## Solar Power in Evanston

If you live in Evanston and have watched your electricity bills climb, you’re not alone. Illinois residential electricity rates rose 22% from 2020 to 2024, leaving many North Shore homeowners looking for a more stable, sustainable way to power their homes.

Solar offers a clear path forward, and Illinois ranks 12th nationally for residential solar. In this guide, we’ll explain how solar works for Evanston homes and how to get started. Learn more in our overview of [home solar panels](/content/solar/solar-panels-for-home/index.html).

### ILLINOIS by the Numbers

- **12th** Most residential solar in the United States
- **73** Households have installed solar panels
- **4.5** Avg peak sun hours per day
- **~$61k** Evanston average savings over 25 years

## How Much Do Solar Panels Cost in Evanston, IL?

Curious what solar costs in Evanston? This calculator uses real installation data from our projects across Evanston and nearby areas like Skokie, Wilmette, and Rogers Park.

### Cost Estimate

- **Lease**
- **Cash Purchase**

#### 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 Size:** 9.84 kW

- Estimated monthly cost with LightReach: **$79/mo**

#### Why Lease Solar?
- No upfront investment
- Palmetto handles all maintenance
- 90% Production Guarantee
- Comprehensive protection program included

#### Cost Breakdown
- **System Cost:** $28,095
- **Price per Watt:** $2.86
- **Final Cost:** $28,095

### Savings
- **Monthly Savings:** Average utility bill reduction: $139
- **Payback Period:** Break-even point: 13.7 years
- **25-Year Savings:** $60,811

[Get Your Personalized Quote](https://luminance.palmetto.com/home/buy-solar/step-1?utm_source=localorganic)

## Palmetto Reviews

- "I'm very happy with my **solar panels**. My experience from the beginning until the **installation** was amazing. All the representatives of Palmetto were detailed in explaining the entire process to me."  
  — Artemese Grant, South Holland, Illinois

- "Palmetto has been great! Every step of the process was a lot easier than I initially thought it would be. Stacy was very knowledgeable when it came to breaking down how everything worked."  
  — Matt P, Roselle, Illinois

- "I had priced solar at 3 other companies and those companies prices were too high! Palmetto was able to get me solar with **no money out of pocket** and now my electric and solar bill combined are **cheaper** than my electric was before solar!"  
  — Darren Lindsey, Illinois, Illinois

## Key Takeaways

- Electricity prices in Evanston keep climbing—Illinois rates rose about 20% from 2021 to 2024—making solar a smart way to gain more predictable energy costs.
- Illinois offers strong solar incentives like the ComEd Smart Inverter Rebate, net metering, a 20-year property tax exemption, and income-based Illinois Solar for All.
- Leasing makes solar simple with no upfront cost—through LightReach, Palmetto owns the system, handles all maintenance, and passes savings to you in lower monthly payments.

## Evanston Electricity Prices

Electricity isn’t getting cheaper. Illinois residential rates rose from 13.2 cents per kWh in 2021 to 15.9 cents in 2024—a roughly 20% jump that many North Shore homeowners have felt on their monthly bills.

Solar offers a clear path forward. By generating your own power, solar installation in Evanston can reduce how much electricity you buy from the grid at those rising rates.

### Price of Energy: Illinois vs National Average

0¢

10¢

20¢

30¢

- **2021:** 13.2¢  
- **2022:** 15.0¢  
- **2023:** 15.7¢  
- **2024:** 15.9¢  
- **US Average**: ~16¢

### Evanston Area Utility Providers

In Evanston, ComEd is the main electricity provider. In 2023, ComEd’s residential rate averaged about 14.8¢ per kWh—slightly below both the Illinois state average of 15.70¢ and the national average of 16.0¢ that year.

### Evanston Utilities Electricity Rates

- **ComEd:** 14.80¢
- **IL Average:** 15.70¢  
- **US Average:** 16.0¢

## Illinois Solar Incentives

Evanston homeowners can lower the cost of going solar with several [solar incentives in Illinois](/content/local/illinois/evanston/#incentives-table/index.html).

| 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](https://www.illinoissfa.com/) |
| ComEd & Ameren Distributed Generation Smart Inverter Rebate | Rebate | Customers receive a $300-per-kW upfront rebate for installing a solar system with a smart inverter. | [Learn More](https://www.comed.com/) |
| Illinois Net Metering / Smart Solar Billing | Net Metering | Offers net metering for solar customers, with different credit rates for legacy customers. |  |
| Illinois Solar Property Tax Exemption | Property Tax Exemption | Exempts added home value from a solar installation from property tax assessments for 20 years. | [Learn More](https://tax.illinois.gov/) |

## Evanston Solar Irradiance

Solar panel production varies throughout the year based on daylight hours, weather patterns, and sun intensity.

### Solar Production in Evanston by Month

| System Size | Daylight Hours | Energy Production (kWh/day) |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 5 kW |   |   |
| 7 kW |   |   |
| 10 kW |   |   |

#### Summer Production (July)
- **50 kWh/day**

#### Winter Production (December)
- **18.8 kWh/day**

#### Annual Production
- **13,309 kWh/year**

### Ready to start saving with solar?

## Solar Panel Systems in Evanston

We’ve mapped solar installations across the United States, right down to the neighborhood level.

### Leasing Solar Panels

In Evanston, your utility is ComEd, and Palmetto offers a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) through LightReach for ComEd customers. With a PPA, you don’t buy the solar system—you simply pay for the power it produces.

## Frequently Asked Questions

1. **Does Evanston, IL have net metering?**
   - Yes, Evanston has net metering. As a **ComEd** customer, you can earn bill credits for the excess solar energy your system sends to the grid.

2. **Do solar panels increase home value in Evanston, IL?**
   - Yes, purchased solar panels can increase your home’s value in Evanston.

3. **How much does it cost to go solar in Evanston, IL?**
   - Many homeowners go solar with **no upfront cost** through a LightReach lease.

4. **What’s the best solar company in Evanston, IL?**
   - Look for local experience and quality installations; Palmetto combines national scale with a local focus.