Solar Panels Cost $7.5k-$17k in Scott County, IL | November, 2024
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How much do solar panels cost in Scott County, IL in 2024?
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You'll pay $3.59/W in Scott County, IL in the month of November, 2024 to get solar installed.
Said another way, for every 1000 watts (or 1 Kw) your system can generate you will spend $3,590 to get your system installed in . When you subtract the 30% federal tax credit, you will spend around $12,565 for a 5 kW solar installation in Scott County. However, it’s important to note that a more powerful system may be necessary to fulfill your energy requirements.
Use the menu on the left to pick your county and determine the average roof size and the average maximum capacity for residential solar on residences in your area. Below, you can see an 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.
Scott County: $12,565US Average: $12,523
Average Payback Period The number of years until you break even on the solar investment.
Scott County: 6 yearsUS Average: 7 years
Average Net 20-year savings The total amount of money saved over 20 years minus the out-of-pocket cost.
Scott County: $20,810US Average: $16,169
Solar Potential in Scott County
Estimated system size and solar electricity production per median viable roof in Scott County.
Roof size 679sq. ft.
Capacity 9.5kW DC
Electricity 11kkWh AC per yr.
Electricity Costs in Scott County, IL & What that Means for Your Solar Panel Pricing
The standard kWh usage for a Scott County resident is 782 monthly, with an average electric bill of 161.50. Please note that the energy consumption for apartments and other smaller living spaces is encompassed in this figure.
The average electricity rate in Scott County, IL in November 2024 is 20.65¢ per kWh.
At this time, a 7 kW solar panel installation will cost you roughly $25,130at first, but thanks to the 30% federal tax credit, you get a 30% reimbursement, bringing the cost down to $17,591.
Go Solar for less than your cell phone bill.
Average solar panel costs by system size in Scott County
On the left side below, the pricing details for various sizes of the solar panel systems installed in Scott County can be seen. While a bigger solar installation comes with a larger expense, it also provides higher electricity savings and larger income tax credits.
Using the solar panel cost calculator located to the right and below, you can view a detailed cost and benefit analysis based on an average electric bill of $161.50 in Scott County. If you seek more personalized results, just adjust the $161.50 to whichever your usual electricity bill is.
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
$7,539
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 1.87 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 86 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 4,631 mi less a year
System Size 4kW
Roof Size Min. space required
286 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $1,243 a year
Est. Price
$10,052
Savings from a 4kWthis system
Est. yearly production 5,920 kWh
Est. monthly savings $104
Full payback in 5 years
Environmental Impacts
Reduces CO2 emissions by 2.49 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 115 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 6,175 mi less a year
System Size 5kW
Roof Size Min. space required
358 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $1,554 a year
Est. Price
$12,565
Savings from a 5kWthis system
Est. yearly production 7,400 kWh
Est. monthly savings $129
Full payback in 6 years
Environmental Impacts
Reduces CO2 emissions by 3.12 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 143 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 7,718 mi less a year
System Size 6kW
Roof Size Min. space required
429 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $1,865 a year
Est. Price
$15,078
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 3.74 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 172 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 9,262 mi less a year
System Size 7kW
Roof Size Min. space required
501 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $2,176 a year
Est. Price
$17,591
Savings from a 7kWthis system
Est. yearly production 10,360 kWh
Est. monthly savings $162
Full payback in 9 years
Environmental Impacts
Reduces CO2 emissions by 3.9 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 179 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 9,656 mi less a year
Scott County Solar Panel Installation Incentives & Rebates | 2024
Eligible rural small businesses and farms might have their solar or wind turbine installation costs covered by the REAP Grant, ranging from 80% to 100%. Not sure if you qualify? Use our REAP Grant eligibility tool to verify.
For those considering residential solar options, a 30% federal income tax credit is broadly available, boosting the appeal and practicality of solar energy in numerous areas in the nation. Together with federal efforts, state and local programs help to support the use of solar power.
Several utilities and government organizations in Illinois currently offer 10 solar rebates and incentives.
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 Scott County, IL?
If your intention is to stay in your home beyond the solar payback period, choosing solar panels is a smart option in Scott County. A 5 kW system in Scott County, IL will help you save you, on average, $26,195 over a 20 period and the average break even point is 6 years.
The cost of not having solar panels in Scott County, IL
In addition to missing out on the previously mentioned savings, not having solar panels or a separate backup energy source makes you fully reliant on your electric utility for electricity. As shown by recent news, total dependence on your utility isn't always ideal.
On a yearly basis, the average number of outages per customer in Scott County has been 0.72. On average, each outage lasts for 90.48 minutes. Major events like grid management errors, winter storms or wildlife damage can considerably extend these durations.
See the graphic below to see the number of current electricity customers without power in Scott County.
A solar panel system, with or without a backup battery or not, could help lessen the impact of future power outages you might encounter.
Power Outages
Currently, 0 customers are being tracked in Scott County.
What impacts the cost of solar panels in Scott County, IL?
Your Energy Needs - While the upfront cost is larger, the price per watt decreases with larger solar panel systems. Most consumers see the benefit in setting up a solar setup that can generate enough power to cover their entire electric bill, ensuring significant savings.
Make & Model - There are numerous brands and models of solar panels. Selecting an installer with certain brand preferences means it is even more important essential to go with a highly rated contractor. Selecting better quality equipment usually yields a more favorable long-term experience for the buyer.
Solar Panel Type - It's understandable that monocrystalline panels are now the standard in the industry. These panels have a higher cost but generate more energy. Most installers in the industry use panels constructed of this material.
Your Property - No two homes or properties are the same. Elements like trees, uneven landscapes, or additional considerations might complicate the installation process. Solar installers today have the ability to use satellite images to evaluate your home and incorporate these factors in the preliminary cost estimate.
Labor Rates - Companies provide varying pay rates to their employees, which are then reflected in the prices consumers pay. Often, businesses paying more in wages additionally enjoy higher ratings for their services and customer service.
Permitting & Interconnection - Your final installation cost will be affected by local permitting and utility interconnection fees, which change by area. Quality local installers will include these numbers into your first quotes to prevent any surprises.
See what solar panels cost in other Scott County cities
Go Solar for less than your cell phone bill.
Who are the best solar installers in Scott County?
The average solar panel cost in Scott County, IL as of November, 2024 is estimated at $3.59/W. With the federal tax credit, the cost of a 5 kW solar panel system in Scott County, IL drops to roughly $12,565.
Currently, Illinois residents can benefit from 10 rebates and incentives available through various utilities and government bodies. Additionally, the vast majority qualify for the 30% federal tax credit.
Paying cash offers the most savings, yet there are many financing options available today for solar panels that are also beneficial. Initial quotes from installers will frequently contain information about available financing options.
Yes, the typical payback time for 5 kW solar panel systems in Scott County, IL is 6 years, and the expected electricity cost savings over 20 years is $26,195.
Savings from 
Environmental Impacts 
