Solar Panels Cost $8.7k-$20k in Clay County, IL | November, 2024
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How much do solar panels cost in Clay County, IL in 2024?
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To have solar panels installed in Clay County, IL in November, 2024 averages out to $4.15/W.
Applying the rate, we are able to come to the conclusion that for every 1000 watts (1 kW) your solar system can generate you will have to spend $4,150 to get your system installed. In Clay County, you will spend about $14,525 for a 5 kW solar installation once the 30% federal income tax credit is factored in. However, it’s vital to take into account that a more extensive system may be necessary to fulfill your energy demands.
To the left, you can choose your county to view the average roof size and the maximum capacity of solar panels for houses in your area. Displayed below is an outline of the costs, payback period, and 20-year average savings for a 5 kW system installed in your county.
Average out-of-pocket cost for a 5 kW system The upfront amount spent to buy and install solar.
Clay County: $14,525US Average: $12,523
Average Payback Period The number of years until you break even on the solar investment.
Clay County: 8 yearsUS Average: 7 years
Average Net 20-year savings The total amount of money saved over 20 years minus the out-of-pocket cost.
Clay County: $17,024US Average: $16,169
Solar Potential in Clay County
Estimated system size and solar electricity production per median viable roof in Clay County.
Roof size 679sq. ft.
Capacity 9.5kW DC
Electricity 11kkWh AC per yr.
Electricity Costs in Clay County, IL & What that Means for Your Solar Panel Pricing
Energy consumers in Clay County typically pay 157.39 per month for electricity, with an average monthly usage of772 kWh. Smaller residences, such as lofts or apartments, are also included in the numbers referenced in the earlier sentence.
The average rate for electricity in Clay County, IL during November, 2024 is 20.39¢ per kWh.
Installing a a 7 kW solar panel system will cost around $29,050 upfront, but with the federal income tax credit, you can get 30% back, reducing the cost to $20,335.
Go Solar for less than your cell phone bill.
Average solar panel costs by system size in Clay County
On the left side below, you can find a detailed price breakdown for different solar panel system sizes set up in Clay County. Even though a bigger solar installation carries a higher price tag, it also provides greater electricity savings and higher income tax credits.
Using the solar panel cost calculator located to the right and below, you can view a detailed cost and benefit analysis based on an average electric bill of $157.39 in Clay County. If you want more customized results, just adjust the $157.39 to whatever your average electricity bill is.
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
$8,715
Savings from a 3kWthis system
Est. yearly production 4,440 kWh
Est. monthly savings $74
Full payback in 5 years
Environmental Impacts
Reduces CO2 emissions by 1.09 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 50 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 2,703 mi less a year
System Size 4kW
Roof Size Min. space required
286 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $1,184 a year
Est. Price
$11,620
Savings from a 4kWthis system
Est. yearly production 5,920 kWh
Est. monthly savings $99
Full payback in 6 years
Environmental Impacts
Reduces CO2 emissions by 1.46 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 67 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 3,604 mi less a year
System Size 5kW
Roof Size Min. space required
358 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $1,480 a year
Est. Price
$14,525
Savings from a 5kWthis system
Est. yearly production 7,400 kWh
Est. monthly savings $123
Full payback in 8 years
Environmental Impacts
Reduces CO2 emissions by 1.82 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 84 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 4,505 mi less a year
System Size 6kW
Roof Size Min. space required
429 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $1,776 a year
Est. Price
$17,430
Savings from a 6kWthis system
Est. yearly production 8,880 kWh
Est. monthly savings $148
Full payback in 9 years
Environmental Impacts
Reduces CO2 emissions by 2.18 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 100 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 5,406 mi less a year
System Size 7kW
Roof Size Min. space required
501 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $2,072 a year
Est. Price
$20,335
Savings from a 7kWthis system
Est. yearly production 10,360 kWh
Est. monthly savings $157
Full payback in 11 years
Environmental Impacts
Reduces CO2 emissions by 2.32 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 106 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 5,735 mi less a year
Clay County Solar Panel Installation Incentives & Rebates | 2024
If you run a small business or farm in a rural area, you could receive REAP Grant support that covers 80% to 100% of your solar or wind turbine installation costs. Believe you fit this category? Check your qualification with our REAP Grant eligibility tool.
Adding residential solar panels comes with a 30% federal tax credit, available to most homeowners, making it a good option for numerous areas across the country. Alongside federal efforts, state and local programs help to encourage the use of solar power.
Illinois features 10 solar rebate and incentive initiatives available from different utilities and government organizations.
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 Clay County, IL?
When you plan to live in your home beyond the payback period of your solar system, solar panels are an excellent choice in Clay County. A 5 kW system in Clay County, IL will enable you to save you, on average, $23,248.6 over a 20 period and the average break even point is 8 years.
The cost of not having solar panels in Clay 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. Recent news stories have demonstrated that complete dependence on your utility is not always ideal.
Over the past few years, the utilities in Clay County have reported an average of 0.72 outages per customer annually. Usually, outages have an average duration of 90.48 minutes. However, during critical events like landslides, overloaded power grids, or construction accidents, these times can extend dramatically.
Take a look at the component below to see the number of current electricity customers without power in Clay County.
Whether or not a backup battery is included, a solar panel system could ease the impact of future power outages you might experience.
Power Outages
Currently, 0 customers are being tracked in Clay County.
What impacts the cost of solar panels in Clay County, IL?
Your Energy Needs - The upfront cost for larger solar panel systems is larger, but the cost per watt decreases as the system size increases. Many people find it advantageous to set up a solar energy system that can fully cover their entire electric bill. This ensures optimal savings.
Make & Model - Similar to other items, solar panels come in a variety of makes and models. As your installer may prefer certain systems, it's essential to choose a reputable contractor. Higher quality makes and models often result in a more satisfactory long-term experience for buyers.
Solar Panel Type - For numerous good reasons, monocrystalline panels are now the standard in the industry. They are associated with a higher price, but they provide more energy. Most solar panel installers opt for this kind of material.
Your Property - Elements such as trees, sloping terrain, or other obstructions might complicate the installation process. Using satellite imagery, solar installers can now assess your home and include these considerations into the initial cost estimate.
Labor Rates - Different companies have varying pay scales for their employees, and these costs are ultimately passed on to consumers. Businesses that invest in higher wages often see higher reviews for their work and customer service.
Permitting & Interconnection - Local permitting and utility level interconnection fees change by area and will affect your final install price. Experienced local installers will incorporate these numbers into your first quotes to prevent any surprises.
See what solar panels cost in other Clay County cities
The average solar panel cost in Clay County, IL as of November, 2024 is estimated at $4.15/W. In Clay County, IL, installing a 5 kW solar panel system will set you back approximately $14,525 after federal tax incentives.
Utilities and government agencies in Illinois are currently offering 10 different rebates and incentives. Furthermore, almost all individuals are entitled to the 30% federal income tax credit.
Opting to pay in cash provides the highest savings, but there are now various financing options for solar panels that are financially beneficial. Many installers will detail information about financing options in their initial quotes.
Yes, on average, 5 kW solar panels in Clay County, IL pay for themselves in 8 years, with homeowners saving approximately $23,248.6 on electricity over 20 years.
Savings from 
Environmental Impacts 
