Solar panels in Illinois: cost, payback and the rules that matter
Illinois homes pay 19.2¢ per kWh for electricity, the 16th highest of 51, up 10.7% in a year. A typical home needs 16 panels. With no federal tax credit they pay for themselves in about 20.0 yrs.
Four facts that decide solar in Illinois
1. The sun. One kilowatt of panels makes about 1,285 kWh a year in the median Illinois city, from 1,262 in Evanston to 1,346 in Springfield.
2. The price of electricity. Every kWh your panels make is worth what you would otherwise pay: 19.2¢ in Illinois today.
3. What your utility pays for exports. Illinois ended full retail net metering for new systems on Jan 1, 2025 (supply-only netting); a $300/kW DG rebate applies. Source
4. Incentives. The 30% federal Residential Clean Energy Credit (IRC §25D) ended for systems whose installation is completed after December 31, 2025 (One Big Beautiful Bill Act, P.L. We don't know of a statewide income-tax credit for home solar in Illinois.
Illinois's homes
5,036,449 households; 67.1% own their home. 2,897,474 owner-occupied single-family houses: the main market for rooftop solar. The median home was built in 1971; 18.6% heat with electricity.
ACS 2020–2024 5-year estimates, U.S. Census Bureau.
Plan a specific Illinois home
Solar in every Illinois city with 50,000+ people
| City | Sun hrs/day | kWh per kW | Best tilt | Typical kW | Payback (NM) | Payback (NB) | Solar ¢/kWh |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | 4.4 | 1,269 | 36° | 6.7 | 12.3 yrs | 20.1 yrs | 12.3 |
| Aurora | 4.5 | 1,296 | 37° | 6.7 | 12.0 yrs | 19.9 yrs | 12.1 |
| Naperville | 4.5 | 1,291 | 36° | 6.7 | 12.1 yrs | 19.9 yrs | 12.1 |
| Joliet | 4.5 | 1,293 | 36° | 6.7 | 12.1 yrs | 19.9 yrs | 12.1 |
| Rockford | 4.6 | 1,326 | 38° | 6.7 | 11.8 yrs | 19.7 yrs | 11.8 |
| Elgin | 4.5 | 1,298 | 37° | 6.7 | 12.0 yrs | 19.9 yrs | 12.0 |
| Springfield | 4.7 | 1,346 | 36° | 6.3 | 11.6 yrs | 18.9 yrs | 11.6 |
| Peoria | 4.7 | 1,345 | 37° | 6.3 | 11.6 yrs | 19.0 yrs | 11.6 |
| Champaign | 4.6 | 1,327 | 36° | 6.7 | 11.7 yrs | 19.6 yrs | 11.7 |
| Waukegan | 4.3 | 1,264 | 36° | 6.7 | 12.3 yrs | 20.2 yrs | 12.3 |
| Cicero | 4.4 | 1,272 | 36° | 6.7 | 12.2 yrs | 20.1 yrs | 12.3 |
| Bloomington | 4.7 | 1,338 | 36° | 6.7 | 11.7 yrs | 19.5 yrs | 11.7 |
| Schaumburg | 4.4 | 1,285 | 36° | 6.7 | 12.1 yrs | 20.0 yrs | 12.2 |
| Evanston | 4.3 | 1,262 | 35° | 6.7 | 12.3 yrs | 20.2 yrs | 12.3 |
| Arlington Heights | 4.4 | 1,278 | 36° | 6.7 | 12.2 yrs | 20.0 yrs | 12.2 |
| Bolingbrook | 4.5 | 1,290 | 36° | 6.7 | 12.1 yrs | 19.9 yrs | 12.1 |
| Decatur | 4.7 | 1,337 | 35° | 6.3 | 11.7 yrs | 19.0 yrs | 11.7 |
| Skokie | 4.3 | 1,265 | 36° | 6.7 | 12.3 yrs | 20.1 yrs | 12.3 |
| Palatine | 4.4 | 1,281 | 36° | 6.7 | 12.2 yrs | 20.0 yrs | 12.2 |
| Des Plaines | 4.4 | 1,275 | 36° | 6.7 | 12.2 yrs | 20.1 yrs | 12.2 |
| Orland Park | 4.4 | 1,283 | 36° | 6.7 | 12.1 yrs | 20.0 yrs | 12.2 |
| Oak Lawn | 4.4 | 1,276 | 36° | 6.7 | 12.2 yrs | 20.1 yrs | 12.2 |
| Mount Prospect | 4.4 | 1,276 | 36° | 6.7 | 12.2 yrs | 20.1 yrs | 12.2 |
| Tinley Park | 4.4 | 1,282 | 36° | 6.7 | 12.2 yrs | 20.0 yrs | 12.2 |
| Berwyn | 4.4 | 1,274 | 36° | 6.7 | 12.2 yrs | 20.1 yrs | 12.2 |
| Wheaton | 4.4 | 1,288 | 36° | 6.7 | 12.1 yrs | 19.9 yrs | 12.1 |
| Normal | 4.7 | 1,338 | 36° | 6.7 | 11.7 yrs | 19.5 yrs | 11.7 |
| Oak Park | 4.4 | 1,273 | 36° | 6.7 | 12.2 yrs | 20.1 yrs | 12.3 |
| Hoffman Estates | 4.4 | 1,288 | 36° | 6.7 | 12.1 yrs | 19.9 yrs | 12.1 |
| Downers Grove | 4.4 | 1,285 | 36° | 6.7 | 12.1 yrs | 20.0 yrs | 12.2 |
| Plainfield | 4.5 | 1,294 | 36° | 6.7 | 12.1 yrs | 19.9 yrs | 12.1 |
NM = exports credited at retail (net metering); NB = exports at ~30% of retail (net billing). Systems sized to the Illinois average home. $3.00/W, cash, 25 years.
Rule changes that affect Illinois
All changes and deadlines →- Federal: In-service deadline for the lease/PPA solar credit · Tax credits
- Federal: National data: solar prices fell to a median $3.60 per watt · Prices
- Federal: Construction-start deadline passed for the lease/PPA credit · Tax credits
- Federal: The 30% homeowner solar tax credit is gone · Tax credits
- Illinois: Illinois ends full retail net metering for new systems · Export rules
Questions about solar in Illinois
How much do solar panels cost in Illinois?
A 6.7 kW system, the size the average Illinois home needs, costs about $16,750 to $25,125 before incentives in 2026.
Is solar worth it in Illinois?
In the median Illinois city, solar pays for itself in about 12.1 yrs if exported power earns the retail rate, or 20.0 yrs if it earns about 30% of retail. Illinois ended full retail net metering for new systems on Jan 1, 2025 (supply-only netting); a $300/kW DG rebate applies.
Is there a solar tax credit in Illinois?
We know of no statewide income-tax credit for home solar in Illinois; utilities and cities sometimes offer rebates. The 30% federal credit ended for homeowner systems installed after December 31, 2025.
How many solar panels does a Illinois home need?
About 16 panels of 420 watts for the state-average 693 kWh a month. Sunnier cities need fewer: Springfield gets 1,346 kWh per kW a year, Evanston 1,262.