Illinois solar economics at a glance
The system size stays fixed at 10 kW for comparison, while electricity rates, solar yield and the current published market price benchmark reflect the selected state where data is available.
What a 10 kW system looks like in Illinois
This is not a quote. It is a planning benchmark using a fixed 10 kW system with current state-aware pricing, statewide electricity rates and a state solar-yield factor before address-specific details are added.
Illinois Solar Calculator
The rate field begins with the current EIA statewide average. Enter your ZIP code and actual energy use to replace the broad state benchmark with a more local production estimate.
Annual usage is estimated from your bill and electricity rate. With a valid ZIP, production is modeled using NLR PVWatts V8; otherwise the calculator uses a state-level planning factor.
Local solar rules in Illinois
Utility tariffs, distributed-generation rules and local programs can matter as much as sunshine. Use a ZIP code to research nearby plans and incentives.
Utility & Incentives by ZIP
Find nearby residential utility plans, distributed-generation rules and active solar incentives before we model the tariff in the savings engine.
Major utility solar profiles in Illinois
Solar payback can change materially by utility because retail rates, time-of-use periods, fixed charges and export compensation are not the same statewide. Check the utility rules that apply to the property before trusting a proposal's savings estimate.
Ameren Illinois
Net metering with post-2024 supply-credit rules for new customers
Review Ameren Illinois solar rules →Build the rest of your Illinois solar decision
Search companies serving Illinois, then compare proposals with the same cost and utility assumptions.
Find Illinois installers →Change system size and cost per watt instead of relying on the standardized benchmark.
Open Solar Cost →Compare moderated homeowner quote data with the current external market benchmark.
Explore Illinois real prices →Check a contractor proposal against the current Illinois price benchmark, production assumptions and financing details.
Analyze a solar quote →Compare current manufacturer specifications and locally hosted product imagery.
Compare equipment →Understand payback, financing, incentives and why old federal-credit assumptions can be misleading.
Read the guide →Illinois solar FAQ
Is solar worth it in Illinois?
It can be, but the answer depends on your roof, utility tariff, installation price and export rules. Illinois's statewide residential electricity average is 19.22 cents per kWh and our planning solar yield is 1,300 kWh per installed kW per year. Use the ZIP calculator for a more local estimate.
How much electricity can a 10 kW solar system produce in Illinois?
Using our state planning yield, a standardized 10 kW system would produce about 13,000 kWh in year one, or roughly 1,083 kWh per month on average. Actual output varies with roof orientation, tilt, shade, weather and system losses.
What is the residential electricity rate in Illinois?
The current statewide planning input is 19.22 cents per kWh from the U.S. EIA year-to-date data through June 2026. Your utility rate plan can be materially higher or lower.
What solar price does Home Solar Atlas use for Illinois?
The current planning benchmark is $3.02 per watt. That is the published Illinois EnergySage Marketplace average updated August 21, 2026. It is a comparison benchmark, not a contractor quote.
Does the 2026 benchmark include a 30% federal residential solar tax credit?
No. Home Solar Atlas does not automatically subtract the old 30% Section 25D residential credit from 2026 projects because the credit does not apply to expenditures made after December 31, 2025 under current federal rules. State, local and utility programs may still apply.
How do I get a more accurate Illinois solar estimate?
Enter your ZIP code, electricity use and roof assumptions in the Home Solar Calculator. For an address-specific roof view, use the Solar Roof Analyzer when Google Solar API coverage is available for the property.
How Home Solar Atlas builds the Illinois estimate
State solar yield is a planning estimate derived from NREL residential PV resource-class ranges, not a site-specific PVWatts result.
Electricity rates come from U.S. EIA Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.B. They are statewide averages, not a quote from your utility.
Installed-price benchmarks come from EnergySage Marketplace residential solar pricing, updated August 21, 2026. Marketplace averages are useful comparison points, not appraisals. Local roof complexity, electrical work, equipment, installer scope and system size can materially change a fair quote.
ZIP-specific PVWatts can improve production estimates, while OpenEI can surface nearby utility and incentive information. Complex tariffs remain reference data until our tariff engine models their full structure.
Read the methodology, sources and data policy and corrections policy.