Illinois is not sunny like California or Florida. Does solar still work here?
Yes. Solar produces energy even on cloudy or foggy days, meaning direct sunlight is not required.
My energy bills are not very high. How could solar reduce my electric bills?
Due to the 30% Federal Tax Credit and generous Illinois-run state incentives, a majority of homeowners see reductions in their monthly energy bills, sometimes up to 50% less.
How does the Federal Tax Credit work?
Taxpayers can claim a Federal Income Tax Credit (FITC) of 30% for qualified expenditures on a solar system that provides electricity to their residence (owned and lived in by the taxpayer).
What state incentives does Illinois have?
Solar Renewable Energy Credits
SREC’s are a state incentive, whose value is equal to the solar energy you produce.. Some SRECs can be worth up to 40% of the initial cost of the system, paid upfront to taxpayers.
Illinois Shines Program
The Illinois Shines is a state incentive (not a rebate), whose value is equal to the solar energy you produce over 15 years times the price set by the Illinois Power Agency for REC’s. Click HERE for the official Illinois Shines Distributed Generation Disclosure Form.
What is Net Energy Metering?
Your post-solar energy bills will reflect the net amount of energy you use (i.e., the amount of energy delivered to you minus the excess energy sent to the smart grid via your solar system). “Net Metering” also allows you to receive Net Metering credits on your energy bill when you produce more energy than you use.
Do I still get a bill every month after I go solar?
When you have a solar system and are being billed for net metering, you are charged only for the net amount of energy you use during each billing period (i.e., the amount of energy we deliver to you minus the excess amount you send back to the smart grid), and a small fixed monthly connection fee. If you send more energy to the grid than we deliver, you may be eligible to receive credits on your bill.
Does my utility company offer Net Energy Metering (NEM)?
In Illinois, most utilities have Net Energy Metering. Contact your UV expert to find out if you can benefit from NEM. However, as seen in other states where solar is more established, NEM regulations change to become less favorable to homeowners. This results in less savings and higher costs. Thus, the current NEM in some Illinois areas provides substantial incentive for homeowners to go solar today.
What if I get my power through an Alternative Retail Energy Supplier (ARES)?
Not to worry. You can still receive NEM through your utility company which delivers your energy.
