Independent solar advice in Chicago

Chicago Solar Installation 2026

EPP same-day permit for systems up to 13.44 kW AC. Chicago Electrical Code applies. $300/kW ComEd rebate trade-off explained.

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The federal residential solar tax credit ended on December 31, 2025. We tell you the truth about what is left in 2026: which state programs still apply, and which financing paths can still capture federal value.

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Average local electricity rate (cents/kWh): 17.07
Peak sun hours per day (NREL): 4.25
Typical installed cost per watt: $3.04
Estimated payback (years, zero federal credit): 11

Electricity rate as of 2026-06-01. Sun hours: NREL PVWatts annual average, Chicago fixed tilt; Google Project Sunroof city data. Cost per watt: EnergySage May 2026, Chicago Cook County. Payback estimate assumes zero federal residential credit (Section 25D expired December 31, 2025) and current utility net-metering tariffs.

Net metering in Chicago

ComEd Smart Solar Billing (IL Net Metering 2.0): supply-only credit approximately 10.4 cents/kWh (June 2026 Price to Compare). Systems interconnected before January 1, 2025 are grandfathered into full retail net metering for system lifetime. Accepting the ComEd $300/kW DG Smart Inverter Rebate permanently locks any system into supply-only billing regardless of install date.

Available programs

Solar incentives in Chicago, IL for 2026

Incentives available in IL

Federal residential solar credit (Section 25D): expired. The Section 25D residential investment tax credit expired December 31, 2025. The residential credit rate is 0%. State and local incentives below may still significantly reduce your net system cost. Commercial systems still qualify for Section 48E (30%).

Active solar incentives in IL
Program	Benefit	Eligibility	Status	Source
ComEd DG Smart Inverter Rebate Local/State Incentive	$300/kW DC upfront for qualifying solar systems with a grid-interactive smart inverter. A 10 kW system earns $3,000. CRITICAL TRADE-OFF: Accepting this rebate permanently locks the system into supply-only NEM at approximately 10.4 cents/kWh for exports, even if the system would otherwise be grandfathered into full retail net metering. Evaluate the trade-off before accepting.	ComEd customers in Cook County installing a smart inverter	Active	DSIRE (opens in new tab)
Illinois Shines (IPA SREC Program) Local/State Incentive	Upfront lump-sum payment from the IPA representing 15 years of projected REC production. ComEd territory under 10 kW: approximately $75-85/REC in 2025-26 program year. 2026-27 program year opens June 2026 with proposed 34-43% increase in SREC value. One REC equals 1,000 kWh of production. New 2026-27 program year opens June 2026; proposed increase not yet final - verify at illinoisshines.com.	Illinois residential solar systems in ComEd territory	Active	DSIRE (opens in new tab)
Illinois Solar for All Local/State Incentive Waitlisted as of 2026-06-29. Apply early; verify at dsireusa.org.	Covers 70-100% of installation costs for income-qualified households (under 80% AMI). Single-family capacity reached in 2025; waitlist for 2026-27 opens June 2026. Administered by Elevate Energy with $186.3 million budget. Single-family capacity reached in 2025. Waitlist for 2026-27 opens June 2026. Verify at illinoissfa.com.	Cook County households at or below 80% AMI	Waitlisted	DSIRE (opens in new tab)
Illinois Property Tax Exemption Local/State Incentive	Under 35 ILCS 200/10-10, solar added value is excluded from property tax assessment - no property tax increase from installing solar.	All Illinois homeowners with solar	Active	DSIRE (opens in new tab)

Data last verified June 29, 2026. Incentive programs change; verify current amounts and availability at dsireusa.org (opens in new tab) before committing to a project.

California property-tax exclusion sunsets December 31, 2026. Solar systems installed and permitted by December 31, 2026 lock in the exclusion for the life of the system under current California law (Revenue and Taxation Code Section 73). Systems installed in 2027 may not qualify if the Legislature does not extend the exemption. Verify current legislative status at ftb.ca.gov before signing a contract.

Why Chicago homeowners are moving now

After the January 2025 wildfires, battery storage became a priority

Chicago's June 2026 ComEd capacity charge spike pushed the all-in residential rate to approximately 17.07 cents/kWh, the highest level since at least 2020, substantially improving solar payback economics versus 2024. The same-day EPP permit pathway (up to 13.44 kW AC) means most residential systems clear permitting the day they apply. On January 1, 2025, Chicago became the largest US city to run all city-owned operations on 100% renewable electricity under the Chi100 initiative, including three Chicago Public Library branches newly solar-equipped through July 2025 and April 2026.

Source: ComEd capacity auction June 2026 rate spike; Chi100 renewable milestone January 2025 (2025).

Illustrative example

What does a typical Chicago solar system actually cost and save?

Zero federal residential credit applied (Section 25D expired December 31, 2025). Figures are estimates based on market data as of 2026-06-29. Your numbers depend on your roof, your utility, and your bill.

System inputs

System size: 11.4 kW
Gross cost ($3.04/W): $34,682
Federal residential credit: $0 (expired Dec 31, 2025)
ComEd DG Smart Inverter Rebate $300/kW DC (approximately $3,420 on 11.4 kW; see trade-off note): Applied
Illinois Shines SREC upfront payment (15-year projected RECs): Applied
Illinois Property Tax Exemption (no assessed-value increase): Applied
Estimated net cost: $27,862

Estimated outcomes

Annual savings range: $1,800 to $2,800
Estimated payback: 11 years

Chicago's 17.07-cent ComEd all-in rate (June 2026 spike) and the $300/kW Smart Inverter Rebate are the primary financial drivers. The Illinois Shines SREC upfront payment adds significant lump-sum value. Note: new systems earn supply-only credits at approximately 10.4 cents/kWh for exports under IL NM 2.0; design the system to maximize self-consumption. No federal residential credit applies in 2026. The rebate trade-off (permanent supply-only NEM vs. upfront cash) must be weighed with your installer.

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Neighborhoods we serve

Solar in Chicago: high-adoption areas, equity zones, and post-fire demand corridors

High-adoption neighborhoods

Established solar saturation; higher installers per block, active neighbor referrals, and permit history at LADBS.

Pullman
Back of the Yards
Beverly
Morgan Park
Albany Park
Jefferson Park
Norwood Park

Equity program target areas

Designated disadvantaged communities (DAC) eligible for SGIP equity resiliency, DAC-SASH, and other income-qualified programs. Income verification required.

Humboldt Park
South Chicago
Austin

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Permitting and interconnection

How solar permitting works in Chicago

Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ)

Permit office: City of Chicago Department of Buildings (DOB), all-electronic submission via DOB portal
SolarAPP+ status: SolarAPP+: Not adopted by this AHJ
Permit fee: Chicago DOB Express Permit Program (EPP): same-day approval for systems up to 13.44 kW AC output. Standard plan review for systems over 13.44 kW or complex installs: 2-4 weeks residential, 4-8 weeks commercial. Valuation-based fee, typical residential range $400-$1,200+. No SolarAPP+. No walk-in applications; all submissions electronic.
Typical contract-to-energization: 6 to 12 weeks (EPP same-day permit for up to 13.44 kW AC; standard review 2-4 weeks for larger systems; ComEd interconnection 4-8 weeks)

We handle the permit and interconnection filings

LADBS permit application and plan set preparation
SolarAPP+ submission for qualifying systems
LADWP or SCE interconnection application
Inspection coordination and utility sign-off
Certificate of Completion delivery to homeowner

Chicago operates under the 2018 Chicago Electrical Code (based on the 2017 NEC with local amendments) - NOT the standard NEC used elsewhere in Illinois. Permit drawings must reference Chicago-specific code. Electrical work must be performed by a City of Chicago licensed general electrical contractor, signed by a Chicago-licensed supervising electrician. Illinois-licensed architect or structural engineer certification required for ALL new installations including EPP. Original Solar Express Permit Program closed November 2, 2023 and replaced by the current EPP. Chicago earned SolSmart Gold designation in 2017. City operations reached 100% renewable electricity on January 1, 2025 under the Chi100 initiative.

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Serving Chicago and surrounding IL communities

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Beverly, Chicago REVIEW -- TO BE PROVIDED

[REVIEW TEXT - TO BE PROVIDED: real customer testimonial with ComEd bill comparison and SREC payment details]

System: 11 kW rooftop solar, ComEd territory, EPP same-day permit

Jefferson Park, Chicago REVIEW -- TO BE PROVIDED

[REVIEW TEXT - TO BE PROVIDED: real customer testimonial from Northwest Side home]

System: 9 kW rooftop solar, ComEd territory

Pullman, Chicago REVIEW -- TO BE PROVIDED

[REVIEW TEXT - TO BE PROVIDED: real customer testimonial from South Side home mentioning Illinois Shines payment]

System: 12 kW rooftop solar, Illinois Shines SREC program

For business owners and property managers

Commercial Solar in Chicago: 48E Construction Deadline July 4, 2026

Chicago's commercial 48E credit requires construction to begin by July 4, 2026. Illinois Shines commercial REC program and ComEd commercial net metering apply. Chicago's Chi100 initiative committed all city operations to 100% renewable electricity as of January 1, 2025. The 13.44 kW AC EPP threshold applies to residential only; commercial and larger systems follow the standard DOB plan review track. The city's large industrial and commercial roof stock in the South and Southwest sides represents significant commercial solar potential.

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Commercial solar projects must begin construction by July 4, 2026 to qualify for the 30 percent Section 48E federal tax credit. After that date, the system must be placed in service by December 31, 2027.

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Chicago solar questions

What Chicago homeowners ask

City-specific answers. Every number references your utility and your permit office.

What is Chicago's Express Permit Program for solar?

Chicago's Express Permit Program (EPP) provides same-day permit approval for solar systems up to 13.44 kW AC output. All applications are submitted electronically through the DOB portal - no walk-in applications. Chicago does not use SolarAPP+. The EPP replaced the original Solar Express Permit Program on November 2, 2023. Systems over 13.44 kW require standard plan review (2-4 weeks). Chicago is the only major Illinois city operating under a dual-pathway permit system.

Why does Chicago use a different electrical code for solar?

Chicago operates under the 2018 Chicago Electrical Code, based on the 2017 NEC but with Chicago-specific local amendments. Permit drawings must reference Chicago code requirements, not just the NEC. Electrical work must be performed by a City of Chicago licensed general electrical contractor and signed by a Chicago-licensed supervising electrician. An Illinois-licensed architect or structural engineer must certify all new installations, including Express Permit applications.

Should I take the ComEd $300/kW smart inverter rebate in Chicago?

The $300/kW upfront rebate - approximately $3,000 to $3,400 on a typical Chicago system - is valuable, but accepting it permanently locks the system into supply-only net metering at approximately 10.4 cents/kWh for exports. This applies even if you would otherwise have been grandfathered into full retail NEM. Before accepting, ask your installer to model both scenarios: upfront rebate at supply-only NEM versus no rebate at full retail NEM (for pre-2025 connections).

Is there a federal solar tax credit in 2026?

No. The Section 25D residential solar tax credit expired December 31, 2025, under H.R. 1 (One Big Beautiful Bill Act, signed July 4, 2025). No federal residential credit applies to systems installed in 2026 or later. Active Chicago incentives: ComEd $300/kW DG Smart Inverter Rebate, Illinois Shines upfront SREC payment, and the Illinois Property Tax Exemption.

How does IL Net Metering 2.0 affect new Chicago solar systems?

For all new grid-tied solar interconnections from January 1, 2025 onward, ComEd credits exported energy only against the supply portion of the bill - approximately 10.4 cents/kWh (June 2026 Price to Compare), not the full retail rate of approximately 17 cents/kWh. Systems interconnected before January 1, 2025 are grandfathered into full retail net metering for their system lifetime. Systems that accept the $300/kW ComEd smart inverter rebate are permanently locked into supply-only billing regardless of install date.

More solar resources for Illinois:

Illinois solar guide All cities

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