Solar Panels Cost 5.0k-15k in Rochester, IL | October, 2024

Solar Panels Cost $5.0k-$15k in Rochester, IL | October, 2024

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How much do solar panels cost in Rochester, IL in 2024?

To go solar in October, 2024 in Rochester, IL costs, on average, $3.64/W.

It will cost you $3,640, on average, per 1K (or 1000 watts) your panels is able to generate. When you deduct the 30% federal tax credit, you can expect to spend around $12,740 for a 5 kW solar setup in Rochester. Subject to your energy usage habits, you could require a bigger system.

To the left, you can choose your county to view the average roof size and the average maximum production capacity for residential solar on houses in your area. Below is a full overview 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.
Rochester: $12,740US Average: $12,562
Average Payback Period The number of years until you break even on the solar investment.
Rochester: 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.
Rochester: $13,398US Average: $15,784

Solar Potential in Rochester

Estimated system size and solar electricity production per median viable roof in
Rochester.

Roof size 715sq. ft.
Capacity 10kW DC
Electricity 12kkWh AC per yr.

Electricity Costs in Rochester, IL & What that Means for Your Solar Panel Pricing

On average, Rochester energy consumers have a monthly electric bill of $131.66 and use 700 kWh. Please note that this number also encompasses data from smaller residential units, including apartments.

The rate of electricity in Rochester, IL, on average, is 18.8¢ per kWh for October 2024.

In Rochester, typical users has to have a system size of 6 kW or greater to fully take care of their full power needs. Currently, a 6 kW setup costs around $21,840 before incentives, with the 30% federal tax credit, the price lowers to $15,288.

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Average solar panel costs by system size in Rochester

On your left, we've provided a detailed cost breakdown for the various solar panel system sizes installed in Rochester. Of course, with a more extensive solar system, you will have a higher upfront cost, but the advantages include greater energy savings and more substantial income tax credits.

In the solar panel cost calculator located down and to the right, you can examine a cost and benefit breakdown to match an average $131.66electric bill in Rochester. To get custom results, adjust the $131.66 to match your average electricity payment.

System Size 2kW
Roof Size Min. space required
143 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $562 a year
Est. Price
$5,096
Savings from a 2kWthis system
  • Est. yearly production 2,960 kWh
  • Est. monthly savings $47
  • Full payback in 3 years
Environmental Impacts
  • Reduces CO2 emissions by 0.82 tons a year
  • Equivalent to planting 38 trees a year
  • Equivalent to driving 2,024 mi less a year
System Size 3kW
Roof Size Min. space required
215 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $844 a year
Est. Price
$7,644
Savings from a 3kWthis system
  • Est. yearly production 4,440 kWh
  • Est. monthly savings $70
  • Full payback in 5 years
Environmental Impacts
  • Reduces CO2 emissions by 1.23 tons a year
  • Equivalent to planting 56 trees a year
  • Equivalent to driving 3,036 mi less a year
System Size 4kW
Roof Size Min. space required
286 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $1,125 a year
Est. Price
$10,192
Savings from a 4kWthis system
  • Est. yearly production 5,920 kWh
  • Est. monthly savings $94
  • Full payback in 6 years
Environmental Impacts
  • Reduces CO2 emissions by 1.64 tons a year
  • Equivalent to planting 75 trees a year
  • Equivalent to driving 4,048 mi less a year
System Size 5kW
Roof Size Min. space required
358 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $1,406 a year
Est. Price
$12,740
Savings from a 5kWthis system
  • Est. yearly production 7,400 kWh
  • Est. monthly savings $117
  • Full payback in 8 years
Environmental Impacts
  • Reduces CO2 emissions by 2.04 tons a year
  • Equivalent to planting 94 trees a year
  • Equivalent to driving 5,059 mi less a year
System Size 6kW
Roof Size Min. space required
429 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $1,687 a year
Est. Price
$15,288
Savings from a 6kWthis system
  • Est. yearly production 8,880 kWh
  • Est. monthly savings $132
  • Full payback in 10 years
Environmental Impacts
  • Reduces CO2 emissions by 2.3 tons a year
  • Equivalent to planting 106 trees a year
  • Equivalent to driving 5,700 mi less a year

Rochester Solar Panel Installation Incentives & Rebates | 2024

The financial burden of installing solar or wind turbines for rural farmlands and small businesses could be eased with the REAP Grant, covering 80% to 100% of the costs. To see if you qualify, use our REAP Grant eligibility tool.

For those considering residential solar, the 30% federal income tax credit is offered to nearly everyone, making solar power a good investment in many parts of the country. A range of state and local initiatives are offered to support the use of solar energy.

There are 7 solar rebate and incentive programs currently available in Illinois by multiple utilities and government bodies.

Solar incentives in IL

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 Illinois?

If your plan is to stay in your home past the time it takes to pay off your solar system, opting for solar panels is a good move in Rochester. A 5 kW system in Rochester, IL will help you save the average homeowner, on average, $18,858.4 over a 20 period and the average break even point is 8 years.

The cost of not having solar panels in Rochester, IL

The absence of solar panels or an alternative energy backup means that you miss out on the savings mentioned earlier and depend on your electric utility for electricity. The news has given several examples highlighting that full reliance on your utility isn't always the best idea.

Customers in Rochester have experienced around 0.78 outages per year on average. Each outage lasts an average of 92.9 minutes. In the case of major events such as grid management errors, hurricanes or vandalism, this period can increase substantially.

A solar panel system, with or without a backup battery, could help mitigate the effects of future outages you might encounter.

Power Outages

Currently, 0 customers are being tracked in Sangamon County.

Learn more

Customers Out:

0

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What impacts the cost of solar panels in Rochester, IL?

Your Energy Needs - Larger solar panel systems require more upfront investment, but the cost per watt drops as the size of the system expands. Installing a solar system that generates sufficient electricity to eliminate their electric bill is beneficial to most consumers, leading to savings.

Make & Model - There are numerous brands and models of solar panels and mounting equipment. Since your installer may prefer particular systems, it's important to choose a highly rated company. Opting for higher quality equipment generally provides a more satisfying long-term experience for the buyer.

Solar Panel Type - Monocrystalline panels have taken over as the standard in the industry, and it's easy to see why. They are associated with a higher price, but they provide more energy. The majority of solar panel installers prefer this kind of material.

Your Property - Each property and residence is unique. Issues such as trees, uneven landscapes, or additional challenges may add to the complexity of the installation. Solar installers currently have the ability to utilize satellite images to evaluate your home and incorporate these elements in the initial cost estimate.

Labor Rates - The wage differences between companies result in costs that are passed on to the consumers. Businesses frequently receive higher reviews for their services and customer service when they pay higher wages.

Permitting & Interconnection - The local permitting and utility interconnection fees, which change by region, will affect your final installation price. Reliable local installers will build these figures into your initial estimates to avoid any surprises.

See what solar panels cost in other IL cities

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Who are the best solar installers in Rochester?

Freedom Forever

Temecula, CA(800) 685-1850

Services

  • Installation of batteries for energy storage.
  • Expertise in consulting on advantageous financing for solar.
  • Installation of solar arrays.

Solar SME Inc.

Duncanville, TX(832) 626-2337

Services

  • Installation of batteries for energy storage.
  • Installation of solar arrays.
  • Expertise in consulting on advantageous financing for solar.

YellowLite

Cleveland, OH(877) 743-8757

Services

  • Reparation of solar arrays.
  • Expertise in consulting on advantageous financing for solar.
  • Installation of batteries for energy storage.
  • Installation of solar arrays.

Academy Energy Group

Newburgh, IN(812) 518-2150

Services

  • Auditing of energy requirements for independent energy generation.
  • Solar systems for selling electricity back to the grid.
  • Monitoring of independent energy generation.
  • Reparation of solar arrays.
  • Installation of solar arrays.

SunVest Solar

Pewaukee, WI(262) 547-1200

Services

  • Installation of solar arrays.
  • Expertise in consulting on advantageous financing for solar.

Plug PV

Albany, NY(518) 948-5316

Services

  • Expertise in consulting on advantageous financing for solar.
  • Installation of solar arrays.
  • Installation of batteries for energy storage.
  • Monitoring of independent energy generation.

SunPro Solar

Mandeville, LA(866) 599-3643

Services

  • Auditing of energy requirements for independent energy generation.
  • Installation of solar arrays.
  • Monitoring of independent energy generation.
  • Solar systems for selling electricity back to the grid.
  • Expertise in consulting on advantageous financing for solar.
  • Consulting on all things solar related.
  • Installation of batteries for energy storage.

Power Home Solar

Mooresville, NC(704) 870-3670

Services

  • Installation of batteries for energy storage.
  • Consulting on all things solar related.
  • Solar systems for selling electricity back to the grid.
  • Expertise in consulting on advantageous financing for solar.
  • Reparation of solar arrays.
  • Installation of solar arrays.

RISE Power

Richardson, TX(855) 747-3769

Services

  • Solar systems for selling electricity back to the grid.
  • Installation of solar arrays.
  • Reparation of solar arrays.
  • Installation of batteries for energy storage.
  • Monitoring of independent energy generation.
  • Consulting on all things solar related.

Dividend Finance

San Francisco, CA(415) 805-7000

Services

  • Expertise in consulting on advantageous financing for solar.
  • Installation of solar arrays.
  • Installation of batteries for energy storage.

Eagle Point Solar

Dubuque, IA(563) 582-4044

Services

  • Installation of solar arrays.
  • Reparation of solar arrays.
  • Expertise in consulting on advantageous financing for solar.

Palmetto Solar

Charleston, SC(855) 339-1831

Services

  • Installation of solar arrays.
  • Installation of batteries for energy storage.
  • Solar systems for selling electricity back to the grid.
  • Expertise in consulting on advantageous financing for solar.
  • Reparation of solar arrays.

SunPower Corporation

San Jose, CA(800) 786-7693

Services

  • Installation of solar arrays.
  • Solar systems for selling electricity back to the grid.
  • Monitoring of independent energy generation.
  • Installation of batteries for energy storage.
  • Reparation of solar arrays.
  • Consulting on all things solar related.
  • Expertise in consulting on advantageous financing for solar.

Silver Sun Solar

Deltona, FL(340) 227-7785

Services

  • Expertise in consulting on advantageous financing for solar.
  • Installation of batteries for energy storage.
  • Solar systems for selling electricity back to the grid.
  • Installation of solar arrays.

Tick Tock Energy

Effingham, IL(217) 994-9020

Services

  • Installation of solar arrays.
  • Expertise in consulting on advantageous financing for solar.
  • Installation of batteries for energy storage.

Harvest Solar

Jackson, MI(888) 907-6527

Services

  • Installation of solar arrays.
  • Expertise in consulting on advantageous financing for solar.
  • Consulting on all things solar related.

AES Solar

Carterville, IL(618) 988-0888

Services

  • Expertise in consulting on advantageous financing for solar.
  • Solar systems for selling electricity back to the grid.
  • Consulting on all things solar related.
  • Installation of batteries for energy storage.
  • Installation of solar arrays.

Sunnova Energy

Houston, TX(866) 786-6682

Services

  • Installation of batteries for energy storage.
  • Installation of solar arrays.
  • Expertise in consulting on advantageous financing for solar.

Sunrun

San Francisco, CA(833) 394-3384

Services

  • Expertise in consulting on advantageous financing for solar.
  • Monitoring of independent energy generation.
  • Installation of batteries for energy storage.
  • Installation of solar arrays.
  • Solar systems for selling electricity back to the grid.

GRNE Solar

Palatine, IL(312) 859-3417

Services

  • Installation of solar arrays.
  • Consulting on all things solar related.
  • Expertise in consulting on advantageous financing for solar.
  • Installation of batteries for energy storage.

Sigora Solar

Charlottesville, VA(434) 465-6192

Services

  • Solar systems for selling electricity back to the grid.
  • Expertise in consulting on advantageous financing for solar.
  • Installation of batteries for energy storage.
  • Installation of solar arrays.

Entegrity

Little Rock, AR(800) 700-1414

Services

  • Expertise in consulting on advantageous financing for solar.
  • Installation of solar arrays.

Ideal Energy

Fairfield, IA(800) 634-4454

Services

  • Expertise in consulting on advantageous financing for solar.
  • Reparation of solar arrays.
  • Installation of batteries for energy storage.
  • Installation of solar arrays.

Soltage

Jersey City, NJ(201) 432-1786

Services

  • Expertise in consulting on advantageous financing for solar.
  • Installation of batteries for energy storage.
  • Installation of solar arrays.

Engie North America

Houston, TX(713) 636-0000

Services

  • Expertise in consulting on advantageous financing for solar.
  • Installation of batteries for energy storage.
  • Installation of solar arrays.

City Electric Supply

Dallas, TX(866) 634-9853

Services

  • Installation of solar arrays.
  • Expertise in consulting on advantageous financing for solar.
  • Consulting on all things solar related.

LightEdison

Denver, CO(888) 966-6377

Services

  • Reparation of solar arrays.
  • Installation of batteries for energy storage.
  • Expertise in consulting on advantageous financing for solar.
  • Installation of solar arrays.

PowerHome Solar

Mooresville, NC(704) 870-3670

Services

  • Installation of solar arrays.
  • Expertise in consulting on advantageous financing for solar.
  • Installation of batteries for energy storage.
  • Solar systems for selling electricity back to the grid.

Empire Solar Group

Salt Lake City, UT(800) 467-4562

Services

  • Installation of solar arrays.
  • Solar systems for selling electricity back to the grid.
  • Installation of batteries for energy storage.

Badass Energy

Claremont, CA(909) 320-9860

Services

  • Installation of solar arrays.
  • Consulting on all things solar related.
  • Installation of batteries for energy storage.

Rochester, IL Solar Panel Cost FAQs

  • In October, 2024, the average cost of solar panels per watt in Rochester, IL is $3.64/W. Installing a 5 kW solar panel system in Rochester, IL will cost approximately $12,740 after applying the federal tax credit.
  • Various utility providers and government organizations in Illinois are offering 7 rebates and incentives at this time. Additionally, the vast majority qualify for the 30% federal tax credit.
  • Choosing to pay cash offers the most savings, but today there are many financing options for solar panels that are also financially advantageous. Information about financing options will often be included in your initial quotes by many installers.
  • Yes, the payback period for 5 kW solar energy systems in Rochester, IL averages 8 years, with electricity savings of about $18,858.4 over 20 years.
Matt Hope
Last Reviewed By: Matt Hope
Published: 2024-10-01