Solar Panels Cost $7.4k-$17k in Clark County, IL | November, 2024
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How much do solar panels cost in Clark County, IL in 2024?
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It is approximately $3.54/W in Clark County, IL in November, 2024 to get solar installed.
Each 1 kW (1000 watts) of solar power capacounty will cost you $3,540 for installation. When you consider the 30% federal tax credit, you can expect to spend around $12,390, in Clark County, for a 5 kW system. Subject to your electricity consumption, your home may need a larger system.
To the left, you can select your county to determine the typical roof size and average maximum capacity for solar panels on homes in your area. Displayed below is an overview of the costs, 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.
Clark County: $12,390US Average: $12,523
Average Payback Period The number of years until you break even on the solar investment.
Clark 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.
Clark County: $20,278US Average: $16,169
Solar Potential in Clark County
Estimated system size and solar electricity production per median viable roof in Clark County.
Roof size 679sq. ft.
Capacity 9.5kW DC
Electricity 11kkWh AC per yr.
Electricity Costs in Clark County, IL & What that Means for Your Solar Panel Pricing
The average electricity bill for a Clark County resident is 158.24, with a monthly consumption of 774 kWh. Keep in mind that the statistic includes both apartments and smaller homes, which typically require reduced energy.
The average rate for electricity in Clark County, IL during November, 2024 is 20.45¢ per kWh.
At this time, a 7 kW setup has an upfront cost of about $24,780, but after a 30% tax credit, it drops to $17,346
Go Solar for less than your cell phone bill.
Average solar panel costs by system size in Clark County
Displayed on the left, you will find a price breakdown for different solar panel system sizes installed in Clark County. Bigger solar installations come with a greater cost, yet they also offer increased electricity savings and more generous income tax credits.
Check the solar panel cost calculator below and to the right to see the cost and benefit details based on an average $158.24 electric bill in Clark County. Adjust the $158.24 to your typical electricity bill payment for 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 $888 a year
Est. Price
$7,434
Savings from a 3kWthis system
Est. yearly production 4,440 kWh
Est. monthly savings $74
Full payback in 4 years
Environmental Impacts
Reduces CO2 emissions by 0.01 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 0 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 16 mi less a year
System Size 4kW
Roof Size Min. space required
286 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $1,184 a year
Est. Price
$9,912
Savings from a 4kWthis system
Est. yearly production 5,920 kWh
Est. monthly savings $99
Full payback in 5 years
Environmental Impacts
Reduces CO2 emissions by 0.01 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 0 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 21 mi less a year
System Size 5kW
Roof Size Min. space required
358 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $1,480 a year
Est. Price
$12,390
Savings from a 5kWthis system
Est. yearly production 7,400 kWh
Est. monthly savings $123
Full payback in 7 years
Environmental Impacts
Reduces CO2 emissions by 0.01 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 0 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 26 mi less a year
System Size 6kW
Roof Size Min. space required
429 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $1,776 a year
Est. Price
$14,868
Savings from a 6kWthis system
Est. yearly production 8,880 kWh
Est. monthly savings $148
Full payback in 8 years
Environmental Impacts
Reduces CO2 emissions by 0.01 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 1 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 32 mi less a year
System Size 7kW
Roof Size Min. space required
501 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $2,072 a year
Est. Price
$17,346
Savings from a 7kWthis system
Est. yearly production 10,360 kWh
Est. monthly savings $158
Full payback in 9 years
Environmental Impacts
Reduces CO2 emissions by 0.01 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 1 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 34 mi less a year
Clark County Solar Panel Installation Incentives & Rebates | 2024
If you're a rural small business or farm owner, you might be eligible for REAP Grant coverage of between 80% and 100% for your photovoltaic or wind turbine project. If you believe you might qualify, we suggest trying our REAP Grant eligibility tool to check.
Nearly all residents are eligible for the 30% federal income tax credit for residential solar, making it a feasible option in numerous states throughout the country. Additionally, a variety of state and local programs are available to promote solar adoption.
There are 10 solar rebate and incentive programs currently offered in Illinois by multiple utilities and government bodies.
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 Clark County, IL?
If your goal is to keep your home well past the payback period of your solar system, solar panels are an excellent choice in Clark County. Installing a 5 kW solar system in Clark County, IL will, on average, save you $25,587.6 over 20 years, and you can expect to break even in about 7 years.
The cost of not having solar panels in Clark County, IL
In addition to forgoing the savings, the absence of solar panels or another backup energy source results in full dependence on your electric utility for your power needs. As recent examples in the news have shown, full reliance on your utility provider isn't always the best idea.
Each year, customers in Clark County face about 0.72 outages. Each outage, on average, lasts for 90.48 minutes. In the case of major events like wildlife damage, grid management errors or hurricanes, this period can rise substantially.
View the info below to see the number of current electricity customers without power in Clark County.
Even without a backup battery, a solar panel system can help mitigate the strain of future outages you may face.
Power Outages
Currently, 0 customers are being tracked in Clark County.
What impacts the cost of solar panels in Clark County, IL?
Your Energy Needs - Even though larger solar panel systems are more expensive initially, the average price per watt decreases as the system size increases. A lot of people find it useful to set up a solar energy system that can offset their entire electric bill. This results in maximum savings.
Make & Model - There are numerous brands and models of solar panels. The preferences for system that your contractor has may make it essential to choose a reputable installer. The use of superior models is probably will result in a more satisfactory long-term experience for buyers.
Solar Panel Type - There are valid reasons why monocrystalline panels are now considered the industry standard. Although they are pricier, they provide increased energy. Most installers work with panels crafted of this material.
Your Property - Every home and property differs in its own way. Challenges such as trees, sloped land, or additional considerations can increase the difficulty of installing solar panels. By using satellite imagery, solar installers can currently assess your home and include these considerations into the first cost estimate.
Labor Rates - The wage differences between companies result in costs that are passed on to the consumers. Higher reviews for services and customer service are often associated with businesses that pay higher wages.
Permitting & Interconnection - The cost of installation will vary depending on local permitting and utility interconnection fees. Experienced local installers will include these figures in your initial estimates to provide transparency.
See what solar panels cost in other Clark County cities
Go Solar for less than your cell phone bill.
Who are the best solar installers in Clark County?
As of November, 2024, the average cost for solar panels in Clark County, IL is $3.54/W. With the federal tax credit, the cost of a 5 kW solar panel system in Clark County, IL drops to roughly $12,390.
Currently, Illinois residents can benefit from 10 rebates and incentives available through various utilities and government bodies. Additionally, the vast majority qualify for the 30% federal tax credit.
Paying cash yields the most savings, but there are now numerous financing options for solar panels that are also financially beneficial. Financing details are often provided by installers and may be detailed in your initial quotes.
Yes, solar panels systems of 5 kW in Clark County, IL typically have a payback period of 7years, with expected savings on electricity costs of $25,587.6 over 20 years.
Savings from 
Environmental Impacts 
