcoastsolar.com

Coverage

IL

EFS Energy

efsenergy.com

Coverage

IL, MO

Learn About Solar in These Illinois Cities

AddisonAlgonquinAlortonAlsipAltaAntiochArlington HeightsAroma ParkAuroraBannockburnBartlettBartonvilleBataviaBay View GardensBeach ParkBedford ParkBelgiumBellevilleBellevueBellwoodBelvidereBensenvilleBerkeleyBerwynBloomingdaleBloomingtonBlue IslandBolingbrookBoulder HillBourbonnaisBradleyBridgeviewBristolBroadviewBrookfieldBrooklynBuffalo GroveBull ValleyBurbankBurnhamBurr RidgeCahokiaCaledoniaCalumet CityCalumet ParkCampton HillsCarbon CliffCarol StreamCarpentersvilleCaseyvilleCatlinCentrevilleChampaignChannahonChathamCherry ValleyChicagoChicago HeightsChicago RidgeCiceroClarendon HillsClear LakeCoal ValleyCollinsvilleColonaColumbiaCountry Club HillsCountrysideCoyne CenterCrest HillCrestwoodCreteCreve CoeurCrystal LakeCrystal LawnsCurranDalzellDanvilleDarienDecaturDeerfieldDes PlainesDixmoorDoltonDowners GroveDownsDunlapDupoEast Cape GirardeauEast DubuqueEast Hazel CrestEast MolineEast PeoriaEast Saint LouisEdwardsvilleElginElk Grove VillageElmhurstElmwood ParkElwinEolaEvanstonEvergreen ParkFairmontFairmont CityFairview HeightsFlossmoorFord HeightsForest ParkForest ViewForsythFort SheridanFox Lake HillsFrankfortFrankfort SquareFranklin ParkGages LakeGenevaGermantown HillsGilbertsGlen CarbonGlen EllynGlencoeGlendale HeightsGlenviewGlenwoodGolfGrandviewGrandwood ParkGranite CityGrayslakeGreen OaksGreenwoodGrovelandGurneeHainesvilleHampshireHamptonHanover ParkHarristownHarveyHarwood HeightsHawthorn WoodsHazel CrestHebronHickory HillsHighland ParkHighwoodHillsideHinesHinsdaleHodgkinsHoffman EstatesHomer GlenHometownHomewoodHuntleyIndian CreekIndian Head ParkIngalls ParkItascaJeromeJolietJusticeKangleyKankakeeKeeneyvilleKenilworthLa FoxLa GrangeLa Grange HighlandsLa Grange ParkLaSalleLake BluffLake CatherineLake ForestLake VillaLake in the HillsLansingLeland GroveLemontLibertyvilleLimestoneLincolnshireLincolnwoodLindenhurstLisleLockportLombardLong CreekLong GroveLong LakeLoves ParkLynwoodLyonsMachesney ParkMadisonMarkhamMarquette HeightsMarseillesMaryvilleMattesonMaywoodMcCookMedinahMelrose ParkMerrionette ParkMetropolisMettawaMidlothianMilanMokenaMolineMontgomeryMooseheartMortonMorton GroveMossvilleMount ProspectMount ZionMundeleinNapervilleNaplateNew LenoxNew MilfordNilesNormalNorridgeNorth AuroraNorth ChicagoNorth PekinNorth RiversideNorth UticaNorthbrookNorthfieldNorthlakeNorwoodO'FallonOak BrookOak ForestOak GroveOak LawnOak ParkOakbrook TerraceOglesbyOld Mill CreekOlympia FieldsOreanaOrland HillsOrland ParkOswegoOttawaPalos HeightsPalos HillsPalos ParkPark CityPark ForestPark RidgePekinPeoriaPeoria HeightsPeruPhoenixPingree GrovePlainfieldPlato CenterPontoon BeachPoplar GrovePosenPreston HeightsProspect HeightsRapids CityRichton ParkRiver ForestRiver GroveRiverdaleRiversideRivertonRiverwoodsRobbinsRochesterRock IslandRock Island ArsenalRockdaleRockfordRomeRomeovilleRoscoeRoselleRosemontRound LakeRound Lake BeachRound Lake HeightsRound Lake ParkRussellSammons PointSaugetSauk VillageSavoySchaumburgSchiller ParkShermanShilohShirleyShorewoodSilvisSkokieSouth Chicago HeightsSouth ElginSouth HollandSouthern ViewSpauldingSpring BaySpring ValleySpringfieldSt. CharlesStegerStickneyStone ParkStreamwoodStreatorSugar GroveSummitSwanseaTaylor RidgeThird LakeThorntonTiltonTimberlaneTinley ParkTowandaTremontUniversity ParkUrbanaVenetian VillageVeniceVernon HillsVilla ParkVillage of LakewoodWadsworthWarrenvilleWashingtonWashington ParkWaucondaWaukeganWayneWest ChicagoWest DundeeWest PeoriaWestchesterWestern SpringsWestmontWestvilleWheatonWheelingWillow SpringsWillowbrookWilmetteWinfieldWinnetkaWinthrop HarborWonder LakeWood DaleWoodridgeWoodstockWorthYorkvilleZion

Get Personalized Power Recommendations

Enter your address and WattBuy's proprietary energy estimation model will find the best electricity options for your home

*Source: Project Sunroof