Solar Panels Cost $8.0k-$18k in McLean County, IL | November, 2024
High Power Bills?
Reduce or replace your electricity bill with solar
No data available
How much do solar panels cost in McLean County, IL in 2024?
No data available
In McLean County, IL in November, 2024 you will spend about $3.82/W to get a solar system.
Utilizing this price per watt, you can conclude that for every 1000 watts (1 kW) of solar power capacounty will require an investment of $3,820 for installation. When you deduct the 30% federal tax credit, the cost of a 5 kW solar installation in McLean County typically comes out to around $13,370. Please note that a more powerful system may be necessary to satisfy your energy demands.
To the left,select your area to see the typical roof size and the average maximum capacity of solar panels for homes in your county. Below is a summary of 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.
McLean County: $13,370US Average: $12,523
Average Payback Period The number of years until you break even on the solar investment.
McLean 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.
McLean County: $18,693US Average: $16,169
Solar Potential in McLean County
Estimated system size and solar electricity production per median viable roof in McLean County.
Roof size 822sq. ft.
Capacity 11.5kW DC
Electricity 13.3kkWh AC per yr.
Electricity Costs in McLean County, IL & What that Means for Your Solar Panel Pricing
The monthly kWh usage for a McLean County energy consumer is 762, with an average electric bill of 157.47. These figures also encompasse apartments and other smaller homes with lower energy needs.
In November 2024, McLean County, IL's mean electricity rate is 20.66¢ per kWh.
Before any incentives, a 7 kW solar installation costs around $26,740, with a 30% tax credit, this drops to $18,718.
Go Solar for less than your cell phone bill.
Average solar panel costs by system size in McLean County
Displayed on the left side, you'll see a detailed pricing structure of the various sizes of solar panel systems installed in McLean County. The initial cost for bigger solar systems is higher, but they also offer higher electricity savings and higher income tax credits.
Check the solar panel cost calculator to the right and below to see the cost and benefit details calculated from an average $157.47 electric bill in McLean County. Personalized results can be achieved by changing the $157.47 to your typical bill amount.
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
$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 0 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 0 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 0 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 0 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 0 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 0 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 0 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 0 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 0 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 0 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 0 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 0 mi less a year
System Size 7kW
Roof Size Min. space required
501 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $2,176 a year
Est. Price
$18,718
Savings from a 7kWthis system
Est. yearly production 10,360 kWh
Est. monthly savings $157
Full payback in 10 years
Environmental Impacts
Reduces CO2 emissions by 0 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 0 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 0 mi less a year
McLean County Solar Panel Installation Incentives & Rebates | 2024
Rural farmers and small business owners could have between 80% and 100% of their photovoltaic or wind turbine installation expenses covered by the REAP Grant. If you believe you might qualify, we suggest utilizing our REAP Grant eligibility tool to verify.
The federal government offers a 30% tax credit for residential solar systems, which makes solar appealing and feasible for a variety of homeowners. A variety of state and local incentives are available to support the use of solar energy.
Different utilities and government entities in Illinois provide 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 McLean County, IL?
For homeowners in McLean County intending to stay beyond the payback period of their solar system, solar panels are the best choice. With a 5 kW solar system in McLean County, IL, the average savings over a 20 period is $24,422.8, with break even generally occurring at 7 years.
The cost of not having solar panels in McLean County, IL
Without solar panels or another backup power source, you miss out on the savings highlighted previously and are entirely on your electric utility for electricity. Full reliance on your utility provider is not always ideal, as recent examples in the news have highlighted.
On average, customers in McLean County have encountered 1.43 utility outages per year in recent times. Usually, outages have an average duration of 108.01 minutes. However, during critical events like wildlife damage, aging infrastructure or lightning strikes, these times can extend dramatically.
Take a look at the component below to see the number of current electricity customers without power in McLean County.
Whether or not it includes a backup battery, a solar panel system could mitigate the effects of future power interruptions you might experience.
Power Outages
Currently, 0 customers are being tracked in McLean County.
What impacts the cost of solar panels in McLean County, IL?
Your Energy Needs - Investing in larger solar panel systems costs more upfront, but the price per watt is lowered as the system size increases. It is often beneficial for individuals to set up a solar system that can make enough electricity to fully cover their electric bill, which results in substantial savings.
Make & Model - Similar to other products, solar panels and mounting equipment are offered in a wide variety of makes and models. The installer’s preference for system makes it essential to choose a reputable installer. Investing in superior quality makes and models can result in a much better long-term experience for the buyer.
Solar Panel Type - For valid reasons, monocrystalline panels have emerged as the standard in the industry. Although the cost is more, they yield more energy. The majority of installers use these types of panels.
Your Property - Each property and residence is unique. Issues like trees, uneven landscapes, or other impediments may add to the complexity of the installation. Using satellite images, solar installers these days can assess your home and factor in these considerations into the preliminary cost estimate.
Labor Rates - Differences in employee wages across companies lead to expenses that are borne by the consumers. Companies that invest in higher wages usually see higher reviews for their services and customer service.
Permitting & Interconnection - Your installation cost will be affected by area-specific permitting and utility interconnection fees. Good local installers will incorporate these figures into your first estimates to avoid any surprises.
See what solar panels cost in other McLean County cities
The typical cost per watt for solar panels in McLean County, IL as of November, 2024 is $3.82/W. For a 5 kW solar panel system, the total cost in McLean County, IL after federal tax credits is around $13,370.
If you live in Illinois, you can find 10 rebates and incentives through different utilities and government agencies. Moreover, the 30% federal tax credit is accessible to nearly everyone.
Cash payments yield the highest savings, yet several financing options now available for solar panels are financially beneficial as well. Financing options are frequently available through installers and will be detailed in your initial quotes.
Yes, homeowners in McLean County, IL can expect 5 kW solar panels to pay off in 7 years, with an estimated $24,422.8 in electricity savings during a 20-year span.
Savings from 
Environmental Impacts 
