Solar Panels Cost $7.6k-$17k in Cass County, IL | November, 2024
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How much do solar panels cost in Cass County, IL in 2024?
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You'll spend around $3.64/W in November, 2024 in Cass County, IL to get a solar system.
So, solar panels will cost you approximately, on average, $3,640 per 1000 watts (1 kW) of generation capacounty. In Cass County, the price of a 5 kW solar system is typically $12,740, after the 30% federal tax credit. Please keep in mind that a higher capacity system might be necessary to adequately cover your energy needs.
On the left, select your area to find the typical roof size and the maximum production capacity for solar panels on homes in your county. Displayed below is an overview of the price, payback period, and 20-year average savings for a 5 kW system in your county.
Average out-of-pocket cost for a 5 kW system The upfront amount spent to buy and install solar.
Cass County: $12,740US Average: $12,523
Average Payback Period The number of years until you break even on the solar investment.
Cass County: 7 yearsUS Average: 7 years
Average Net 20-year savings The total amount of money saved over 20 years minus the out-of-pocket cost.
Cass County: $19,970US Average: $16,169
Solar Potential in Cass County
Estimated system size and solar electricity production per median viable roof in Cass County.
Roof size 679sq. ft.
Capacity 9.5kW DC
Electricity 11kkWh AC per yr.
Electricity Costs in Cass County, IL & What that Means for Your Solar Panel Pricing
For energy consumers in Cass County, the typical electric bill amounts to 159.04 per month, with an average usage of 774 kWh. {These figures include apartments and other smaller homes, which typically have reduced energy consumption.
For November 2024, the mean electricity rate in Cass County, IL is 20.54¢ per kWh.
Upfront, a 7 kW solar panel system will cost around $25,480, after a 30% federal tax credit, the final cost is $17,836.
Go Solar for less than your cell phone bill.
Average solar panel costs by system size in Cass County
Presented below and to the left, is a detailed cost analysis for multiple solar panel system sizes installed in Cass County. Even though a bigger solar installation carries a greater cost, it also provides increased electricity savings and larger income tax credits.
The solar panel calculator, positioned to the right and below, provides a detailed cost and benefit analysis based on a typical $159.04 electric bill for Cass County. Easily replace the $159.04 with your typical electricity bill amount to see more accurate results.
System Size
Roof Size Min. space required
Electricity Value Annual Production
Est. Price
System Size 3kW
Roof Size Min. space required
215 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $932 a year
Est. Price
$7,644
Savings from a 3kWthis system
Est. yearly production 4,440 kWh
Est. monthly savings $78
Full payback in 4 years
Environmental Impacts
Reduces CO2 emissions by 1.14 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 52 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 2,809 mi less a year
System Size 4kW
Roof Size Min. space required
286 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $1,243 a year
Est. Price
$10,192
Savings from a 4kWthis system
Est. yearly production 5,920 kWh
Est. monthly savings $104
Full payback in 5 years
Environmental Impacts
Reduces CO2 emissions by 1.51 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 70 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 3,746 mi less a year
System Size 5kW
Roof Size Min. space required
358 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $1,554 a year
Est. Price
$12,740
Savings from a 5kWthis system
Est. yearly production 7,400 kWh
Est. monthly savings $129
Full payback in 7 years
Environmental Impacts
Reduces CO2 emissions by 1.89 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 87 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 4,682 mi less a year
System Size 6kW
Roof Size Min. space required
429 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $1,865 a year
Est. Price
$15,288
Savings from a 6kWthis system
Est. yearly production 8,880 kWh
Est. monthly savings $155
Full payback in 8 years
Environmental Impacts
Reduces CO2 emissions by 2.27 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 104 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 5,619 mi less a year
System Size 7kW
Roof Size Min. space required
501 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $2,176 a year
Est. Price
$17,836
Savings from a 7kWthis system
Est. yearly production 10,360 kWh
Est. monthly savings $159
Full payback in 9 years
Environmental Impacts
Reduces CO2 emissions by 2.32 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 107 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 5,749 mi less a year
Cass County Solar Panel Installation Incentives & Rebates | 2024
Between 80% and 100% of your solar energy or wind turbine installation costs may be covered by the REAP Grant if you own a rural small business or farm. Wondering if you fit this category? Check your eligibility with our REAP Grant eligibility tool.
When it comes to residential solar, the majority of people qualify for the 30% federal income tax credit, making solar a practical option across most regions of the nation. A range of state and local incentives are in place to promote the use of solar energy.
There are 10 solar rebate and incentive programs currently available in Illinois by various utilities and government agencies.
Solar incentives in ILIncentive Description Value
City of Chicago - Small Business Improvement Fund
Value:Up to $150,000
The Chicago government has established a Small Business Improvement Fund to support businesses making energy efficiency upgrades through grants. A private organization, SomerCor 504, handles the practical business of the fund. Projects eligible for grants include energy-efficient HVAC, roofing, windows, and insulation. Funding can cover three quarters of project costs. Applicants are subject to caps on net worth and number of employees. Businesses that rent their property may be subject to additional conditions. Additional information is available from the SomerCor website.
City of Chicago - Green Building Permit Programs
Value:Up to $25,000
Chicago offers specialized permitting processes for various environmentally-friendly projects or energy efficiency upgrades. Any home, business, or industrial facility may qualify to have their review period expedited and fees waived. Eligible installations and upgrades include solar PV/thermal systems, wind turbines, efficient roofing, rain reclamation, and geothermal systems; all must be LEED or Green Globes certified to qualify. Once a project is approved, the maximum turnaround time shortens to 30 days. Further, any fees up to $25,000 become waived. Additional information and early application forms are available from the Chicago website.
City of Chicago - Solar Express Permit Program
Value:Varies
Through a 2013 ordinance, Chicago homes and businesses may be eligible for a streamlined permitting process for rooftop solar PV installations. Depending on the system's size, applicants may receive a $100 discount on permit fees and a same-day approval with waived zoning evaluation. Interested property owners must hire a solar contractor certified by both ComEd and the City of Chicago. Participating contractors will follow new guidelines established by the ordinance when applying for the expedited process. Additional information is available through the Chicago municipal website.
Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation Grants
Value:Varies
Commonwealth Edison funds the Illinois Clean Energy Community Foundation (ICECF). The foundation supports private investment in renewable energy for Illinois through a variety of grant initiatives targeted at communities and schools. Eligible projects for a grant include solar, wind, and biomass installations interconnected to the grid. One initiative funding wind power for schools also supports related educational programs. Additional information is available through the ICECF website.
Net Metering
Value:Varies
Renewable energy and distributed generation customers in Illinois may enter net metering or "dual metering" arrangements with their utility. By using their generation system, customers generate renewable energy credits. By law, they hold ownership of the RECs they generate, but they may choose to sell them to the utility upon signing a net metering contract. Dual metering is for property types in a "competitive class". Utilities should install a dual-channel meter to measure net excess generation (NEG) sent back to the grid. The customer will receive a bill credit for monthly NEG at a variable rate. Net metering operates in a similar fashion, but uses a single bidirectional meter and is designed for residential and certain commercial properties (these are "non-competitive classes".) Additional information is available from the Illinois Department of Energy.
Interconnection Standards
Value:Varies
Illinois has adopted various state standards for distributed generation and interconnection using systems rated for less than 10 MW. Regulations are amended and enforced by the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC). Each connected generation system is sorted into one of four tiers based on capacity. Which tier a system falls into determines engineering standards, permit processes, and the minimum liability insurance coverage that the system's owner must carry. Distributed generation for systems over 10 MW is also standardized under a different set of rules. Additional information is available from the ICC website.
Renewable Portfolio Standard
Value:Varies
The Illinois legislature enacted the state's first renewable portfolio standard in 2007 and established the Illinois Power Agency for its enforcement. The current standard requires 25% of the state's renewable energy to come from renewable sources by 2026, with 6% coming from solar installations, 75% from wind turbines, and 1% from distributed generation systems. Compliance is measured using a renewable energy credit (REC) system pegging electric capacity to an adjusted dollar value. Utilities in the state must obtain these credits through their own generation activities or by purchasing them from distributed generation customers.
Energy Efficiency in State Government
Value:Varies
New government buildings or renovation projects in Illinois should comply with certain green building standards. Any new occupied state building or renovation affecting a maximum of 10,000 square feet should meet the highest feasible LEED standard, though the state does not need to apply for formal LEED certification. New buildings or renovation projects over 10,000 square feet must meet LEED Silver standards and apply for formal certification. A project may be exempt if costs toward meeting green building standards exceed benefits. Historic buildings may carry an exemption by default if improvements would negatively affect their aesthetics or status. Additional information is available from the Illinois Department of Commerce website.
Illinois Municipal Electric Agency - Electric Efficiency Program
Value:Varies
Residential, commercial, and wholesale customers of the Illinois Municipal Electric Agency may be eligible for a variety of financial incentives on energy efficiency equipment and projects. Eligible items and services will change from time to time. Current programs include rebate offers on HVAC, lighting, motors, and generation equipment. For each of these projects, the rebate amount averages at 7 cents per saved kilowatt hour for the first year of the improvements' deployment. The application process involves project reviews. Customers should submit copies of the city permits they have obtained for their proposed projects. To ensure accountability, IMEA requires the submission of receipts and a final inspection upon completion of the project. Additional information is available from the IMEA website.
Solar Renewable Energy Credits
Value:Varies
The Illinois Power Agency is a legislative organization that aids several private electrical utilities (Commonwealth Edison and Ameren, specifically) in purchasing renewable energy credits, including credits designated exclusively for solar energy. To meet renewable portfolio standards, the IPA acts as a diplomatic middleman to create purchasing agreements between utilities. As IPA both designs and operates procurement programs using a variety of tracking systems, customers participating in arrangements such as net metering may interface directly with the IPA. Additional information is available from the agency website.
Are solar panels worth it in Cass County, IL?
For those intending to stay in their home past the solar system's payback period, solar panels are a good investment in Cass County. In Cass County, IL, the installation of a 5 kW solar system can save you an average of $25,429.6 over 20 years, with an average break even point of 7 years.
The cost of not having solar panels in Cass County, IL
Opting not to install solar panels or a separate backup energy solution results in you missing out on the savings mentioned earlier and leaves you fully reliant on your electric utility for electricity. Recent news has demonstrated that complete dependence on your utility company is not always ideal.
There are about 0.9 outages per customer annually in Cass County. Each outage, on average, lasts for 92.45 minutes. In the case of major events like equipment failure, high winds or construction accidents, this period can rise substantially.
See the info below to see the number of current electricity customers without power in Cass County.
A solar energy system could help mitigate the effects of future outages, whether or not it has a backup battery.
Power Outages
Currently, 0 customers are being tracked in Cass County.
What impacts the cost of solar panels in Cass County, IL?
Your Energy Needs - The cost per watt is lower with larger solar panel systems, even though the initial cost is higher. Consumers often realize that setting up a solar system to replace their electric bill is a beneficial decision, resulting in the most savings.
Make & Model - There are a variety of makes and models of solar panels and mounting equipment. The potential system preferences of your chosen contractor make it crucial to choose a reputable company. Buyers who choose high-quality materials generally enjoy a better long-term experience.
Solar Panel Type - The industry standard is now monocrystalline panels, and rightly so. They are pricier but generate more energy. Many professionals in solar installation use panels crafted from this material.
Your Property - Uneven ground, trees, or other obstructions can make the installation process more challenging. Nowadays, the many solar installers can evaluate your home with satellite images and incorporate these factors in the first cost estimate.
Labor Rates - The different wages that companies give their employees lead to costs that are ultimately borne by consumers. Reviews for work and customer service are often higher for companies that pay higher wages.
Permitting & Interconnection - Regional differences in permitting and utility interconnection fees will influence your installation cost. Good installers will factor these costs into your initial quotes to prevent unexpected expenses.
See what solar panels cost in other Cass County cities
The average solar panel cost in Cass County, IL as of November, 2024 is estimated at $3.64/W. After the federal tax credit, the estimated cost for a 5 kW solar panel system in Cass County, IL is roughly $12,740.
Right now, Illinois has 10 rebates and incentives available through a variety of utility companies and government entities. In addition, nearly all people are eligible for the 30%federal tax credit.
Choosing to pay cash provides the most savings, but today there are many financing options for solar panels that are also cost-effective. Initial quotes from installers will frequently include information about available financing options.
Yes, homeowners in Cass County, IL can expect 5 kW solar panels to pay off in 7 years, with an estimated $25,429.6 in electricity savings during a 20-year span.
Savings from 
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