Aurora, IL Solar Panels: 2026 Costs, Incentives & Savings
Solar Power in Aurora
If you live in Aurora and have watched your electric bill climb, you’re not alone. Illinois residential electricity rates have increased 22% from 2020 to 2024, leaving many Aurora homeowners searching for a smarter way to power their homes.
Solar energy offers a practical path forward, and Illinois already ranks 12th in the nation for residential solar installations. This guide will walk you through what to expect when going solar here in Aurora. To dig deeper, explore our guide on home solar panels.
ILLINOIS by the Numbers
- 12th Most residential solar in the United States
- 73 Households have installed solar panels
- 4.6 Avg peak sun hours per day
- ~$61k Aurora average savings over 25 years
How Much Do Solar Panels Cost in Aurora, IL?
See real solar costs for Aurora, IL homes—not national averages. Our calculator uses actual installation data from your area, including neighborhoods like North Aurora, Montgomery, Oswego, and Sugar Grove. Enter a few details to get a clear, local estimate built from our firsthand experience installing solar right here.
Lease Cash Purchase
- Small Home Up to 2,000 sq ft
- Medium Home 2,000-3,000 sq ft
- Large Home Over 3,000 sq ft
System Size: This system size is designed to offset approximately 100% of the average electricity usage for a home of this size in Illinois.
Recommended System: 9.84 kW
Your Monthly Payment: Estimated monthly cost with LightReach $79/mo
As low as $79/mo
Why Lease Solar?
Following the 2025 Big Beautiful Bill, the federal 30% solar tax credit is no longer available for cash purchases. With a LightReach lease, Palmetto owns the system and still qualifies for the commercial ITC — passing those savings through to you via lower monthly payments.
- No upfront investment
- Palmetto handles all maintenance
- 90% Production Guarantee
- Comprehensive protection program included
Cost Breakdown
Your estimated investment
- System Cost: $28,095
- Price per Watt: $2.86
- Final Cost: $28,095
Savings
Your total financial benefit
- Monthly Savings: Average utility bill reduction $139
- Payback Period: Break-even point 13.6 years
- 25-Year Savings: $61,012
Get Your Personalized Quote
Based on Palmetto Solar installations in Illinois. Current electricity rate: 15.9¢/kWh. Assumes 80% credit of retail rate.
Key Takeaways
- Aurora electricity rates rose about 20% from 2021 to 2024, making rooftop solar a smart way to gain more predictable, long-term energy costs.
- Illinois incentives can lower your costs, including Solar for All, ComEd smart inverter rebates, net metering, and a 20-year solar property tax exemption.
- A typical Aurora home can save around $61,000 over 25 years, or go solar with no upfront cost through a LightReach lease.
Aurora Electricity Prices
Electricity prices in Illinois have climbed steadily, rising from 13.2 cents per kWh in 2021 to 15.9 cents in 2024. That’s roughly a 20% jump in just three years for Aurora households.
Solar panel installation gives Aurora homeowners a way to produce their own electricity. Instead of relying fully on the grid and its shifting rates, you generate power right from your own roof.
Price of Energy: Illinois vs National Average
- 2021: 13.2¢
- 2022: 15.0¢
- 2023: 15.7¢
- 2024: 15.9¢
Source: US Bureau of Labor Statistics, Energy Information Administration, Form 861
Aurora Area Utility Providers
If you live in Aurora, your electricity comes from ComEd. In 2023, ComEd charged about 14.8¢ per kWh—just below the Illinois average of 15.7¢ and the national average of 16.0¢.
Aurora Utilities Electricity Rates
- ComEd: 14.80¢
- IL Average: 15.70¢
- US Average: 16.0¢
Illinois Solar Incentives
Aurora homeowners can lower the cost of going solar with several solar incentives in Illinois, from statewide programs to utility rebates.
| Incentive | Type | Description | Source |
|---|---|---|---|
| Illinois Solar for All (ILSFA) | Rebate | Provides income-eligible households with no-upfront-cost solar installations that guarantee at least 50% savings on the value of energy produced. | Learn More |
| ComEd & Ameren Distributed Generation (DG) Smart Inverter Rebate – Solar | Rebate | $300 per kW upfront rebate for installing a solar system equipped with a smart inverter. | Learn More |
| ComEd & Ameren Distributed Generation (DG) Smart Inverter Rebate – Battery Storage | Rebate | $300 per kWh cash rebate for installing a battery storage system with a smart inverter. | |
| Virtual Power Plant (VPP) Program – Battery Storage Rebate | Rebate | Earn the $300/kWh DG rebate by allowing the utility to dispatch their battery during high-demand events. | Learn More |
| Illinois Net Metering / Smart Solar Billing | Net Metering | Provides net metering for solar customers, allowing credits for excess electricity generated. | |
| Illinois Solar Property Tax Exemption | Property Tax Exemption | Exempts the added home value from a solar installation from property tax assessments for 20 years. | Learn More |
Aurora Solar Irradiance
Solar panel production varies throughout the year based on daylight hours, weather patterns, and sun intensity. Understanding how seasons affect your solar system helps set realistic expectations for your investment.
Solar Production in Aurora by Month
System Size: 5 kW, 7 kW, 10 kW
Daylight Hours: Energy Production (kWh/day)
Source: National Renewable Energy Laboratory (NREL) PVWatts data; Aurora, IL
What Can Your Solar System Power?
Summer Production (July)
- 49 kWh/day
- Powers 3.3 average homes
- or Run central AC for 16 hours
- or Fully charge 4.9 Tesla Model 3 electric vehicles
Winter Production (December)
- 20.5 kWh/day
- Powers 1.4 average homes
- or Keep your home heating system running for 10 hours
- or Fully charge 2.0 Tesla Model 3 electric vehicles
Annual Production
- 13,353 kWh/year
- Offsets 9 tons of carbon dioxide emissions
- Equals the environmental benefit of planting 160 trees
Solar Panel Systems in Aurora
We mapped solar installations across the country, right down to the street level.
Leasing Solar Panels
Aurora homeowners served by ComEd have access to a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) through Palmetto’s LightReach program. With a PPA, you don’t pay for the solar system itself. Instead, you simply pay a set price for each kilowatt-hour (kWh) of clean energy your panels produce.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does Aurora, IL have net metering?
Yes, Aurora is served by ComEd.
Do solar panels increase your home value in Aurora, IL?
Yes. When you own your solar panels, they can raise your home’s value.
How much does it cost to go solar in Aurora, IL?
Many Aurora homeowners go solar with no upfront cost through a LightReach lease, starting as low as $79 per month for an average-sized home.
How does leasing solar work?
With Palmetto’s LightReach solar lease, you pay one simple monthly payment that covers the panels, installation, monitoring, maintenance, and a 90% Production Guarantee.
Do solar panels work in Aurora, IL’s climate?
Yes, they work well in Aurora’s climate. It averages about 4.6 peak sun hours per day.
Do solar panels require maintenance?
Solar panels are low maintenance. Palmetto handles all maintenance, monitoring, and repairs.
How much electricity can a solar system produce in Aurora, IL?
A typical 10 kW home system produces roughly 13,350 kWh per year.