Solar Panels Cost $5.3k-$15k in Ogle County, IL | November, 2024
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How much do solar panels cost in Ogle County, IL in 2024?
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In November, 2024 in Ogle County, IL you'll spend about $3.79 per watt to have a solar system.
Expect the price to be $3,790, on average, for every 1000 watts (or 1 kW) of solar energy your solar system will need to generate. We are able to come up with this number by utilizing the rate price cost. In Ogle County, a 5 kW solar panel system will require you to pay, on average, $13,265 after the 30% federal income tax credit. To meet your energy needs, you may need a bigger system.
By selecting your county on the left, you can see the average roof size and the average maximum capacity for residential solar panel systems in your area. Below is an analysis 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.
Ogle County: $13,265US Average: $12,523
Average Payback Period The number of years until you break even on the solar investment.
Ogle 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.
Ogle County: $13,352US Average: $16,169
Solar Potential in Ogle County
Estimated system size and solar electricity production per median viable roof in Ogle County.
Roof size 1,001sq. ft.
Capacity 14kW DC
Electricity 14.5kkWh AC per yr.
Electricity Costs in Ogle County, IL & What that Means for Your Solar Panel Pricing
Ogle County residents generally consume 641 kWh of electricity each month, with bills averaging 134.59. Flats and other smaller housing units with diminished energy requirements are covered in this statistic.
The rate of electricity in Ogle County, IL, averaging, is 21.01¢ per kWh in November 2024.
Right now, a 6 kW setup is priced at $22,740, but the 30% federal tax credit lowers it to $15,918
Go Solar for less than your cell phone bill.
Average solar panel costs by system size in Ogle County
On your left, you will see a detailed cost analysis for multiple solar panel system sizes set up in Ogle County. Larger solar installations have a greater cost, yet they also yield greater electricity savings and higher income tax credits.
In the calculator found below and to the right, you will find a breakdown of solar panel costs and benefits, calculated with an average $134.59 electric bill for Ogle County. Custom results can be gotten by changing the $134.59 to your typical bill amount.
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
$5,306
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 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 0 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 6 mi less a year
System Size 3kW
Roof Size Min. space required
215 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $932 a year
Est. Price
$7,959
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 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 0 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 9 mi less a year
System Size 4kW
Roof Size Min. space required
286 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $1,243 a year
Est. Price
$10,612
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 0.01 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 0 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 12 mi less a year
System Size 5kW
Roof Size Min. space required
358 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $1,554 a year
Est. Price
$13,265
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 0.01 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 0 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 16 mi less a year
System Size 6kW
Roof Size Min. space required
429 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $1,865 a year
Est. Price
$15,918
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 0.01 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 0 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 16 mi less a year
Ogle County Solar Panel Installation Incentives & Rebates | 2024
The REAP Grant offers substantial financial support, potentially covering 80% to 100% of the costs for rural businesses and farms to install solar energy or wind energy systems. Think you might be eligible? Verify your qualification with our REAP Grant eligibility tool.
Most people can benefit from the 30% federal income tax credit for residential solar, making it a feasible investment in numerous areas of the country. Numerous regional and state programs are in place to encourage solar energy adoption.
There are 10 solar rebate and incentive initiatives currently available in Illinois by various utilities and government 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 Ogle County, IL?
If you intend to live in your home beyond the time it takes to recoup your solar investment, installing solar panels in Ogle County is an smart decision. With a 5 kW solar system in Ogle County, IL, the average savings over a 20 period is $19,036.6, with break even usually occurring at 8 years.
The cost of not having solar panels in Ogle County, IL
Apart from missing out on the savings noted above, the absence of solar panels or another backup energy solution leads to total dependency on your electric utility for power. Many recent news stories have made it evident that complete reliance on your utility isn't always the best idea.
Over the last several years, utilities in Ogle County have had an average of 0.54 outages per customer annually. The typical duration of each outage is 44.56 minutes. When significant events such as planned maintenance, aging infrastructure or thunderstorms occur, these time frames can become much longer.
View the component below to see the number of current electricity customers without power in Ogle County.
A solar panel system, whether or not it has a backup battery, could help reduce the impact of future outages you might face.
Power Outages
Currently, 0 customers are being tracked in Ogle County.
What impacts the cost of solar panels in Ogle County, IL?
Your Energy Needs - The upfront cost for larger solar panel systems is larger, but the cost per watt decreases as the system size expands. Homeowners often find that setting up a solar system that can cover their entire electric bill is advantageous, leading to maximum savings.
Make & Model - There are numerous brands and models of solar panels. The installer you select may have particular brand preferences, so it's crucial to select a reputable contractor. Superior quality models generally result in a more satisfactory long-term experience for buyers.
Solar Panel Type - The standard in the industry is now monocrystalline panels, and justifiably so. They come with a higher price but are more efficient. Many solar panel installers use panels made of this kind of material.
Your Property - Every property and home is distinct. Trees, sloping terrain, or additional hurdles can make the installation more difficult. These days, solar installers typically use satellite images to evaluate your home and include these factors into the first cost estimate.
Labor Rates - The wages that companies offer their employees vary, and these expenses are inevitably shown in consumer prices. Usually, companies paying more in wages also enjoy higher ratings for their work and customer service.
Permitting & Interconnection - Permitting and utility interconnection fees change locally and will influence your installation cost. Quality local installers will include these figures in your first estimates to provide transparency.
See what solar panels cost in other Ogle County cities
As of November, 2024, the typical cost for solar panels in Ogle County, IL is $3.79/W. A 5 kW solar panel system will cost you around $13,265 in Ogle County, IL after the federal tax credit is applied.
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.
Paying cash offers the highest savings, but there are now numerous financing options for solar panels that are also cost-effective. Installers typically partner with financing companies and will provide this information into your initial quotes.
Yes, on average, the return on investment for 5 kW solar panel systems in Ogle County, IL is achieved in 8 years, with electricity savings amounting to $19,036.6 over 20 years.
Savings from 
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