Solar Panels Cost $5.4k-$16k in DuPage County, IL | November, 2024
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How much do solar panels cost in DuPage County, IL in 2024?
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On average, in DuPage County, IL in the month of November, 2024, the cost per each watt of solar panels is $3.89/W.
For every 1000 watts (1 kW) your solar panel system can generate, you will have to invest, on average, $3,890 to have it installed. In DuPage County, after receiving the 30% federal income tax credit, a 5 kW solar panel system sets you back $13,615. It's vital to note that a more powerful system could be necessary to fulfill your energy requirements.
Use the left-hand menu to select your area and find out the typical roof size and the maximum generation capacity for residential solar on homes in your county. Below, you can see a detailed outline of the costs, payback period, and 20-year typical 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.
DuPage County: $13,615US Average: $12,523
Average Payback Period The number of years until you break even on the solar investment.
DuPage 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.
DuPage County: $12,904US Average: $16,169
Solar Potential in DuPage County
Estimated system size and solar electricity production per median viable roof in DuPage County.
Roof size 733sq. ft.
Capacity 10.25kW DC
Electricity 11.4kkWh AC per yr.
Electricity Costs in DuPage County, IL & What that Means for Your Solar Panel Pricing
In DuPage County, the typical kWh usage is 641 per month, and the electric bill is 134.81. Remember that apartments and smaller dwellings, which typically have reduced energy consumption, are encompassed in this number.
The average electricity rate in DuPage County, IL in November 2024 is 21.03¢ per kWh.
The cost of a a 6 kW setup is approximately $23,340 before any incentives, but the federal tax credit provides a 30% credit, reducing your total to $16,338.
Go Solar for less than your cell phone bill.
Average solar panel costs by system size in DuPage County
Presented below and to the left, you will see a thorough price breakdown for multiple solar panel system sizes installed in DuPage County. Although a bigger solar installation carries a larger expense, it also provides greater electricity savings and higher income tax credits.
Using the solar panel cost calculator situated below and to the right, you can view a detailed cost and benefit analysis based on an average electric bill of $134.81 in DuPage County. Change the $134.81 with your typical electricity bill to get customized results.
System Size
Roof Size Min. space required
Electricity Value Annual Production
Est. Price
System Size 2kW
Roof Size Min. space required
143 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $587 a year
Est. Price
$5,446
Savings from a 2kWthis system
Est. yearly production 2,793 kWh
Est. monthly savings $49
Full payback in 3 years
Environmental Impacts
Reduces CO2 emissions by 0.92 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 42 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 2,270 mi less a year
System Size 3kW
Roof Size Min. space required
215 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $880 a year
Est. Price
$8,169
Savings from a 3kWthis system
Est. yearly production 4,189 kWh
Est. monthly savings $73
Full payback in 5 years
Environmental Impacts
Reduces CO2 emissions by 1.38 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 63 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 3,405 mi less a year
System Size 4kW
Roof Size Min. space required
286 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $1,173 a year
Est. Price
$10,892
Savings from a 4kWthis system
Est. yearly production 5,586 kWh
Est. monthly savings $98
Full payback in 7 years
Environmental Impacts
Reduces CO2 emissions by 1.83 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 84 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 4,540 mi less a year
System Size 5kW
Roof Size Min. space required
358 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $1,466 a year
Est. Price
$13,615
Savings from a 5kWthis system
Est. yearly production 6,982 kWh
Est. monthly savings $122
Full payback in 8 years
Environmental Impacts
Reduces CO2 emissions by 2.29 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 105 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 5,674 mi less a year
System Size 6kW
Roof Size Min. space required
429 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $1,760 a year
Est. Price
$16,338
Savings from a 6kWthis system
Est. yearly production 8,379 kWh
Est. monthly savings $135
Full payback in 10 years
Environmental Impacts
Reduces CO2 emissions by 2.53 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 116 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 6,269 mi less a year
DuPage County Solar Panel Installation Incentives & Rebates | 2024
For rural small businesses and agricultural properties, the REAP Grant could provide funding that covers between 80% and 100% of the necessary expenses for installing renewable energy systems. Think you might qualify? Use our REAP Grant eligibility tool to confirm your eligibility.
The federal government offers a 30% tax credit for residential solar systems, making solar attractive and practical for a variety of homeowners. Moreover, several state and local programs are in place to further encourage the adoption of solar energy.
In Illinois, 10 solar rebates and incentives are currently available from various 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 DuPage County, IL?
For those planning to remain in their homes after the solar system's payback period, adding solar panels is a obvious choice in DuPage County. A 5 kW solar system in DuPage County, IL might save you an average of $18,739.4 over 20 years, with the break even point generally being 8 years.
The cost of not having solar panels in DuPage County, IL
Beyond forgoing the savings discussed previously, not installing solar panels or another form of backup power results in you being completely dependent on your electric utility. The media has demonstrated several cases where total dependence on your utility isn't always ideal.
Annually, customers in DuPage County have dealt with approximately 0.54 utility outages.Yearly, customers in DuPage County have dealt with approximately 0.54 utility outages. On average, each outage lasts for 44.56 minutes. Major events like tornadoes, planned maintenance, or aging infrastructure can considerably extend these durations.
Take a look at the info below to see the number of current electricity customers without power in DuPage County.
Whether a backup battery is included or not, a solar panel system could reduce the burden of potential future outages.
Power Outages
Currently, 0 customers are being tracked in DuPage County.
What impacts the cost of solar panels in DuPage County, IL?
Your Energy Needs - Even though larger solar panel systems are more expensive initially, the average price per watt lowers as the system size grows. For most consumers, installing a system that can generate enough power to reduce their entire electric bill is beneficial, providing significant savings.
Make & Model - There are a range of makes and models of solar panels. Picking an contractor with specific brand preferences means it's even more important important to go with a recommended company. The choice of high-quality models can substantially improve the long-term experience for buyers.
Solar Panel Type - Monocrystalline panels have earned their place as the industry standard, and for good reasons. Even with a higher cost, this technology produce more energy. The majority of installers choose panels constructed using this material.
Your Property - Each property and residence is unique. Issues like uneven land, trees, or other obstructions may add to the complexity of the installation. Currently, most solar installers can assess your home using satellite images and incorporate these elements for the initial cost estimate.
Labor Rates - Companies pay their employees in varying amounts, and these costs are passed down to consumers. It is typical for businesses that offer higher wages to garner better reviews for their services and customer service.
Permitting & Interconnection - Local permitting and utility level interconnection fees differ by area and will impact your final install price. Quality local installers will incorporate these figures into your first estimates to eliminate any surprises.
See what solar panels cost in other DuPage County cities
The typical cost per watt for solar panels in DuPage County, IL as of November, 2024 is $3.89/W. A 5 kW solar panel system will cost you around $13,615 in DuPage County, IL after the federal tax credit is applied.
If you live in Illinois, you can find 10 rebates and incentives through different utilities and government agencies. Additionally, almost everyone is entitled to the 30% federal income tax credit.
Cash payments provide the greatest savings, but numerous financing options for solar panels that are financially advantageous are now available. Financing partners are often associated with many installers, and this will be detailed in your initial quotes.
Yes, on average, the return on investment for 5 kW solar panel systems in DuPage County, IL is achieved in 8 years, with electricity savings amounting to $18,739.4 over 20 years.
Savings from 
Environmental Impacts 
