How Much Can Solar Save in Decatur?
Real numbers based on current Ameren Illinois rates and Illinois incentives.
$120
Current Bill/mo
$135
Est. Lease + Battery
6.3 yrs
Payback Period
$38,449
25-Year Savings
What You're Paying Now
Without solar, here's what Ameren Illinois electricity will cost you over time at 6% annual rate increases.
Monthly Bill
$120
Annual Cost
$1,440
25-Year Cost (No Solar)
$79,005
Your Solar Investment
5.5 kW System
$15,950
$8,795
After All IL Incentives
DG Rebate ($300/kW)-$1,650
Illinois Shines RECs (lump sum, ~18 mo)-$5,505
With vs Without Solar in Decatur
| Metric | Without Solar | With Solar |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Cost | $120/mo | $97/mo (loan) |
| Monthly Cash Flow | -$0 (all to utility) | +$5/mo |
| 5-Year Cost | $7,776 | $5,820 |
| 25-Year Cost | $79,005 | $40,556 |
| Rate Control | None — utility sets rates | Fixed at $0.10/kWh (avg.) for 15 years |
| Home Value Impact | None | +$15,000–$25,000 (tax-exempt) |
Your Solar Savings Over Time
Estimated 25-Year Total Savings
$38,449
Without Solar
With Solar
Year 1Payback Year
$1,440
$1,383
Year 5
$8,117
$1,627
Year 10
$18,980
$9,435
Year 15
$33,517
$18,219
Year 20
$52,971
$28,396
Year 25
$79,005
$40,555
| Year | Without Solar | With Solar | Cumulative Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1Payback | $1,440 | $1,383 | $57 |
| Year 2 | $2,966 | -$2,719 | $5,685 |
| Year 3 | $4,584 | -$1,294 | $5,878 |
| Year 4 | $6,299 | $154 | $6,146 |
| Year 5 | $8,117 | $1,627 | $6,491 |
| Year 6 | $10,044 | $3,126 | $6,918 |
| Year 7 | $12,087 | $4,654 | $7,433 |
| Year 8 | $14,252 | $6,214 | $8,039 |
| Year 9 | $16,547 | $7,807 | $8,741 |
| Year 10 | $18,980 | $9,435 | $9,545 |
| Year 11 | $21,559 | $11,103 | $10,457 |
| Year 12 | $24,293 | $12,811 | $11,481 |
| Year 13 | $27,190 | $14,565 | $12,625 |
| Year 14 | $30,262 | $16,366 | $13,896 |
| Year 15 | $33,517 | $18,219 | $15,299 |
| Year 16 | $36,968 | $20,127 | $16,842 |
| Year 17 | $40,627 | $22,094 | $18,533 |
| Year 18 | $44,504 | $24,125 | $20,379 |
| Year 19 | $48,614 | $26,224 | $22,391 |
| Year 20 | $52,971 | $28,396 | $24,575 |
| Year 21 | $57,590 | $30,647 | $26,943 |
| Year 22 | $62,485 | $32,982 | $29,503 |
| Year 23 | $67,674 | $35,407 | $32,267 |
| Year 24 | $73,174 | $37,930 | $35,245 |
| Year 25 | $79,005 | $40,555 | $38,449 |
Start Saving in Decatur
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