The federal solar tax credit ended for new home systems on January 1, 2026 — but Illinois remains one of the strongest solar markets in the country. Between SREC payments, utility rebates, net metering, and tax exemptions, the state does a lot of the heavy lifting. Here is what you can still tap into.
Illinois Shines pays you once, upfront, for the Solar Renewable Energy Credits your system is expected to generate over 15 years. The payment scales with system size and is typically delivered about a year after installation.
Roughly $9,000–$12,000 for a typical home system
ComEd and Ameren customers who install solar with a smart inverter receive a cash rebate paid directly to them — and it stacks on top of Illinois Shines. Add battery storage and the rebate grows.
$300 / kW of solar · $300 / kWh of battery
Under Illinois’ current “Smart Solar Billing,” you earn credits on your bill for excess electricity your panels send to the grid. Because newer systems are credited on the supply portion, pairing solar with a battery lets you keep and use more of your own power.
Store more, buy less from the utility
Illinois excludes the added value of a residential solar system from your property tax assessment. Your home is worth more with solar, but you are not taxed on that increase — and it is automatic.
No property-tax increase for going solar
With today’s net-metering rules, storing your own power is more valuable than exporting it. A Powerwall keeps the lights on during outages and lets you use solar after sunset — and it qualifies for the utility storage rebate.
$300 / kWh storage rebate (ComEd / Ameren)
Households that meet income guidelines may qualify for Illinois Solar for All, which is designed to guarantee bill savings and can dramatically lower — or eliminate — upfront cost. We can help you check whether you qualify.
Little to no upfront cost, if eligible
You may still see it advertised, but the federal Residential Clean Energy Credit (Section 25D) expired for customer-owned home systems placed in service after December 31, 2025. If you installed and turned on a system in 2025 or earlier, you can still claim it on that year’s taxes; new cash-or-loan installs in 2026 no longer qualify. We keep our estimates honest and based on the incentives that actually apply to you today.
Incentives are only worth what you actually capture. We size your system to maximize the ones that apply, coordinate the Illinois Shines and rebate applications, manage permitting and utility interconnection, and give you a clear, itemized estimate before you commit.
Get a free, no-pressure quote with your real Illinois incentives worked in — solar, battery, or both.
Incentive programs, rebate amounts, block pricing, and eligibility rules change over time and vary by utility, location, income, and system design. The figures above are general estimates for illustration, not a quote or a guarantee, and this page is not tax or financial advice. Program availability (including ComEd/Ameren rebates and Illinois Shines block capacity) can change without notice — we’ll confirm the current numbers for your specific project, and we recommend verifying tax matters with a licensed tax professional.