Illinois homeowners weighing solar want real numbers, not a sales pitch, so this page gathers the ones that matter in one place, each dated and sourced. The average residential electricity rate here is about 23.9 cents per kWh (EIA, as of May 2026), and a typical 7 kW rooftop system produces about 9,159 kWh a year in Chicago. Illinois moved to supply-only net metering for new systems in 2025, but the Illinois Shines SREC program still pays most homeowners about $8,000 to $13,000 up front, and the state ranks among the top three for residential solar installed in early 2026 (SEIA, Q1 2026). Below you will find installed cost, payback, per-city production, how each utility handles net metering, and the current state incentives.
Updated for 2026.
Illinois solar statistics 2026 at a glance
Key numbers (Illinois, 2026)
- Average residential rate: 23.9 cents per kWh
- Typical system size: 7 kW
- Typical annual production: 9,159 kWh per year (Chicago)
- Typical installed cost: $2.86 to $3.15 per watt
- Estimated system cost: $20,020 to $22,050 before incentives
- Illinois Shines SREC value: about $8,000 to $13,000 up front
- Simple payback: roughly 9 to 12 years, shorter with Illinois Shines
According to MySolarFY’s analysis (August 2026), a typical 7 kW system in Illinois produces about 9,159 kWh a year in Chicago, offsetting power that costs about 23.9 cents per kWh at retail. These are our own compiled figures for Illinois; see Methodology below for exactly how each was produced. For the statewide rules behind these numbers, see our Illinois solar guide. Comparing states? See our Maryland solar data and statistics for a side-by-side.
| Metric | Value | Source (dated) |
|---|---|---|
| Average residential rate | 23.9 cents per kWh | EIA, as of May 2026 |
| Typical system size | 7 kW | MySolarFY, typical residential array |
| Typical annual production | 9,159 kWh per year (Chicago) | NREL PVWatts v8, as of August 2026 |
| Typical installed cost | $2.86 to $3.15 per watt | MySolarFY cost range, as of August 2026 |
| Estimated system cost | $20,020 to $22,050 (before incentives) | MySolarFY, 7 kW, as of August 2026 |
| Illinois Shines SREC value | about $8,000 to $13,000 up front | Illinois Shines / Illinois Power Agency, as of August 2026 |
| Simple payback | roughly 9 to 12 years (shorter with Illinois Shines) | MySolarFY analysis, as of August 2026 |
Every figure is dated and attributed. Rate is the EIA residential average for Illinois; production is a modeled NREL PVWatts v8 run for a 7 kW array; cost, SREC value, and payback are MySolarFY estimates for planning, not a quote. Confirm current terms before you decide.
How much does solar cost in Illinois, and what is the payback?
A 7 kW system runs about $20,020 to $22,050 installed in Illinois before incentives, and simple payback lands roughly between 9 and 12 years depending on how much of your production you use on-site. Since Illinois switched new systems to supply-only net metering in 2025, the power you use as it is generated offsets the full retail rate near 23.9 cents, while power you export earns only the lower supply rate near 10 to 11 cents. The Illinois Shines SREC lump sum, commonly $8,000 to $13,000 up front, cuts the net cost and can pull payback toward the low end of that range or below. Production and payback vary within a state because the solar resource and the local rate shift by location. The table below models a 7 kW system for representative Illinois cities using NREL PVWatts v8.
| City | System size | Annual production | Est. system cost (before incentives) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chicago | 7 kW | 9,159 kWh per year | $20,930 |
| Springfield | 7 kW | 9,684 kWh per year | $20,930 |
| Rockford | 7 kW | 9,388 kWh per year | $20,930 |
| Belleville | 7 kW | 9,777 kWh per year | $20,930 |
Production is a modeled NREL PVWatts v8 run per city ZIP. System cost is a MySolarFY estimate before the Illinois Shines SREC and holds today’s rate flat, ignoring financing. Actual bill savings depend on how much power you use on-site versus export, because supply-only net metering credits exports at the lower supply rate. A written quote for your roof beats any table.
How does net metering work in Illinois in 2026?
Illinois moved to supply-only net metering for new systems: a system energized on or after January 1, 2025 earns the supply rate, about 10 to 11 cents per kWh, for the power it exports, while systems energized before 2025 keep full retail net metering unless the owner accepts the Smart Inverter Rebate. Your utility sets the delivery rate and administers this credit. ComEd serves northern Illinois; Ameren Illinois serves central and southern Illinois. For the mechanics, see how net metering credits your solar exports.
| Utility | Residential rate | Net metering treatment |
|---|---|---|
| ComEd (Commonwealth Edison) | Serves northern Illinois; supply Price to Compare about 10.4 cents per kWh (summer 2026), with delivery charges added on the full bill | Supply-only netting for systems energized on or after January 1, 2025: exports credited at the supply rate, not full retail. Systems energized before 2025 keep full retail net metering unless they accept the Smart Inverter Rebate. |
| Ameren Illinois | Serves central and southern Illinois; supply Price to Compare about 11.3 cents per kWh (summer 2026), plus delivery charges on the full bill | Supply-only netting for systems energized on or after January 1, 2025: exports credited at the supply rate. Pre-2025 systems keep full retail net metering unless they accept the Smart Inverter Rebate. |
| MidAmerican Energy | Serves a small area of western Illinois | Net metering available under the utility’s tariff; confirm current terms directly with MidAmerican before sizing a system. |
Net metering rules are set by state law and the Illinois Commerce Commission, not the installer. Confirm your utility’s current tariff before you size a system.
Illinois solar incentive stack (2026)
Illinois runs one of the strongest state incentive stacks in the country: the Illinois Shines SREC program pays most homeowners about $8,000 to $13,000 up front, Illinois Solar for All covers income-eligible households, a Smart Inverter Rebate adds $300 per kW, and a property-tax special assessment keeps solar off your tax bill, even though the federal 25D credit ended after 2025. These incentives go to the system owner, so on a lease or PPA the company that owns the panels keeps them while the net-metering bill credit follows your account.
Illinois Shines (Adjustable Block Program) SREC
The state buys 15 years of your system’s renewable energy credits, usually paid as one upfront lump sum through an Approved Vendor, commonly worth about $8,000 to $13,000 for a home system depending on size and the current block price (active) (Illinois Shines / Illinois Power Agency, as of August 2026)
Illinois Solar for All
Income-eligible households at or below 80% of area median income can go solar with no upfront cost; the approved vendor is paid through the sale of the system’s renewable energy credits and enhanced REC adders (active) (Illinois Solar for All, as of August 2026)
Smart Inverter Rebate (Distributed Generation Rebate)
A one-time rebate of $300 per kW of installed solar, and $300 per kWh of attached storage, from ComEd and Ameren; accepting it permanently locks the system into supply-only net metering (active) (ComEd / Ameren Illinois, as of August 2026)
Special Assessment for Solar Energy Systems (property tax)
Illinois assesses a qualifying solar energy system at the value of a conventional system, so the added home value does not raise your property tax bill (active) (35 ILCS 200/10-5, Illinois Department of Revenue, as of August 2026)
Federal Residential Clean Energy Credit (Section 25D)
Ended December 31, 2025 and is not available to homeowners who buy solar in 2026, so no federal credit reduces the cost for cash or loan buyers (ended 12/31/2025) (IRS, as of August 2026)
The federal homeowner credit has ended, but Illinois’s programs have not. The 30% federal Residential Clean Energy Credit (Section 25D) ended December 31, 2025, so an Illinois homeowner who buys solar with cash or a loan in 2026 cannot claim it (IRS Residential Clean Energy Credit, as of 2026). The Illinois Shines SREC program, Solar for All, and the property-tax assessment were not affected by that change. For the full timeline, see what the federal solar tax credit change means and our state solar incentives overview.
Methodology and sources
- Electricity rate: the latest EIA Form residential retail price for Illinois (EIA retail sales, as of May 2026).
- Production: modeled with NREL PVWatts v8 for a 7 kW south-facing array at each city ZIP (NREL PVWatts v8 documentation, as of August 2026).
- Cost and payback: MySolarFY estimates built from installed cost per watt (informed by the DataForSEO cost SERP for Illinois) and the EIA rate, holding today’s rate flat and ignoring financing; payback reflects supply-only net metering for new systems.
- Incentives and net metering: the Illinois Power Agency (Illinois Shines), Illinois Solar for All, the Illinois Commerce Commission (net metering transition), and the DSIRE incentive database (DSIRE, as of August 2026).
- Assumptions: a 7 kW system, standard losses, and a south-facing array. Your roof, usage, and financing change the result, so treat these as planning figures, not a quote.
Citing this data
Citing this data?
Cite as: “MySolarFY, Illinois Solar Data & Statistics 2026, accessed August 22, 2026.” Data compiled by MySolarFY from EIA (residential electricity rate), NREL PVWatts v8 (modeled production), the Illinois Power Agency, Illinois Commerce Commission, and DSIRE (incentives and net metering), and DataForSEO (cost SERP). Figures are dated in each table above.
Journalists and researchers may quote these statistics with attribution to MySolarFY and a link to https://mysolarfy.com/illinois-solar-data-statistics-2026/.
See what solar programs are available in your Illinois ZIP code
Incentives, net-metering credits, installer availability, and electric rates change by utility and location. Enter your ZIP and we will match you with licensed installers who serve your area.
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How to choose a solar installer in Illinois
Rather than chasing a “best installer” list, screen any company against objective criteria: NABCEP certification, a valid state license, a written workmanship and equipment warranty, real experience with your utility’s interconnection, an Illinois Shines Approved Vendor relationship, and a transparent quote that uses today’s incentive values. For a checklist, see the right questions to ask a solar installer. MySolarFY matches you with licensed installers that serve your area so you can compare real local quotes side by side, with no obligation.
Frequently asked questions
What is the average solar cost in Illinois in 2026? A typical residential system in Illinois runs about $2.86 to $3.15 per watt installed before any incentives (MySolarFY cost range, as of August 2026). A 7 kW system is a common size for a single-family home, which works out to roughly $20,020 to $22,050 before the Illinois Shines SREC. Cost varies with roof, equipment, and installer, so use a written quote for your own numbers.
How much electricity does a solar system produce in Illinois? A modeled 7 kW array produces about 9,159 kWh a year in Chicago (NREL PVWatts v8, as of August 2026), and roughly 9,400 to 9,800 kWh across Springfield, Rockford, and Belleville. Production drives both your net-metering credits and your payback, so estimate your specific roof rather than a generic number.
Does Illinois have net metering in 2026? Yes, but on new terms. Systems energized on or after January 1, 2025 are on supply-only net metering, so exported power earns the supply rate, about 10 to 11 cents per kWh, rather than the full retail rate. Systems energized before 2025 keep full retail net metering unless the owner accepts the Smart Inverter Rebate (Illinois Commerce Commission, as of August 2026).
What is Illinois Shines and how much is it worth? Illinois Shines, the Adjustable Block Program, buys 15 years of your system’s renewable energy credits, usually paid as one upfront lump sum through an Approved Vendor. For a typical home system it commonly comes to about $8,000 to $13,000, which meaningfully lowers your net cost (Illinois Power Agency, as of August 2026).
Did the federal solar tax credit end? Yes for homeowners. The 30% federal Residential Clean Energy Credit (Section 25D) ended December 31, 2025, so an Illinois homeowner who buys solar in 2026 cannot claim it (IRS, as of 2026). Illinois Shines, Solar for All, and the property-tax assessment were not affected by that change.
Reviewed by the MySolarFY team. Figures were verified against the linked EIA, NREL, Illinois Power Agency, Illinois Commerce Commission, and DSIRE sources as of August 2026; rates, incentive values, and net-metering terms can change, so confirm current terms before you decide. MySolarFY does not provide tax or financial advice; consult a licensed professional. Learn more about the MySolarFY team and how we work.
MySolarFY is a free service that matches homeowners with licensed solar installers. We are not an installer, financing company, or government program. Solar panels are not free and any monthly payments apply. “No up-front cost” refers to qualifying lease or PPA financing, where eligible homeowners may have no out-of-pocket cost at installation; lease and PPA terms may include an annual escalator and total payments may exceed a cash purchase, and on a lease or PPA the incentives go to the company that owns the system. Homeowners do not get the federal residential credit that ended after December 31, 2025. Eligibility, savings, incentives, and rates vary and are not guaranteed. See our full disclaimer.
