Solar Panels Cost $7.5k-$17k in St. Clair County, IL | November, 2024
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How much do solar panels cost in St. Clair County, IL in 2024?
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It costs, on average, $3.59 per watt to have solar installed in the month of November, 2024 in St. Clair County, IL.
You should expect costs to be $3,590, on average, for every 1 kW (or 1000 watts) of solar energy your solar panel system will need to generate. Subtracting the 30% federal tax credit, a 5 kW solar panel install in St. Clair County typically costs $12,565. However, it’s important to take into account that a higher capacity system may be needed to ensure your energy requirements are met.
Select your county from the menu on the left to find the average roof size and maximum solar panel system capacity for homes in your area. Displayed below is a breakdown of the price, 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.
St. Clair County: $12,565US Average: $12,523
Average Payback Period The number of years until you break even on the solar investment.
St. Clair 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.
St. Clair County: $19,816US Average: $16,169
Solar Potential in St. Clair County
Estimated system size and solar electricity production per median viable roof in St. Clair County.
Roof size 661sq. ft.
Capacity 9.25kW DC
Electricity 11.4kkWh AC per yr.
Electricity Costs in St. Clair County, IL & What that Means for Your Solar Panel Pricing
An energy consumer in St. Clair County generally uses 767 kWh per month, leading to an average electric bill of 157.36. Bear in mind that this figure includes smaller residences including apartments, known for lower energy needs.
As of November 2024, the average rate for electricity per kWh in St. Clair County, IL is 20.52¢.
Initially, a 7 kW solar system is priced at about $25,130, with the federal tax credit providing 30% back, reducing the price to $17,591.
Go Solar for less than your cell phone bill.
Average solar panel costs by system size in St. Clair County
On your left, we have provided a detailed cost breakdown for the multiple solar panel system sizes installed in St. Clair County. The larger the solar array, the larger the initial expense, but also the more considerable electricity savings and income tax credits you'll gain.
In the calculator provided to the right and below, you will find a breakdown of solar panel costs and benefits, calculated with an average $157.36 electric bill for St. Clair County. Replace the $157.36 with your average electricity bill to get more detailed results.
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 1.15 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 53 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 2,843 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 1.53 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 70 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 3,790 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 7 years
Environmental Impacts
Reduces CO2 emissions by 1.91 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 88 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 4,738 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 2.3 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 105 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 5,685 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 $157
Full payback in 9 years
Environmental Impacts
Reduces CO2 emissions by 2.32 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 107 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 5,744 mi less a year
St. Clair County Solar Panel Installation Incentives & Rebates | 2024
The REAP Grant currently offers between 80% and 100% coverage for the installation costs of solar or wind turbines for rural small businesses and farms. If you think you might be eligible, try our REAP Grant eligibility tool to verify your qualification.
The federal government offers a 30% tax credit for residential solar systems, making solar attractive and practical for a variety of homeowners. Additionally, numerous state and local programs aim to promote further adoption of solar energy.
Various utilities and government entities in Illinois provide 10 solar rebate and incentive programs.
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 St. Clair County, IL?
For those in St. Clair County looking to stay in their homes past the payback period of their solar system, solar panels make good sense. Having a 5 kW solar system in St. Clair County, IL can potentially save you around $25,201.4 over a span of 20 years, with an average break even point of 7 years.
The cost of not having solar panels in St. Clair County, IL
Without solar panels or another backup power source, you miss out on the savings discussed previously and are entirely on your electric utility for electricity. Recent news examples have revealed that complete dependence on your utility provider isn't always the most favorable condition.
Annually, customers in St. Clair County experience about 1.09 outages. On average, the length of an outage is 132.5 minutes. Major events like winter storms, wildlife damage, or overloaded power grids can cause these durations to rise considerably.
View the info below to see the number of current electricity customers without power in St. Clair County.
A solar panel system, whether or not it has a backup battery, could help reduce the impact of future outages you might experience.
Power Outages
Currently, 0 customers are being tracked in St. Clair County.
What impacts the cost of solar panels in St. Clair County, IL?
Your Energy Needs - Even if the initial expense is greater, the price per watt decreases with larger solar panel systems. Individuals often discover that setting up a solar system that can offset their entire electric bill is advantageous, ensuring optimal savings.
Make & Model - Just like any other product, solar panels are available in a wide variety of makes and models. Considering the system preferences that your installer may have, it's important to select a reputable contractor. For a superior long-term experience, buyers should consider better quality models.
Solar Panel Type - For good reasons, monocrystalline panels have become the industry standard. They come with a higher price, but they generate more energy. Many solar panel installers choose this material.
Your Property - Each property and home has its own characteristics. Factors such as trees, sloped land, or additional considerations can make the installation more challenging. Nowadays, most solar installers can assess your home with satellite images and incorporate these considerations in the first cost estimate.
Labor Rates - The costs connected to the varying wages offered by companies to their employees are passed on to the consumers. Companies that invest in higher wages usually see higher reviews for their work and customer service.
Permitting & Interconnection - Permitting and utility interconnection fees change locally and will impact your installation cost. Good installers will factor these costs into your preliminary quotes to prevent unexpected expenses.
See what solar panels cost in other St. Clair County cities
As of November, 2024, the average per-watt cost for solar panels in St. Clair County, IL is $3.59/W. With the federal tax credit, the cost of a 5 kW solar panel system in St. Clair County, IL drops to roughly $12,565.
As of now, there are 10 rebates and incentives offered by various utilities and government entities in Illinois. Additionally, the vast majority qualify for the 30% federal tax credit.
Even though paying cash yields the most savings, there are now several financing options for solar panels that also are financially sensible. Installers often have partnerships with financing companies and will include this information in your initial quotes.
Yes, the typical payback time for 5 kW solar panel systems in St. Clair County, IL is 7 years, and the expected electricity cost savings over 20 years is $25,201.4.
Savings from 
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