Solar Panels Cost $5.2k-$15k in Kankakee County, IL | November, 2024
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How much do solar panels cost in Kankakee County, IL in 2024?
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In Kankakee County, IL in November, 2024, the average price per watt for solar systems is at $3.78/W
Applying the cost per watt, you are able to conclude that for every 1 kW (1000 watts) your solar panel system can generate, you will have to spend, on average, $3,780 to have it installed. In Kankakee County, the price of a 5 kW solar panel system is generally $13,230, after the 30% federal tax credit. Your electricity use habits may need a bigger system.
Select your county from the menu on the left to find the typical roof size and maximum solar panel capacity for homes in your area. The following summary, below, highlights 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.
Kankakee County: $13,230US Average: $12,523
Average Payback Period The number of years until you break even on the solar investment.
Kankakee 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.
Kankakee County: $13,618US Average: $16,169
Solar Potential in Kankakee County
Estimated system size and solar electricity production per median viable roof in Kankakee County.
Roof size 608sq. ft.
Capacity 8.5kW DC
Electricity 9.4kkWh AC per yr.
Electricity Costs in Kankakee County, IL & What that Means for Your Solar Panel Pricing
On average, Kankakee County residents pay 135.49 for their electric bill each month and use 644 kWh. Please note that the energy consumption for apartments and other smaller living spaces is included in this statistic.
In November 2024, the electricity rate in Kankakee County, IL is 21.03¢ per kWh.
Installing a a 6 kW solar panel system will be priced at about $22,680 initially, but with the 30% federal tax credit, you can receive a 30% reimbursement, bringing the total to $15,876.
Go Solar for less than your cell phone bill.
Average solar panel costs by system size in Kankakee County
On the left side below, the price breakdown for multiple sizes of solar panel systems installed in Kankakee County can be seen. A more extensive solar array will expectedly cost more, but it will also yield more significant electricity savings and more substantial income tax credits.
The solar panel cost calculator to the right and below details costs and benefits, using an average $135.49 electric bill in Kankakee County Replace the $135.49 with your average electricity bill for personalized 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
$5,292
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 0.47 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 21 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 1,152 mi less a year
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 5 years
Environmental Impacts
Reduces CO2 emissions by 0.7 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 32 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 1,728 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 7 years
Environmental Impacts
Reduces CO2 emissions by 0.93 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 43 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 2,304 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 8 years
Environmental Impacts
Reduces CO2 emissions by 1.16 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 53 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 2,880 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 $135
Full payback in 10 years
Environmental Impacts
Reduces CO2 emissions by 1.21 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 56 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 3,002 mi less a year
Kankakee County Solar Panel Installation Incentives & Rebates | 2024
Rural entrepreneurs and farmers might find that the REAP Grant pays for 80% to 100% of their costs when installing solar or wind energy systems. Unsure if you're eligible? Check your status with our REAP Grant eligibility tool.
A 30% federal tax credit is accessible to most homeowners for residential solar installations, which renders solar energy a feasible choice in various regions across the United States. Apart from the federal incentives, state and local programs also aim to boost solar energy uptake.
Illinois provides 10 solar rebates and incentives from different utility companies and government departments.
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 Kankakee County, IL?
For homeowners in Kankakee County looking to stay beyond the payback period of their solar system, solar panels are the best choice. Installing a 5 kW solar system in Kankakee County, IL will, on average, save you $19,287.6 over 20 years, and you can expect to break even in about 8 years.
The cost of not having solar panels in Kankakee County, IL
Failing to have solar panels or an alternative backup energy means missing the savings mentioned earlier and being entirely reliant on your electric utility for electricity. As recent news articles have highlighted, full dependence on your utility provider isn't always ideal.
Lately, utilities in Kankakee County have had an average of 0.66 outages per customer annually. The average length of an outage is 76.62 minutes. In events like winter storms, construction accidents, or grid management errors, this duration can extend significantly.
See the info below to see the number of current electricity customers without power in Kankakee County.
A solar energy system could mitigate the effects of future outages, whether or not it has a backup battery.
Power Outages
Currently, 0 customers are being tracked in Kankakee County.
What impacts the cost of solar panels in Kankakee County, IL?
Your Energy Needs - Larger solar panel systems come with a larger upfront cost, but the price per watt is reduced. Homeowners often discover that installing a solar system that can offset their entire electric bill is advantageous, ensuring optimal savings.
Make & Model - There are many brands and models of solar panels. Because the installer you select might have specific brand preferences, picking a highly rated company is especially important. The utilization of high-quality materials is likely to result in a more positive long-term experience for buyers.
Solar Panel Type - It's understandable that monocrystalline panels are now the industry standard. They are pricier but generate more energy. Most professionals in solar installation work with panels constructed from this material.
Your Property - Trees, uneven ground, or additional considerations can increase the complexity of the installation. Most solar installers today use satellite imagery to evaluate your home and integrate these elements into the preliminary cost estimate.
Labor Rates - Different companies offer varying wages to their employees, and these costs are inevitably borne by the consumers. Businesses that invest in higher wages often see higher reviews for their work and customer service.
Permitting & Interconnection - Depending on the area, local permitting and utility interconnection fees will affect the cost of your installation. Quality local installers will include these figures in your preliminary estimates to provide transparency.
See what solar panels cost in other Kankakee County cities
The typical cost per watt for solar panels in Kankakee County, IL as of November, 2024 is $3.78/W. After the federal tax credit, the estimated cost for a 5 kW solar panel system in Kankakee County, IL is roughly $13,230.
Currently, Illinois residents can benefit from 10 rebates and incentives available through various utilities and government bodies. On top of that, most individuals are eligible for the 30% federal income tax credit.
Cash payments yield the highest savings, yet several financing options now available for solar panels are advantageous as well. Installers often have partnerships with financing companies and will include this information in your initial quotes.
Yes, in Kankakee County, IL, the average time for 5 kWsolar panel systems to pay for themselves is 8 years, leading to electricity savings of $19,287.6 over a 20-year period.
Savings from 
Environmental Impacts 
