Solar panels in Sycamore, IL

Sycamore is the DeKalb County seat, with a 99-acre historic district of older homes around its downtown.

Most homes in Sycamore get their electricity from Commonwealth Edison (ComEd). That matters for solar, because your utility sets how you're credited for the power your panels send back to the grid and pays the state-required solar rebate.

For systems connected since 2025, ComEd credits exported power at the supply rate, so the best Sycamore systems are sized to cover what your home uses during the day. In exchange, ComEd pays about $300 per kW up front for systems with a smart inverter. See the full ComEd solar guide.

These estimates apply to homes with mailing addresses in Sycamore, including ZIP code 60178.

Wondering why your ComEd bill has climbed? See why ComEd bills are so high in 2026.

• You own the home. Rooftop solar requires owning the roof.
• Your roof gets sun for most of the day on its south, west or east side, without heavy tree shade.
• Your roof has some life left. Replacing worn shingles before installing saves a removal fee later.
• Your ComEd bill is regularly over about $100 a month, or you're adding an EV or heat pump.

Not sure? A specialist can check satellite imagery of your Sycamore roof as part of your free quote.

Illinois Shines, the state's solar incentive program, had approved 285 home-sized solar systems (25 kW or smaller) in ZIP code 60178 as of September 2026, including 53 in the past 12 months.

About 31% of them are owned by the homeowner, paid in cash or with a loan, and the rest are leases or power purchase agreements, compared with 44% owned statewide. The typical system is 7.6 kW, the same as the 7.6 kW typical across Illinois. To compare the two ways to pay, see solar lease vs. buy in Illinois.

Check these before you sign with any solar company serving Sycamore:

• Illinois Commerce Commission certification. Installers need the state's distributed generation installer certification for your system to be net metered.
• Illinois Shines Approved Vendor or Designee. Only registered companies can pass along the Illinois Shines incentive. Look them up on illinoisshines.com and make sure they aren't suspended.
• Local registration. Many Illinois towns require contractors to be licensed or registered locally, so ask whether the company is set up to pull permits with the City of Sycamore.
• Two or three quotes compared on price per watt, equipment, warranties and how each handles the ComEd rebate. Our solar quote checker flags high prices, and what a quote should include walks through each line.
• No pressure. Walk away from same-day signing deadlines, "free solar" pitches and quotes that still subtract the expired federal tax credit. See spotting solar scams.

For more, see how to choose a solar installer in Illinois, or request a free quote for your Sycamore home from one of our trusted Illinois partners.

Yes. A battery stores your solar power and keeps chosen circuits running when the ComEd grid goes down, which standard solar alone can't do. ComEd pays about $300 per kWh of battery capacity, around $4,050 for one 13.5 kWh battery, if you enroll it in the utility's virtual power plant program.

• Essentials: one battery usually covers the refrigerator, lights, internet, sump pump and furnace fan.
• Whole home: running central air, an electric range or a well pump usually takes two or more batteries.
• Adding later: many batteries can be added to an existing solar system, so ask installers about it even if you start with panels only.
• On a private well: an outage also stops your well pump, so make sure the battery can start it. See battery backup for homes on well water.

See what a home battery costs in Illinois, how the virtual power plant works and Powerwall 3 vs. Enphase vs. FranklinWH.

• The City of Sycamore's new resident guide lists ComEd as the city's electric provider.
• Downtown Sycamore is the Sycamore Historic District, a 99-acre area on the National Register of Historic Places since 1978, so ask the city whether visible panels on older homes there need design review.
• Storms on July 14, 2024 downed trees and power lines in Sycamore, leaving residents waiting for ComEd to restore power while the DeKalb County Jail ran on a backup generator.

1. 1

   Building and electrical permits

   Your installer applies to the City of Sycamore for the building and electrical permits, and a local inspector checks the finished work.

2. 2

   Illinois Shines application

   Your installer registers the system with Illinois Shines, and you review and sign the program's disclosure form before installation.

3. 3

   ComEd interconnection and rebate

   ComEd approves the connection, updates your meter and grants permission to operate; then your installer files for the $300/kW rebate.

4. 4

   Property tax form

   File form PTAX-330 with the DeKalb County assessment office (the chief county assessment officer) so the system doesn't raise your assessment. See how Illinois taxes homes with solar.

In a neighborhood with a homeowners' or condo association? Illinois law stops associations from banning rooftop solar. See Illinois HOA solar rules. For timing, see how long solar installation takes.