Solar Panels Cost $7.9k-$18k in Franklin County, IL | December, 2024
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How much do solar panels cost in Franklin County, IL in 2024?
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To have solar panels in Franklin County, IL in the month of December, 2024 costs around $3.78/W.
It will cost $3,780, on average, per 1000 watts (1 kW) of capacounty that your solar panels have. A 5 kW solar system in Franklin County will typically cost you $13,230 after applying the 30% federal tax credit. Remember that a higher capacity system may be needed to satisfy your energy demands.
To the left, you can choose your county to find the typical roof size and average maximum capacity for solar panels on homes in your area. You can also see an analysis of the costs, payback period and 20 year average savings for a 5 kW system installed in your county below.
Average out-of-pocket cost for a 5 kW system The upfront amount spent to buy and install solar.
Franklin County: $13,230US Average: $12,523
Average Payback Period The number of years until you break even on the solar investment.
Franklin 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.
Franklin County: $18,550US Average: $16,152
Solar Potential in Franklin County
Estimated system size and solar electricity production per median viable roof in Franklin County.
Roof size 679sq. ft.
Capacity 9.5kW DC
Electricity 11kkWh AC per yr.
Electricity Costs in Franklin County, IL & What that Means for Your Solar Panel Pricing
Franklin County energy consumers consume an average of742 kWh each month, resulting in an average electric bill of 156.04. Flats and other smaller living spaces with less energy demand are reflected in this statistic.
The average rate for electricity in Franklin County, IL in December, 2024 is 21.03¢ per kWh.
Installing a a 7 kW solar panel installation will be priced at about $26,460 before applying incentives, but with the 30% federal tax credit, you can get a 30% credit, lowering the price to $18,522.
Go Solar for less than your cell phone bill.
Average solar panel costs by system size in Franklin County
Below on the left side, you'll find the pricing details for various sizes of solar panel systems set up in Franklin County. While a larger solar installation does come with a greater cost, it also brings increased electricity savings and higher income tax credits.
Check a cost benefit analysis in the solar panel cost calculator down and to the right, for an average electric bill of $156.04 in Franklin County. Alter the $156.04 to fit your typical bill payment for customized outcomes.
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
$7,938
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 1.16 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 53 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 2,862 mi less a year
System Size 4kW
Roof Size Min. space required
286 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $1,243 a year
Est. Price
$10,584
Savings from a 4kWthis system
Est. yearly production 5,920 kWh
Est. monthly savings $104
Full payback in 6 years
Environmental Impacts
Reduces CO2 emissions by 1.54 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 71 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 3,816 mi less a year
System Size 5kW
Roof Size Min. space required
358 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $1,554 a year
Est. Price
$13,230
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 1.93 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 89 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 4,771 mi less a year
System Size 6kW
Roof Size Min. space required
429 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $1,865 a year
Est. Price
$15,876
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 2.31 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 106 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 5,725 mi less a year
System Size 7kW
Roof Size Min. space required
501 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $2,176 a year
Est. Price
$18,522
Savings from a 7kWthis system
Est. yearly production 10,360 kWh
Est. monthly savings $156
Full payback in 10 years
Environmental Impacts
Reduces CO2 emissions by 2.32 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 107 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 5,747 mi less a year
Franklin County Solar Panel Installation Incentives & Rebates | 2024
Between 80% and 100% of your photovoltaic or wind turbine installation costs may be covered by the REAP Grant if you own a rural small business or farm. To see if you qualify, use our REAP Grant eligibility tool.
For residential solar installations, almost all homeowners are eligible for a 30% federal income tax credit, which makes solar energy a feasible choice in many parts of the country. Moreover, many regional and state programs are set up to encourage more people to switch to solar power.
Different utilities and governmental bodies in Illinois offer 10 solar rebate and incentive initiatives.
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 Franklin County, IL?
For those in Franklin County looking to stay in their homes past the payback period of their solar system, solar panels make excellent sense. Over a 20 year period, a 5 kW solar system in Franklin County, IL could save you around $24,219.6, with the average break even time being 7 years.
The cost of not having solar panels in Franklin County, IL
The lack of solar panels or an alternative energy backup means you'll forgo the earlier mentioned savings and be entirely reliant on your electric utility for power. Full reliance on your utility is not always ideal as the news has recently shown.
On average, there are 0.94 outages per customer each year in Franklin County. Usually, outages have an average duration of 116.26 minutes. However, during critical events like construction accidents, equipment failure or landslides, these times can extend dramatically.
Take a look at the graphic below to see the number of current electricity customers without power in Franklin County.
A solar panel system with (or without) a backup battery could ease the stress of future outages you face.
Power Outages
Currently, 0 customers are being tracked in Franklin County.
What impacts the cost of solar panels in Franklin County, IL?
Your Energy Needs - With larger solar panel systems, the cost per watt decreases, despite the greater upfront expense. Setting up a solar panel system that can replace the electric bill is beneficial to individuals because of the savings gained.
Make & Model - Just like other products, solar panels are offered in a wide variety of makes and models. Given the brand preferences that your installer may have, it's important to select a highly rated contractor. The use of better makes and models can greatly enhance the long-term experience for buyers.
Solar Panel Type - The industry standard is now monocrystalline panels, and justifiably so. They come with a higher price, but they provide more energy. The majority of solar panel installers prefer this material.
Your Property - Every home and property is unique. Sloped land, trees, or v can increase the complexity of the installation. Solar installers nowadays typically utilize satellite imagery to assess your home and factor in these factors into the preliminary cost estimate.
Labor Rates - The pay that various companies offer their employees differ, and these expenses are passed on to the consumers. Companies that pay higher wages frequently garner higher reviews for their work and customer service.
Permitting & Interconnection - Depending on the location, permitting and utility interconnection fees will influence your installation price. Good local installers will build these figures into your first estimates to avoid any surprises.
See what solar panels cost in other Franklin County cities
During December, 2024, the average price for solar panel installations in Franklin County, IL is $3.78/W. Post federal tax credit, a 5 kW solar panel system installation in Franklin County, IL will roughly cost $13,230.
Illinois offers 10 different rebates and incentives from a range of utilities and government organizations. On top of that, most individuals are eligible for the 30% federal income tax credit.
Even though cash payments provide the greatest savings, many financing options for solar panels today are also cost-effective. Financing options are frequently available through installers and will be detailed in your initial quotes.
Yes, the typical payback time for 5 kW solar panel systems in Franklin County, IL is 7 years, and the expected electricity cost savings over 20 years is $24,219.6.
Savings from 
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