How Much Can Solar Save in Orion?
Real numbers based on current Ameren Illinois rates and Illinois incentives.
$139
Current Bill/mo
$145
Est. Lease + Battery
6.4 yrs
Payback Period
$43,620
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
$139
Annual Cost
$1,668
25-Year Cost (No Solar)
$91,514
Your Solar Investment
6.5 kW System
$18,850
$10,394
After All IL Incentives
DG Rebate ($300/kW)-$1,950
Illinois Shines RECs (lump sum, ~18 mo)-$6,506
With vs Without Solar in Orion
| Metric | Without Solar | With Solar |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Cost | $139/mo | $114/mo (loan) |
| Monthly Cash Flow | -$0 (all to utility) | +$3/mo |
| 5-Year Cost | $9,007 | $6,840 |
| 25-Year Cost | $91,514 | $47,894 |
| 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
$43,620
Without Solar
With Solar
Year 1Payback Year
$1,668
$1,637
Year 5
$9,403
$1,931
Year 10
$21,986
$11,165
Year 15
$38,824
$21,543
Year 20
$61,358
$33,557
Year 25
$91,514
$47,894
| Year | Without Solar | With Solar | Cumulative Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1Payback | $1,668 | $1,637 | $31 |
| Year 2 | $3,436 | -$3,209 | $6,645 |
| Year 3 | $5,310 | -$1,524 | $6,834 |
| Year 4 | $7,297 | $189 | $7,108 |
| Year 5 | $9,403 | $1,931 | $7,472 |
| Year 6 | $11,635 | $3,704 | $7,930 |
| Year 7 | $14,001 | $5,512 | $8,489 |
| Year 8 | $16,509 | $7,356 | $9,153 |
| Year 9 | $19,168 | $9,239 | $9,928 |
| Year 10 | $21,986 | $11,165 | $10,821 |
| Year 11 | $24,973 | $13,135 | $11,837 |
| Year 12 | $28,139 | $15,155 | $12,984 |
| Year 13 | $31,495 | $17,227 | $14,269 |
| Year 14 | $35,053 | $19,355 | $15,698 |
| Year 15 | $38,824 | $21,543 | $17,281 |
| Year 16 | $42,822 | $23,796 | $19,025 |
| Year 17 | $47,059 | $26,119 | $20,940 |
| Year 18 | $51,551 | $28,517 | $23,034 |
| Year 19 | $56,312 | $30,994 | $25,318 |
| Year 20 | $61,358 | $33,557 | $27,801 |
| Year 21 | $66,708 | $36,212 | $30,495 |
| Year 22 | $72,378 | $38,966 | $33,412 |
| Year 23 | $78,389 | $41,826 | $36,563 |
| Year 24 | $84,760 | $44,799 | $39,961 |
| Year 25 | $91,514 | $47,894 | $43,620 |
Start Saving in Orion
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Ameren Illinois rates projected to rise again next year. Lock in savings now.