Solar Panels Cost $7.6k-$17k in Vermilion County, IL | November, 2024
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How much do solar panels cost in Vermilion County, IL in 2024?
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In November, 2024, the current price per watt for solar in Vermilion County, IL is $3.63/W.
According to this cost per watt, you should expect the price to be $3,630, on average, for every 1000 watts (or 1 kW) of solar energy your solar panel system will need to generate. In Vermilion County, the cost of a 5 kW panel install is typically $12,705, after the 30% federal tax credit. Don't overlook, a higher capacity system might be required to meet your energy needs.
Select your county from the menu on the left to view the average roof size and maximum residential solar capacity for homes in your area. Below, you can see a full 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.
Vermilion County: $12,705US Average: $12,523
Average Payback Period The number of years until you break even on the solar investment.
Vermilion 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.
Vermilion County: $20,012US Average: $16,169
Solar Potential in Vermilion County
Estimated system size and solar electricity production per median viable roof in Vermilion County.
Roof size 518sq. ft.
Capacity 7.25kW DC
Electricity 8.2kkWh AC per yr.
Electricity Costs in Vermilion County, IL & What that Means for Your Solar Panel Pricing
Energy consumers in Vermilion County generally pay 159.01 per month for electricity, consuming an typical of 774 kWh. Bear in mind that this data includes data from both apartments and smaller homes with lower energy usage.
The average electricity rate in Vermilion County, IL in November 2024 is 20.53¢ per kWh.
Upfront, a 7 kW solar system will cost approximately $25,410, after the 30% federal tax credit, the total comes down to $17,787.
Go Solar for less than your cell phone bill.
Average solar panel costs by system size in Vermilion County
Shown on the left, you will find a cost summary for different solar panel system sizes installed in Vermilion County. A larger solar array will naturally cost more, but it will also yield higher electricity savings and increased income tax credits.
The solar panel cost and benefit breakdown, shown in the calculator below and to the right, is based on an average electric bill of $159.01 in Vermilion County. Simply replace the $159.01 with your typical electricity bill amount to see more specific 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
$7,623
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 0.21 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 10 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 519 mi less a year
System Size 4kW
Roof Size Min. space required
286 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $1,243 a year
Est. Price
$10,164
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 0.28 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 13 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 692 mi less a year
System Size 5kW
Roof Size Min. space required
358 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $1,554 a year
Est. Price
$12,705
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 0.35 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 16 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 865 mi less a year
System Size 6kW
Roof Size Min. space required
429 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $1,865 a year
Est. Price
$15,246
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 0.42 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 19 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 1,038 mi less a year
System Size 7kW
Roof Size Min. space required
501 ft²
Electricity Value Annual Production $2,176 a year
Est. Price
$17,787
Savings from a 7kWthis system
Est. yearly production 10,360 kWh
Est. monthly savings $159
Full payback in 9 years
Environmental Impacts
Reduces CO2 emissions by 0.43 tons a year
Equivalent to planting 20 trees a year
Equivalent to driving 1,062 mi less a year
Vermilion County Solar Panel Installation Incentives & Rebates | 2024
The REAP Grant can potentially cover between 80% and 100% of the installation costs for solar energy or wind turbines for rural small businesses and agricultural businesses. If you feel you might be eligible, try our REAP Grant eligibility tool to confirm your qualification.
Homeowners can benefit from a 30% federal income tax credit for installing residential solar panels, making solar power a feasible option in much of the country. A number of state and local programs are set up to enhance the adoption of solar energy.
There are 10 solar incentive and rebate programs in Illinois, provided by different utilities and governmental agencies.
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 Vermilion County, IL?
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 smart move in Vermilion County. Installing a 5 kW solar system in Vermilion County, IL will, on average, save you $25,457.4 over 20 years, and you can expect to break even in about 7 years.
The cost of not having solar panels in Vermilion County, IL
In addition to missing out on the savings mentioned previously, not installing solar panels or another form of backup power leaves you completely dependent on your electric utility. Full reliance on your utility isn't always the best scenario as the news has recently highlighted.
Customers in Vermilion County encounter roughly 0.82 outages per year. Each outage lasts an average of 95.38 minutes. In the case of major events such as heavy rain and flooding, wildlife damage, or grid management errors, this period can increase substantially.
View the component below to see the number of current electricity customers without power in Vermilion County.
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 Vermilion County.
What impacts the cost of solar panels in Vermilion County, IL?
Your Energy Needs - Even though larger solar panel systems are more expensive initially, the average price per watt reduces as the system size increases. Consumers often find that setting up a solar system to fully cover their electric bill is a smart choice, leading to the most savings.
Make & Model - There are a variety of makes and models of solar panels. The contractor’s preference for brand makes it essential to select a recommended installer. Better makes and models typically provide an enhanced long-term experience for the buyer.
Solar Panel Type - There's a good reason why monocrystalline panels are now considered the industry standard. They have a higher price, but they produce more energy. Many solar panel installers prefer this type of material.
Your Property - No two properties or homes are identical. Rough terrain, trees, or additional considerations can increase the difficulty of the installation. Solar installers today frequently utilize satellite imagery to evaluate your home and factor in these factors into the preliminary cost estimate.
Labor Rates - Various wages are offered to employees by various companies, and these costs are transferred to the consumers. Higher wages often lead to businesses getting better reviews for their services and customer service.
Permitting & Interconnection - Local permitting and utility level interconnection fees differ by area and will affect your final install price. That said, reputable local installers will be able to incorporate these numbers into your initial quotes so there are no surprises.
See what solar panels cost in other Vermilion County cities
As of November, 2024, the average cost for solar panels in Vermilion County, IL is $3.63/W. After the federal tax credit, the estimated cost for a 5 kW solar panel system in Vermilion County, IL is roughly $12,705.
At present, there are 10 rebates and incentives available to Illinois residents from various utility and government programs. Moreover, nearly everyone is eligible for the 30% federal income tax credit.
Choosing to pay cash offers the most savings, but today there are numerous financing options for solar panels that are also financially advantageous. Your preliminary quotes will usually contain financing options available through installers.
Yes, homeowners in Vermilion County, IL generally see a payback time of 7 years for 5 kW solar panel systems, with electricity savings averaging $25,457.4 over a 20-year period.
Savings from 
Environmental Impacts 
