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Solar Energy Blog
Real data, real rates, and straight talk about solar in Illinois. No fluff — just what you need to make a smart decision.
Naperville Solar in 2026: The City Runs Its Own Utility, the $1,750 Rebate Is Spent, and Credits Pay 4.9¢ If You Oversize
Naperville isn't ComEd. The city utility charges 11.968¢/kWh plus $21.52 a month, its $1,750 solar rebate ran out June 26, 2026, and extra credits pay 4.9¢.
How Big a Battery Do You Need to Run a House in Illinois? A Sizing Guide With Real 2026 Numbers
The average Illinois home uses about 23 kWh a day. How to size a home battery for one night, a full day, or whole-home backup, and what each costs after rebate.
Your Ameren Illinois Bill Explained (2026): Every Line, the Real Price Per kWh, and What Resets October 1
Ameren Illinois supply is 11.326¢/kWh through Sept 30, 2026, plus 7.811¢/kWh summer delivery and $14.51 in fixed charges. Every bill line, with 2027 rates.
Is Homefield Energy Cheaper Than Ameren? 245 of 260 Illinois Town Power Deals Cost More Than the Utility Rate
As of Sept 15, 2026, 245 of 260 priced town aggregation deals in Ameren Illinois territory cost more than Ameren's 11.326¢ rate. Find your town, then opt out.
ComEd's Delivery Charge Is 6.333¢/kWh Now — The Full 2026 Breakdown, and the Part Solar Can't Touch
ComEd's residential delivery charge moved to 6.333¢/kWh plus $19.37 in fixed monthly charges with April 2026 bills. Every line item, a worked example, and what solar offsets.
Yes, There's a Solar Surcharge on Your Illinois Electric Bill — Here's Who Gets the Money
A commentary running in Illinois papers says you fund solar farms through bill surcharges. It's true — and homeowners can get on the receiving side of the fund.
Did Your Electric Rate Really Go Up Again? Every ComEd and Ameren Increase Since 2021, Dated
Every ComEd and Ameren Illinois rate increase since 2021, with dates, docket numbers and figures, plus the changes already scheduled for late 2026 and 2027.
Illinois Bought 600 MW of Grid Batteries (It Wanted 1,038) — When Does Your Bill Feel It?
Illinois' first CRGA battery buy closed Sept 1: 600 MW awarded of a 1,038 MW target, five projects, four in Ameren country. The honest timeline for your bill.
Your Illinois Solar Output Falls About 45% by December — Here's the Month-by-Month Curve
Illinois solar output falls roughly 45% from August to December. Here's the real month-by-month curve for Ameren and ComEd homes — and how to tell normal from broken.
A Squirrel Under Your Solar Panels Can Chew Through a Wire in a Weekend — and Homeowners Insurance Usually Won't Pay
Squirrels and birds nest in the gap under Illinois solar panels. Standard homeowners policies exclude the damage. What a critter guard costs and who pays.
Bad Roof for Solar in Illinois? A Ground Mount Works, Even on a $0-Down Lease
Roof won't work for solar? In Illinois a ground mount usually will, and $0-down leases cover it with a size minimum and a per-watt adder. 2026 costs inside.
Told Your Roof or Electrical Panel Rules Out Solar? Illinois Solar for All Paid for 79 Roof Replacements Last Year
The state's new report: Illinois Solar for All paid for 79 full roof replacements and 73 electrical panel upgrades last year, up to $22,000 per home. The single-family window runs Sept 14–25, 2026.
July Was the Hottest Month in U.S. History. Your August Ameren or ComEd Bill Is Where It Lands.
NOAA confirmed July 2026 as the hottest month ever recorded in the U.S., and ComEd says it's on your August bill. Here's the math for an Illinois home and what changes Oct 1.
Buying an Illinois House With Solar? Odds Are the Seller Doesn't Own the Panels
Buying an Illinois home with solar panels? Who owns the system decides what you inherit — a lien on title, a lease credit check, or grandfathered net metering.
Behind on Your Ameren or ComEd Bill? The Shut-Off Season Actually Starts in September
Illinois utilities can't disconnect you on 95-degree days, and winter protection starts December 1. The gap in between — September to November — is shut-off season.
Your Illinois Solar Credits Can Expire in October — Check Which Date Your Installer Picked
Illinois solar owners on pre-2025 net metering lose unused kWh credits every April or October. Here's how to find out which date is on your account before it hits.
Illinois Shines Promised to Fix Its Solar Backlog by Mid-August. It Just Moved That to October.
Illinois Shines said Part I reviews would be back to two weeks by mid-August. Its August 6 update moved that to mid-October. As of August 28, Part I is still a 10-week wait.
Budget Billing Didn't Save You From the June 1 Rate Hike — Ameren Settles Up in May or November
Ameren and ComEd budget billing spread your payments — they don't lower the rate. Here's when the June 1 increase actually shows up on your Illinois bill.
The 'Price to Compare' on Your Illinois Bill: What It Covers, What It Leaves Out, and Why It Isn't What You Pay
The Price to Compare is the supply rate Ameren and ComEd publish so you can judge any offer. Here's what it covers, what it leaves out, and how to use it right.
Denied for Solar in Illinois? Federal Law Says They Owe You a Real Reason
No published credit score gets you solar in Illinois — but if you're denied, federal law entitles you to the specific reason, a free credit report, and a dispute right.
Illinois Homes Lost $2.3 Billion to Electric Supplier Switching — Check One Line on Your Bill
State data shows Illinois families paid $2.3 billion extra to alternative electric suppliers since 2015 — Ameren customers hit hardest. Here's the bill line to check.
Want Out of a Solar Contract in Illinois? The State Put Your Exit Rights in Writing
Illinois gives you at least three calendar days to rescind a solar contract and get your deposit back. Here's every exit the state wrote down, step by step.
Solar Installed but Still Dark? Illinois Gives Your Utility 15 Business Days
Your panels are up but the bill hasn't moved. Illinois Part 466 and Ameren's own guide set real deadlines — 15 business days for a Level 1 witness test.
Solar Won't Zero Out Your Illinois Electric Bill — the State's Own Example Shows Why
Solar offsets the supply half of your Illinois bill, not the delivery half. The state's own net metering example shows which kilowatt-hours you still pay for.
Does Illinois Homeowners Insurance Cover Solar Panels? The $14,000 vs $4,000 Roof Clause
Illinois insurers are moving roofs to actual cash value. The state's own example pays $14,000 on one roof and $4,000 on another. Here's what that does to solar.
Illinois Will Pay About $4,050 Toward a Home Battery — Here's What ComEd and Ameren Want in Return
ComEd and Ameren both pay $300 per kWh toward home battery storage in Illinois. The rebate is real — but each utility attaches conditions almost nobody mentions.
Your Illinois HOA Can't Ban Solar — and It Has 30 Days to Answer You
Illinois law bars an HOA from prohibiting solar panels, caps design rules at a 10% production loss, and gives boards 30 days to process your application.
ComEd Now Charges Four Different Prices a Day — Who Wins on Time-of-Day Pricing
ComEd's Time-of-Day pricing splits the day into four price windows, cheapest overnight. Who actually saves, who pays more, and how solar fits in.
Illinois Will Help Churches, Food Pantries, and Libraries Go Solar — Applications Open August 3
Illinois Solar for All opens its Non-Profit and Public Facilities window August 3, 2026. Who qualifies, what it costs, and why the date matters.
Your Illinois Electric Rate Drops October 1 — Why Your Bill Won't Drop as Much
Illinois summer supply rates expire September 30. Ameren's fell 31% last October — but supply is only half your bill. Here's what actually drops.
Who Fixes Your Solar Panels in Illinois When Something Breaks?
Who actually fixes solar panels in Illinois? Maintenance costs, what a lease covers, and what to do if your installer stopped answering the phone.
Will Your Illinois Electric Bill Go Back Down? PJM Just Locked In Prices Through 2029
PJM's July 2026 capacity auction cleared at $325/MW-day for 2028-29 — the third straight auction at the price cap. Why your Illinois bill isn't dropping soon.
Illinois Logged 832 Solar Complaints in 2025 and Has Paid $473,000 Back to Burned Customers — What Actually Went Wrong, and Who Gets Paid
Illinois logged 832 solar complaints in 2025, and its restitution fund has paid 170 customers nearly $473,000. Here's what goes wrong and who gets paid.
Do You Need a New Roof Before Solar in Illinois? (2026 Roof-Age Rules)
Old roof, new panels? Pulling solar off for a roof job runs an estimated $2,800-$6,000. The Illinois roof-age rule, and how to sequence both jobs to pay once.
Can You Rent Solar Panels in Illinois? What Actually Exists in 2026
There's no such thing as renting solar panels in Illinois. But there is Community Solar — a state-vetted subscription that gets you bill credits without any equipment. Here's how it actually works.
New Illinois Laws: A Family of Four Earning $99,000 Can Now Get Help With Their Electric Bill
Pritzker signed HB 4456 and HB 5524 on July 9. One raises energy-assistance income limits to 300% of poverty. The other itemizes every charge on your bill.
Do Solar Panels Increase Your Property Taxes in Illinois? (2026)
Adding solar raises your home's value — so will your property taxes jump too? In Illinois, no. The state's special solar assessment keeps that value off your tax bill.
New Illinois Solar for All Income Limits (2026): $97,200 for a Cook County Family of Four
Illinois Solar for All raised its income limits on June 1, 2026. A family of four can earn $97,200 in Cook County and still qualify. Here are the county numbers.
Will Illinois Have Rolling Blackouts? What ComEd's 'Critical Level' Alerts Mean (2026)
ComEd told parts of Chicagoland the grid hit a 'critical level' during the July heat wave. Here's the honest answer on rolling blackout risk in Illinois — and what you can control.
Freedom Forever Filed for Bankruptcy — What Illinois Solar Customers Should Do Now
Freedom Forever filed Chapter 11 in April 2026. If your Illinois solar system is installed, unfinished, or under quote — here's exactly what to do next.
ComEd & Ameren Want Another Rate Hike — CUB Found $1 Billion in Questionable Spending
ComEd filed a $15.3B grid plan and Ameren wants millions more — CUB found over $1 billion in questionable spending. What the next IL rate hikes mean for you.
What Solar Panels Really Cost in Illinois in 2026 (Honest Numbers, No Lead-Selling)
What solar panels actually cost in Illinois in 2026 — real per-watt and per-system numbers, what changed this year, and why we don't sell your info to five callers.
Illinois Electric Rates Keep Climbing — Does Solar Finally Make Sense in 2026?
Ameren and ComEd rates are up ~90% in five years and still climbing. Here's how to see what you're on track to overpay — and whether solar finally makes sense.
Illinois Net Metering Changed in 2025 — What It Costs You and How to Protect Your Savings
Illinois ended full retail net metering on Jan 1, 2025. Here's what the switch to net billing actually costs solar owners — and how to protect your savings.
The 30% Solar Tax Credit Ended — Here's How Illinois Homeowners Still Get It in 2026
The 30% federal tax credit ended for homeowner-owned systems on Dec 31, 2025. Here's how Illinois homeowners can still capture federal solar value in 2026.
How Much Does a Solar Lease Cost Per Month in Illinois? (2026)
What does a solar lease actually cost per month in Illinois? Real 2026 numbers, what's included, and how a predictable lease rate compares to a rising utility bill.
Ameren vs ComEd 2026: Which Costs More Per kWh? (ComEd Runs ~1.5¢ Higher)
ComEd averages ~17¢/kWh, Ameren Illinois ~15.5¢/kWh. See the full 2026 breakdown: supply charges, delivery fees, summer spikes, and how much it costs per month.
Ameren Rate Increase 2026: Summer Price to Compare 11.326¢/kWh (ComEd 10.399¢) — Through Sept 30
Updated September 2026: the Ameren rate increase put the summer Price to Compare at 11.326¢/kWh (ComEd 10.399¢) through September 30. See the average Illinois electric rate now, why bills jumped June 1, and what resets October 1.
The Iran War Is Sending Oil Prices Through the Roof — Will Your Illinois Electric Bill Follow?
Oil is at $112/barrel after the Strait of Hormuz blockade. Here's how the Iran conflict could push Illinois electricity rates even higher — and what you can do now.
Why Your Ameren Bill Keeps Going Up (and What MISO Has to Do With It)
Ameren bills jumped 18-22% in summer 2025 and rose again June 1, 2026. Here's why MISO capacity auctions are driving your rates up and what you can do about it.
The Real Cost of Solar Panels in Illinois: 2026 Breakdown
What do solar panels actually cost in Illinois in 2026? Real numbers for cash purchase, lease, and Solar for All — from an installer who gets prices below the state average.
Selling a House With Leased Solar Panels in Illinois (2026 Guide)
Selling a house with leased solar panels in Illinois? Here's how the lease transfer works, what buyers actually think, and why it's not the problem most people expect — owned systems too.
Solar Lease vs Buying Panels: I Did the Math for Illinois
Should you lease or buy solar panels in Illinois? I broke down the real numbers for both paths using current 2026 prices, incentives, and Ameren/ComEd rates.
Data Centers = 70% of Illinois's Rate Spike (Here's What It Costs You)
Data centers drove 70% of Illinois's capacity-cost spike in 2026. See the PJM/MISO mechanism, the per-household cost impact, and what to do to protect your bill.
ComEd Rate Increase 2026: 10.399¢/kWh Through Sept 30 — What Changes Oct 1
Updated Sept 2026: ComEd's 2026 rate increase put the Price to Compare at 10.399¢/kWh through September 30. What changed June 1, what resets October 1, the ICC delivery increases that don't reset, and your all-in cost per kWh.
Illinois Electricity Rates Have Nearly Doubled Since 2021 — Here's What That Means for Your Bill
Illinois electricity rates have surged 90%+ since 2021. Here's what's driving the increases, what to expect next, and how to protect your household.
Illinois Solar Incentives 2026: 7 Programs Worth $12,000-$18,000+
Illinois solar incentives 2026: Illinois Shines RECs, the new $20/REC customer-owned adder, $300/kW DG rebate, battery rebate, net metering, and property tax exemption — worth $12,000-$18,000+ on an owned system. Plus no-cost Solar for All for income-eligible households.
Solar Battery Backup in Illinois — What It Actually Powers and Whether It's Worth It
What does a solar battery actually run during an outage? How much does it cost with the $300/kWh rebate? Here's the honest breakdown for Illinois homeowners.
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Illinois electricity rates are climbing every year. The best time to go solar is now.