Solar Panels Cost $5.3k-$16k in Jefferson County, IL | February, 2025
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How much do solar panels cost in Jefferson County, IL in 2025?
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To go solar is about $3.82/W in Jefferson County, IL in February, 2025.
Stemming from this price per watt, you are able to come to the conclusion that for every 1000 watts (1 kW) your solar system can produce you will need to spend $3,820 to have your panels installed. Typically, the price of a 5 kW solar installation in Jefferson County, after you subtract 30% federal tax credit, is around $13,370. Your energy needs could need a larger system.
To your left, you have the option to choose your county and determine the average roof size along with the average maximum capacity for solar panel installations on homes in your area. Shown below is an outline of the price, 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.
Jefferson County: $13,370US Average: $12,523
Average Payback Period The number of years until you break even on the solar investment.
Jefferson 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.
Jefferson County: $18,750US Average: $16,301
Solar Potential in Jefferson County
Estimated system size and solar electricity production per median viable roof in Jefferson County.
Roof size 679sq. ft.
Capacity 9.5kW DC
Electricity 11kkWh AC per yr.
Electricity Costs in Jefferson County, IL & What that Means for Your Solar Panel Pricing
Energy consumers in Jefferson County typically pay 157.71 per month for electricity, consuming an typical of 740 kWh. Note that the energy usage for apartments and smaller residences is covered in this number.
The average rate for electricity in Jefferson County, IL in February, 2025 is 21.32¢ per kWh.
Upfront, a 7 kW solar system is around $26,740, with the federal income tax credit giving you 30% back, lowering the cost to $18,718.
Go Solar for less than your cell phone bill.
Average solar panel costs by system size in Jefferson County
To the left, we have displayed a thorough price breakdown for multiple solar panel system sizes set up in Jefferson County. The bigger the solar array, the higher the initial expense, but also the more substantial electricity savings and income tax credits you'll get.
The calculator down and to the right provides a detailed summary of solar panel costs and benefits, based on an average electric bill of $157.71 in Jefferson County. Adjust the $157.71 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 2kW
Roof Size Min. space required
143 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $622 a year
Est. Price
$5,348
Savings from a 2kWthis system
Est. yearly production 2,960 kWh
Est. monthly savings $52
Full payback in 3 years
Environmental Impacts
Reduces CO2 emissions by 0.75 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 34 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 1,857 mi less a year
System Size 3kW
Roof Size Min. space required
215 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $932 a year
Est. Price
$8,022
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 1.13 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 52 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 2,786 mi less a year
System Size 4kW
Roof Size Min. space required
286 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $1,243 a year
Est. Price
$10,696
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 1.5 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 69 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 3,714 mi less a year
System Size 5kW
Roof Size Min. space required
358 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $1,554 a year
Est. Price
$13,370
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 1.88 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 86 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 4,643 mi less a year
System Size 6kW
Roof Size Min. space required
429 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $1,865 a year
Est. Price
$16,044
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 2.25 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 103 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 5,571 mi less a year
Jefferson County Solar Panel Installation Incentives & Rebates | 2025
The REAP Grant can potentially cover between 80% and 100% of the installation costs for solar or wind turbines for rural small businesses and farmlands. Not sure if you qualify? Use our REAP Grant eligibility tool to verify.
The federal government offers a 30% tax credit for residential solar systems, which makes solar appealing and sensible for a wide range of homeowners. A variety of state and local programs are in place to support the use of solar energy.
Residents of Illinois can access 10 solar rebate and incentive programs from a variety of utilities and governmental 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 Jefferson County, IL?
If you intend to own your residence longer than the solar system's payback period, solar panels are a good investment in Jefferson County. A 5 kW solar system in Jefferson County, IL might save you an average of $24,480.4 over 20 years, with the break even point generally being 7 years.
The cost of not having solar panels in Jefferson County, IL
Besides missing out on the savings highlighted earlier, not installing solar panels or an alternative backup energy source results in you being fully reliant on your electric utility for electricity. As illustrated by recent news stories, complete dependence on your utility company isn't always the best scenario.
In recent times, utilities in Jefferson County have averaged an average of 0.9 outages per customer annually. Usually, outages have an average duration of 110.38 minutes. However, during critical events like grid management errors, heavy rain and flooding or planned maintenance, these times can extend dramatically.
Take a look at the graphic below to see the number of current electricity customers without power in Jefferson County.
Owning a solar panel system, irrespective of a backup battery, could reduce the strain of any future outages you may encounter.
Power Outages
Currently, 0 customers are being tracked in Jefferson County.
What impacts the cost of solar panels in Jefferson County, IL?
Your Energy Needs - With larger solar panel systems, the cost per watt decreases, despite the higher upfront expense. It is often useful for consumers to install a solar system that can generate enough electricity to fully cover their electric bill, which results in substantial savings.
Make & Model - Just like many products, solar panels are available in a range of makes and models. The system preferences of your chosen installer can make it crucial to select a recommended installer. Opting for better quality makes and models can yield a significantly improved long-term experience for the buyer.
Solar Panel Type - It's easy to see why monocrystalline panels are now the preferred option in the industry. These panels cost more but produce a higher energy efficiency. Many installers in the industry use panels crafted of this material.
Your Property - Uneven ground, trees, or other barriers can increase the difficulty of the installation. Solar installers today typically use satellite imagery to evaluate your home and include these factors into the first cost estimate.
Labor Rates - Companies provide different pay rates to their employees, which are then reflected in the prices consumers pay. It is common for businesses that offer higher wages to get better reviews for their services and customer service.
Permitting & Interconnection - Installation costs will be impacted by regularly changing local permitting and utility interconnection fees, depending on the region. Good installers will factor these costs into your preliminary quotes to prevent unexpected expenses.
See what solar panels cost in other Jefferson County cities
Solar systems for selling electricity back to the grid.
Jefferson County, IL Solar Panel Cost FAQs
As of February, 2025, the average solar panel installation cost in Jefferson County, IL has reached $3.82/W. A 5 kW solar panel system will cost you around $13,370 in Jefferson County, IL after the federal tax credit is applied.
Utilities and government agencies in Illinois are currently offering 10 different rebates and incentives. On top of that, most individuals are eligible for the 30% federal income tax credit.
Paying cash will ensure the most savings, but these days there are multiple options for financing solar panels that are financially sensible as well. Your preliminary quotes will usually detail financing options available through installers.
Yes, the average 5 kW solar panel payback time in Jefferson County, IL is 7 years, with expected savings of $24,480.4 on electricity over 20 years.