How Much Can Solar Save in St. Elmo?
Real numbers based on current Ameren Illinois rates and Illinois incentives.
$114
Current Bill/mo
$130
Est. Lease + Battery
6.7 yrs
Payback Period
$33,449
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
$114
Annual Cost
$1,368
25-Year Cost (No Solar)
$75,055
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 St. Elmo
| Metric | Without Solar | With Solar |
|---|---|---|
| Monthly Cost | $114/mo | $97/mo (loan) |
| Monthly Cash Flow | -$0 (all to utility) | $-3/mo |
| 5-Year Cost | $7,387 | $5,820 |
| 25-Year Cost | $75,055 | $41,606 |
| 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
$33,449
Without Solar
With Solar
Year 1
$1,368
$1,409
Year 2Payback Year
$2,818
-$2,665
Year 5
$7,712
$1,768
Year 10
$18,031
$9,749
Year 15
$31,842
$18,738
Year 20
$50,323
$29,160
Year 25
$75,055
$41,606
| Year | Without Solar | With Solar | Cumulative Savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | $1,368 | $1,409 | -$41 |
| Year 2Payback | $2,818 | -$2,665 | $5,483 |
| Year 3 | $4,355 | -$1,212 | $5,567 |
| Year 4 | $5,984 | $265 | $5,719 |
| Year 5 | $7,712 | $1,768 | $5,943 |
| Year 6 | $9,542 | $3,300 | $6,243 |
| Year 7 | $11,483 | $4,861 | $6,622 |
| Year 8 | $13,540 | $6,455 | $7,085 |
| Year 9 | $15,720 | $8,083 | $7,637 |
| Year 10 | $18,031 | $9,749 | $8,283 |
| Year 11 | $20,481 | $11,454 | $9,027 |
| Year 12 | $23,078 | $13,203 | $9,875 |
| Year 13 | $25,831 | $14,997 | $10,834 |
| Year 14 | $28,749 | $16,841 | $11,908 |
| Year 15 | $31,842 | $18,738 | $13,104 |
| Year 16 | $35,120 | $20,691 | $14,429 |
| Year 17 | $38,595 | $22,706 | $15,889 |
| Year 18 | $42,279 | $24,786 | $17,493 |
| Year 19 | $46,184 | $26,935 | $19,248 |
| Year 20 | $50,323 | $29,160 | $21,163 |
| Year 21 | $54,710 | $31,464 | $23,246 |
| Year 22 | $59,361 | $33,855 | $25,505 |
| Year 23 | $64,290 | $36,338 | $27,952 |
| Year 24 | $69,516 | $38,919 | $30,597 |
| Year 25 | $75,055 | $41,606 | $33,449 |
Start Saving in St. Elmo
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