Solar Panels Cost $7.4k-$17k in Effingham County, IL | November, 2024
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How much do solar panels cost in Effingham County, IL in 2024?
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It averages out to $3.57 per watt to go solar in Effingham County, IL in November, 2024.
It will cost $3,570, on average, per 1000 watts (1 kW) your solar system can produce. In Effingham County, when you deduct the 30% federal income tax credit, a 5 kW solar setup sets you back $12,495. To fulfill your energy demands, you could require more than a 5kW system.
By selecting your county on the left, you can see the typical roof size and the average maximum capacity for residential solar panel systems in your area. Shown 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.
Effingham County: $12,495US Average: $12,523
Average Payback Period The number of years until you break even on the solar investment.
Effingham 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.
Effingham County: $19,943US Average: $16,169
Solar Potential in Effingham County
Estimated system size and solar electricity production per median viable roof in Effingham County.
Roof size 679sq. ft.
Capacity 9.5kW DC
Electricity 11kkWh AC per yr.
Electricity Costs in Effingham County, IL & What that Means for Your Solar Panel Pricing
On average, Effingham County residents use 777 kWh each month, and the electric bill is 157.47. Keep in mind that this number takes into account smaller residences including apartments, known for less energy use.
In November 2024, Effingham County, IL's average electricity rate amounts to 20.26¢ per kWh.
The projected cost for a 7 kW setup is $24,990 initially, but with a 30% federal tax credit, it drops to $17,493.
Go Solar for less than your cell phone bill.
Average solar panel costs by system size in Effingham County
Shown on the left and below is the pricing structure for multiple sizes of the solar panel systems set up in Effingham County. Although a more extensive solar installation carries a higher price tag, it also offers higher electricity savings and larger income tax credits.
Using the solar panel cost calculator located down and to the right, you can view a detailed cost and benefit analysis based on an average electric bill of $157.47 in Effingham County. For more specific results, just change the $157.47 with whatever your usual 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
$7,497
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 1.1 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 50 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 2,711 mi less a year
System Size 4kW
Roof Size Min. space required
286 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $1,184 a year
Est. Price
$9,996
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 1.46 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 67 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 3,615 mi less a year
System Size 5kW
Roof Size Min. space required
358 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $1,480 a year
Est. Price
$12,495
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 1.83 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 84 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 4,519 mi less a year
System Size 6kW
Roof Size Min. space required
429 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $1,776 a year
Est. Price
$14,994
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 2.19 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 101 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 5,422 mi less a year
System Size 7kW
Roof Size Min. space required
501 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $2,072 a year
Est. Price
$17,493
Savings from a 7kWthis system
Est. yearly production 10,360 kWh
Est. monthly savings $157
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 5,752 mi less a year
Effingham 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. If you consider yourself eligible, we recommend using our REAP Grant eligibility tool to confirm your qualification.
Homeowners can benefit from a 30% federal income tax credit for setting up residential solar panels, making solar power a sensible option across much of the country. Additionally, a variety of state and local programs are available to incentivize solar adoption.
Illinois provides 10 solar rebates and incentives from different utility companies 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 Effingham 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 Effingham County. If you install a 5 kW solar system in Effingham County, IL, you might save $25,297.8 over 20 years on average, with a break even point at roughly 7 years.
The cost of not having solar panels in Effingham County, IL
In addition to missing out on the savings mentioned above, not installing solar panels or an alternative backup energy source means total reliance on your electric utility for electricity. The news has provided several examples highlighting that relying entirely on your utility isn't always ideal.
Effingham County utilities have averaged 1.09 outages per customer per year recently. Usually, outages have an average duration of 132.5 minutes. However, during critical events like wildlife damage, overloaded power grids or winter storms, these times can extend dramatically.
See the info below to see the number of current electricity customers without power in Effingham County.
With or without a backup battery, a solar panel system could relieve the stress of future power disruptions you might face.
Power Outages
Currently, 0 customers are being tracked in Effingham County.
What impacts the cost of solar panels in Effingham County, IL?
Your Energy Needs - The cost per watt drops with larger solar panel systems, even if the upfront cost is larger. Consumers often discover that setting up a solar system to replace their electric bill is a smart choice, resulting in the most savings.
Make & Model - Like many products, solar panels and mounting equipment are offered in a variety of makes and models. Because the installer you choose might have specific brand preferences, selecting a reputable installer is even more important. Higher quality makes and models generally result in a more satisfactory long-term experience for buyers.
Solar Panel Type - Monocrystalline panels have established themselves as the industry standard, and for valid reasons. Even with a higher cost, this technology generate more energy. Most installers opt for panels crafted using this material.
Your Property - No two homes or properties are the same. Elements such as sloped land, trees, or other obstacles might complicate the installation process. These days, many solar installers can leverage satellite imagery to evaluate your home and incorporate these aspects into the preliminary cost estimate.
Labor Rates - Companies pay their employees in varying amounts, and these costs are borne by consumers. Businesses that pay higher wages frequently receive higher reviews for their work and customer service.
Permitting & Interconnection - Depending on the area, local permitting and utility interconnection fees will influence the cost of your installation. Reputable local installers will include these numbers into your initial quotes to prevent any surprises.
See what solar panels cost in other Effingham County cities
In Effingham County, IL, the mean cost per watt for solar panels as recorded in November, 2024 is $3.57/W. With the federal tax credit, the cost of a 5 kW solar panel system in Effingham County, IL drops to roughly $12,495.
There are 10 rebates and incentives available in Illinois from a range of utility providers and government organizations. Furthermore, the majority of people qualify for the 30% federal tax credit.
Although cash payments offer the greatest savings, many financing options for solar panels now exist that are also beneficial. Many installers will provide information about their financing partners in the initial quotes they provide.
Yes, the average time to recoup the cost of 5 kW solar panels in Effingham County, IL is 7 years, with homeowners saving an average of $25,297.8 on electricity over 20 years.
Savings from 
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