Is my solar quote fair?
Enter a few numbers from an Illinois solar quote to check the price per watt, the incentives, the production promise and the financing.
Quick answer
How do you know if a solar quote is fair?
Divide the price before incentives by the system's watts. In Illinois, about $2.50–$3.50 per watt is typical. Then check that the quote subtracts the utility rebate and Illinois Shines (about $14,000 for an 8 kW ComEd system), doesn't count the expired federal credit, and doesn't overstate production.
Your quote check
Enter the system size and the total price from your quote to see how it compares.
How does this checker judge a quote?
It compares your quote with the same model as our savings calculator. The price bands are our own planning ranges, not a survey of Illinois quotes.
- Price per watt: the price before incentives, minus any battery, divided by the system's watts. Below $2.50 is lower than typical, $2.50–$3.50 is typical, up to $4.00 is on the high side, and above that is high. Systems under 5 kW get $0.30 more at each step, because permits, design and labor cost about the same for a small system.
- Incentives: the $300/kW ComEd or Ameren rebate plus Illinois Shines: 15 years of expected production at the 2026–27 small-system price of about $80.77 per REC in ComEd territory or $70.37 in Ameren territory. If the quote's discount is under 60% of that, we suggest asking where the rest went.
- Production: about 1,200 kWh per kW a year in northern Illinois, rising to about 1,330 in far southern Illinois, for an unshaded south-facing roof. A promise more than 10% above that gets flagged, and savings use the lower of the two numbers.
- Payback: the price after incentives divided by first-year savings, with half of production used at home at 17¢/kWh and half exported at about 10¢.
- Leases and PPAs: the first-year rate against the roughly 17¢ all-in utility price, and the escalator against the 3% a year we assume utility rates rise.
Nothing you enter is saved or sent anywhere. The check runs in your browser.
What should a solar quote include?
- 1
Cash price and system size
The total price before incentives and the size in kW, so you can work out the price per watt. Ask for the cash price in writing even if you plan to finance.
- 2
Equipment
Panel and inverter brands and models, the number of panels, and any battery, priced separately.
- 3
Incentives
The ComEd or Ameren rebate, and how the Illinois Shines value is handled: as a discount, as payments to you, or kept by the installer.
- 4
Production estimate
Expected kWh a year, and whether it's guaranteed. Compare it with your yearly use on your bill.
- 5
Warranties
Panel product and power warranties, the inverter warranty, and the installer's workmanship and roof-penetration warranty.
- 6
Standard disclosure form
Illinois Shines requires installers to give you the program's disclosure form, covering the system, price, incentives and financing, before you sign.
What are the red flags in a solar quote?
- It counts the 30% federal tax credit. That credit ended for homeowner-owned systems after 2025.
- There's no cash price. A financed price with no cash price can hide a dealer fee, which the CFPB found typically adds 10–30%. See solar loans and dealer fees.
- You're pushed to sign today. You can cancel most sales made at your home within three business days under the FTC's Cooling-Off Rule. See how to spot solar scams.
- Savings that cover your whole bill. Fixed charges stay, and exports earn about the supply rate, not the full price. See Illinois net metering.
- A lease or PPA escalator above about 3%. Over 20–25 years it can push the solar price above the utility's.
Sources
- Illinois Shines: Final 2026–27 REC prices for the program year starting June 1, 2026
- Illinois Shines: Small distributed generation
- Illinois Shines: Consumer FAQs
- Citizens Utility Board: Solar and storage rebates (ComEd and Ameren)
- IRS: FAQs on changes to Sections 25C, 25D and other credits under the 2025 law (Public Law 119-21)
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: Report on markup fees in solar energy loans (2024)
- Federal Trade Commission: Cooling-Off Rule for sales made at home
- NREL PVWatts Calculator
Solar quote FAQ
What is a good price per watt for solar in Illinois?
We treat about $2.50–$3.50 per watt before incentives as typical for an Illinois home, a little more for systems under 5 kW. Our calculator uses $3.10. Premium panels, a steep or complex roof, or electrical-panel upgrades can justify more.
How do I find the price per watt on my quote?
Divide the total price before incentives by the system size in watts. A 7.2 kW (7,200 W) system priced at $22,320 is $3.10 per watt. If the quote includes a battery, take the battery's price out first.
Should my quote subtract Illinois Shines?
Usually, yes. Illinois Shines buys your system's renewable energy credits, and the payment goes to the installer, who typically passes it on as a lower price. Your contract and the program's standard disclosure form must show how it's handled. See Illinois Shines, explained.
Can a solar quote still include the federal tax credit?
Not for a system you own. The 30% federal residential credit ended for homeowner-owned systems after 2025. A lease or PPA company may still claim a business credit and pass some of it on as a lower rate. See the federal tax credit in 2026.
How many solar quotes should I get?
At least two or three. Prices for the same system can differ by thousands of dollars between installers, and a second quote is the easiest way to see whether the first one is fair.