## Solar Power in Naperville

If you live in Naperville and have watched your electricity bills climb, you’re not alone. Illinois electricity prices have increased 22% from 2020 to 2024, prompting many local homeowners to look for a more predictable way to power their homes and reduce their reliance on the grid.

Naperville is part of a growing movement, with Illinois ranking 12th in the nation for residential solar installations. In this guide, we’ll explain how [home solar panels](/content/solar/solar-panels-for-home/index.html) work, so you can decide if solar is right for you.

### [ILLINOIS](/content/local/illinois/index.html) by the Numbers

[12th](https://www.eia.gov/electricity/data/eia861/)Most residential solar in the United States

[73](https://www.eia.gov/electricity/data/eia861/)Households have installed solar panels

[4.5](/content/local/peak-sun-hours/index.html)Avg peak sun hours per day

[~$60k](/content/local/illinois/naperville/#solar-cost-calculator/index.html)Naperville average savings over 25 years

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

See real solar costs for Naperville, built from our actual local installations. This calculator uses firsthand data from homes across Naperville and nearby areas like Aurora, Lisle, Wheaton, and Bolingbrook. Get a clear, honest estimate based on your neighbors’ experiences—no guesswork, just real numbers from our local projects.

### Cost Breakdown

**Your estimated investment**  
**System Cost**  
$28,095  
**Price per Watt**  
$2.86  
**Final Cost**  
$28,095

**Savings**  
**Monthly Savings**  
Average utility bill reduction: $136  
**Payback Period**  
Break-even point: 13.9 years  
**25-Year Savings**  
$59,632

## Palmetto Reviews

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. The **install was quick** and the **panels work just as advertised**. Happy with everything so far.

**Matt P**  
Roselle, Illinois

Im 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

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! Electric prices are only going to continue to rise and I’ll be **locked in** to the cheaper same amount for 25 years! Thanks Palmetto!

**Darren Lindsey**  
Illinois, Illinois

## Key Takeaways

- Illinois electricity prices rose about 20% from 2021 to 2024, so home solar can give Naperville homeowners more predictable, stable energy costs over time.
- Naperville homeowners can save around $60,000 over 25 years with solar, and state incentives like net metering and a 20-year property tax exemption still apply.
- Leasing with LightReach means no upfront cost, since Palmetto owns and maintains the system and passes savings to you through low monthly payments.

## Naperville Electricity Prices

If you live in Naperville and have watched your electricity bills climb, you’re not alone. Rising prices are prompting many homeowners to explore solar.

Illinois electricity prices rose about 20% between 2021 and 2024, climbing from 13.2 cents to 15.9 cents per kWh. That’s a real increase Naperville families feel each month.

For many Naperville homeowners, [home solar panels](/content/solar/solar-panels-for-home/index.html) offer a way to generate their own power and gain more predictable energy costs, instead of relying entirely on the grid.

Over time, solar can help protect your household budget from future rate increases. As grid prices continue to shift, producing your own electricity offers Naperville families lasting value and greater peace of mind.

### Price of Energy: Illinois vs National Average

0¢

10¢

20¢

30¢

13.7¢

13.2¢

15.0¢

15.7¢

16.0¢

15.7¢

16.5¢

15.9¢

2021

2022

2023

2024

US Average

Illinois

### Naperville Area Utility Providers

If you live in Naperville, your electricity comes from ComEd. Understanding what you pay per kilowatt-hour is a helpful first step toward deciding whether home solar makes sense for your household.

In 2023 (the most recent data available), ComEd’s rate was about 14.8¢ per kWh—below both the Illinois average of 15.70¢ and the national average of 16.0¢, thanks partly to Illinois’ diverse energy mix.

### Naperville Utilities Electricity Rates

| Provider | Rate   |
|----------|--------|
| ComEd    | 14.80¢ |
| IL Average| 15.70¢ |
| US Average| 16.0¢  |

## Illinois Solar Incentives

Several [solar incentives in Illinois](/content/local/illinois/naperville/#incentives-table/index.html) can help Naperville homeowners lower the upfront and long-term costs of going solar.

| Incentive | Type | Description | Source |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| Illinois Solar for All (ILSFA) | Rebate | Illinois Solar for All provides income-eligible households (at or below 80% of area median income) 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 (DG) Smart Inverter Rebate – Solar | Rebate | ComEd and Ameren Illinois customers receive a $300-per-kW upfront rebate for installing a solar system equipped with a smart inverter. | [Learn More](https://www.comed.com/) |
| ComEd & Ameren Distributed Generation (DG) Smart Inverter Rebate – Battery Storage | Rebate | ComEd and Ameren Illinois customers can receive a $300-per-kWh cash rebate for installing a battery storage system with a smart inverter, with enrollment in a qualifying rate plan required. |  |
| Virtual Power Plant (VPP) Program – Battery Storage Rebate | Rebate | Under the CRGA-mandated Virtual Power Plant program launching by June 30, 2026, residential battery storage customers can earn the $300/kWh DG rebate by allowing the utility to dispatch their battery during high-demand events. | [Learn More](https://ipa.illinois.gov/renewable-resources/energy-storage.html) |
| Illinois Net Metering / Smart Solar Billing | Net Metering | Illinois offers net metering for solar customers, with legacy customers (systems installed before January 1, 2025) receiving full retail-rate credits, while new customers receive supply-only credits under the Smart Solar Billing policy. |  |
| Illinois Solar Property Tax Exemption | Property Tax Exemption | Illinois law exempts the added home value from a solar installation from property tax assessments for 20 years, protecting homeowners from higher property tax bills after going solar. | [Learn More](https://tax.illinois.gov/) |

## Naperville 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.

Naperville experiences four distinct seasons, with snowy winters and sunny summers. While cloudy days happen, its long summer daylight and cool, clear conditions make solar a smart, reliable choice year-round here.

### Solar Production in Naperville by Month

**System Size:** 5 kW, 7 kW, 10 kW

**Daylight Hours:** Energy Production (kWh/day)

### What Can Your Solar System Power?

#### Summer Production (July)

49 kWh/day

In July, your 10 kW system could power:

- **3.3 average homes** (15 kWh/day per home)
- or Run central AC for **16 hours** AND power all other appliances
- or Fully charge **4.9 Tesla Model 3** electric vehicles

#### Winter Production (December)

20.8 kWh/day

In December, your 10 kW system could power:

- **1.4 average homes** (15 kWh/day per home)
- or Keep your home heating system running for **10 hours**
- or Fully charge **2.1 Tesla Model 3** electric vehicles

#### Annual Production

13,051 kWh/year

Over a year, your 10 kW system could:

- **Offset 9 tons** of carbon dioxide emissions
- or Equal the environmental benefit of **planting 157 trees**

## Leasing Solar Panels

In Naperville, your electricity comes from ComEd, where Palmetto offers a solar Power Purchase Agreement (PPA) through LightReach. Instead of paying upfront for a system, you simply pay a set price for each kilowatt-hour (kWh) of clean energy your panels produce.

With a PPA, there’s no large investment to recoup and no maintenance to manage yourself. Palmetto owns the system, handles repairs, and keeps everything running—so you can enjoy the savings without the responsibility of ownership.

### Frequently Asked Questions

**Does Naperville, IL have net metering?**  
Yes, Naperville homeowners have access to net metering.

**Do solar panels increase your home value in Naperville, IL?**  
Yes, in Naperville, solar panels can increase your home value—but this applies to **purchased or owned systems**, not leased ones.

**How much does it cost to go solar in Naperville, IL?**  
In Naperville, the most affordable way to go solar is with a **LightReach lease**, starting around **$79/month** for a medium home with no upfront cost.

**How does leasing solar work?**  
With a solar lease like Palmetto’s **LightReach** program, you make one simple monthly payment that covers everything: the panels, installation, monitoring, maintenance, and a 90% Production Guarantee. There’s **no upfront cost**, and because Palmetto owns the system, it claims the commercial tax credit and passes those savings to you through lower payments.