Plug-In Solar in Illinois
There is no plug-in solar law in Illinois. A Senate measure covering kits up to 1,200 W won committee approval but stopped before a floor vote, so technically it remains active.
- No plug-in solar law in Illinois yetBill SB 3104
- The utility rules are in effect.No cap on plug-in wattage.
- 19.2 centsThe EIA average home price per kWh covers Jan through Aug 2026.
- Each year: $205.For Chicago, an 800 W kit, excluding any utility solar fee.
Illinois requires your electric utility's approval ahead of any connection, plus an inverter that carries a UL 1741 listing with anti-islanding or a UL 3700 listing.
Plug-In Bills in the State of Illinois
- SB 3104 (2026): a plug-in solar energy systems bill from Sen. Ventura. The Senate Energy and Public Utilities Committee approved the amended bill on 12 Mar 2026. Second reading followed on 25 Mar 2026, but no floor vote occurred. On 22 May 2026, it was re-referred to the Assignments committee, where it stays in the 104th General Assembly. The amendment allows up to 1,200 W of export from UL or NRTL certified equipment. It exempts that equipment from interconnection rules and bars net metering and rebates. The owner must notify the utility within 30 days. The amendment includes landlord and HOA limits, exempts the 391 W tier from building code changes, and prohibits systems above 391 W until the National Electrical Code includes a standard. Bill link
- HB 4371 (2026): a portable solar generation bill from Rep. Under Delgado's bill, approval from a utility, fees, and extra equipment are all barred; on 27 Mar 2026, it was sent back to the House Rules Committee. Bill page
- HB 4516 (2026): a portable solar generation bill from Rep. Rashid's bill was planned to take effect on 1 Jun 2026. On 26 Jan 2026, it was referred to the House Rules Committee, with no further action taken. Bill page
Today's Illinois Rule
Hooking up: every grid-tied generator goes through the ICC interconnection process at the utility (83 Ill. Adm. Code 466). Lab-certified inverter systems with export up to 25 kW are covered by Level 1 review. Submitting an application requires a $50 fee.
Net metering: 220 ILCS 5/16-107.5 covers it. Customers enrolling from 1 Jan 2025 onward receive supply credits only for the power they export, at a rate below the full retail credit that older customers keep.
Savings from a Kit in Illinois
In Chicago, PVWatts estimates that each 1 kW of panels produces 1,330 kWh each year. Illinois households pay 19.2 cents for every kWh in 2026 so far. With an 800 W kit, placement affects the result:
| Where the panels go | kWh a year | Saved a year |
|---|---|---|
| Tilted south on a stand | 1,064 | $205 |
| Upright on a railing | 670 | $129 |
| Facing east or west | 851 | $164 |
Chicago, Month by Month
- Jan59
- Feb73
- Mar89
- Apr101
- May107
- Jun111
- Jul122
- Aug110
- Sep99
- Oct80
- Nov62
- Dec52
An 800 W kit makes this many kWh when tilted south.
Illinois Kit Prices
| Kit | kWh a year | Saved a year | Pays back in | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| US Solar Supplier 1180 W EZ1 Kit | 1,570 | $302 | 3.0 years | $899 |
| Bright Saver 360 W Balcony Kit | 479 | $92 | 4.5 years | $414 |
| EcoFlow STREAM 800 W Kit | 1,064 | $205 | 5.4 years | $1,099 |
Each kit is tilted south and used entirely at home. Compare all kits
Illinois Information Worth Knowing
- Illinois offers retail electric choice: customers served by Ameren Illinois, ComEd and MidAmerican can pick their power supplier, and in 2024 the second largest seller was retail marketer Constellation NewEnergy.
- Since 2025, customers who sign up for net metering receive supply credits only for the power they export. You get the most from a plug-in kit when you use its output yourself.
- In 2024, the average home's rate was 15.87 cents/kWh.
Renting or Using a Balcony?
Mount decisions belong to your landlord or HOA; hookup decisions belong to your electric utility. Learn about balcony solar and apartment solar.
Primary Utilities
- Commonwealth Edison (ComEd)
- Ameren Illinois
- MidAmerican
Steps to Take in Illinois
- Choose a size: about 532 kWh a year comes from a 400 W kit in Chicago, and about 1,596 kWh a year from a 1,200 W kit. Run yours
- Follow SB 3104 during the next session. Approval may no longer be required if the bill passes.
Sources
- Illinois General Assembly - Bill Status of SB3104
- Illinois General Assembly - Full Text of SB3104 (Senate Committee Amendment No. 2)
- NPR Illinois on why Illinois may revisit plug-in solar
- Illinois General Assembly - Bill Status of HB4371
- Illinois General Assembly - Bill Status of HB4516
- 220 ILCS 5/16-107.5
- Net Metering Changes in Illinois, FAQ (Illinois Solar for All)
- 83 Ill. Adm. Code 466, Electric Interconnection of Distributed Energy Resources (JCAR)
- Electric Choice Basics | Plug In Illinois (ICC)
- EIA State Electricity Profile tables, Illinois 2024
- NREL PVWatts, Chicago and EIA Table 5.6.B, 2026 price data
Check all states at a glance or a nearby one: Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan.