What Illinois still offers after the federal credit ended
Every incentive on this page is verified against Illinois government sources - and the expired ones salespeople still quote are called out.
The 30% federal solar tax credit ended for installations finished after December 31, 2025 - Broughton systems completed in 2026 get $0 from it.
Under Illinois's export rules, compensation for surplus power decides the payback - which typically runs 10-14 years on unsubsidized 2026 math.
Installed home solar for Broughton homeowners averages about $2.58 a watt across the U.S. marketplace - roughly $30,960 for a 12 kW system before incentives.
Leased and PPA systems deserve extra scrutiny in 2026: the sales pitch often bundles 'tax savings' that now accrue to the leasing company under separate commercial rules - not to you. Get every claimed saving in writing, attributed to a specific law, before signing a 20-25 year contract.
The federal Residential Clean Energy Credit - the 30% one every solar ad still quotes - was repealed by the One Big Beautiful Bill Act signed July 4, 2025. Per the IRS, it is not available for any system placed in service after December 31, 2025, and 'placed in service' means the installation completion date, not the contract date.
The 2026 numbers
| System size | Installed price (marketplace avg) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 kW | $15,480 | Small roof / low usage |
| 8 kW | $20,640 | Typical starter system |
| 10 kW | $25,800 | Family home with AC |
| 12 kW | $30,960 | Large home / EV charging |
| Home battery (optional) | $12,000-$16,000 | Backup power + self-consumption |
Get solar quotes for Broughton
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Illinois rules that decide your payback
| Rule | Illinois status |
|---|---|
| Export compensation (net metering) | For systems interconnected on or after January 1, 2025, Illinois no longer offers full-retail net metering: exports are credited only at the electricity-supply rate while the customer keeps paying delivery charges on all electricity drawn from the grid, and those customers are also eligible for a one-time distributed-generation "smart inverter" rebate of at least $300/kW (residential) from ComEd, Ameren, or MidAmerican. |
| State incentive | Illinois Shines (Adjustable Block Program) REC payments, Illinois Solar for All for income-eligible households, and the utility Distributed Generation / Smart Inverter Rebate (at least $300/kW residential) |
| Sales tax on the system | Not exempt - taxed like any purchase |
| Property tax on added home value | Excluded |
Customers who had full-retail net metering before January 1, 2025 keep it for the lifetime of the system, so two neighbors can be on very different deals; community solar subscriptions are available only in the ComEd and Ameren service territories.
This guide is research, not advice: an independent summary of published prices and state rules. It is not an installer, lender or tax advisor - verify incentive eligibility with a licensed tax professional before relying on it.
What this means for Broughton roofs
Beware of any 2026 payback estimate that looks as good as the 2025 ones: with the federal credit gone, a third of the old subsidy math vanished. If a sales projection has not gotten noticeably worse since 2025, it is hiding something - usually an inflated utility-rate escalation assumption.
This guide is research, not advice: an independent summary of published prices and state rules. It is not an installer, lender or tax advisor - verify incentive eligibility with a licensed tax professional before relying on it.
Getting Broughton quotes
Before requesting quotes, have your last 12 months of electricity bills handy - system sizing should follow your real usage, not a salesperson's template. A bid sized far above your usage is a margin play, especially now that surplus export pays less in most states.
This guide is research, not advice: an independent summary of published prices and state rules. It is not an installer, lender or tax advisor - verify incentive eligibility with a licensed tax professional before relying on it.
Common questions
What is net metering and why does it decide everything?
It is the rule for how your utility credits electricity you export. Full retail net metering credits exports at the same rate you pay - the grid works like a free battery. Net billing or avoided-cost rules pay far less per exported kWh, which lengthens payback and strengthens the case for a home battery.
How long do solar panels actually last?
Panels are typically warrantied for 25 years of production and commonly outlive it, losing about 0.5% output per year. Inverters are the component that usually needs replacement - typically once, around year 12-15, at a few thousand dollars.
How much does home solar cost in 2026?
The U.S. marketplace average is about $2.58 per watt installed - roughly $15,500 for a 6 kW system and $31,000 for 12 kW, before any state incentives. Quotes meaningfully above that level deserve a written explanation of what justifies the premium.
Does solar raise my property taxes?
It depends on the state - many exempt solar's added home value from property tax, others do not, and some exemptions have expiration dates. This guide's state page lists the verified rule and source for your state.
Is solar still worth it without the federal credit?
It depends mostly on your state's export rules and your daytime usage. Paybacks lengthened by roughly a third when the credit ended, but rising electricity rates and record-cheap hardware keep the math workable in states with decent export compensation - and marginal where exports pay avoided cost only.
Get solar quotes for Broughton
These platforms collect bids from licensed installers so you can compare against the same spec. Prices come from installers, not from this site.
Disclosure: this is an independent guide. If you request quotes through a link here, the platform may pay this site a referral fee. That fee never changes your quotes.
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