2025 Solar Incentives Guide for Oak Lawn, IL - Tax Credits & Rebates
In this guide, we'll cover the latest solar incentives and rebates available in Oak Lawn.
You'll learn about:
- Local & State Solar Incentives
- Federal Tax Credits (Updated for 2024 and beyond)
- Ways to optimize your solar investment
Solar installers are experts in maximizing your solar tax credits and rebates.
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What Solar Tax Credits, Incentives, and Rebates are Available in Oak Lawn?
Special Assessment for Solar Energy Systems
ComEd - Energy Efficiency Program for Residential
Air Purifier: $50
Clothes Washer: $50
Dehumidifier: $50
Electric Clothes Dryer: $50
Freezer: $50
Refrigerator: $50
Room Air Conditioner: $25
Refrigerator/Freezer Recycling: Free pickup and $50, plus an additional $10 if recycling a room A/C at the same time
Heating & Cooling
Air Source Heat Pump: $400 - $600
Central A/C: $300 - $600
Ductless Mini-Split Heat Pump: $400
Geothermal Heat Pump: Up to $6,000/home
Furnace Blower Motor (ECM): $50 - $100
Miscellaneous
Advanced Power Strip: $10
Air Sealing: Up to $400/home
Attic Insulation: Up to $300/home
Duct Sealing: Up to $500/home
Lighting: In-store discounts, varies
Pool Pump: $275
Smart Thermostat: $100
Wall Insulation: Up to $400/home
Solar Renewable Energy Credits
Federal Residential Renewable Energy Tax Credit
Source: https://www.dsireusa.org/
The phrase "solar incentives" generally refers to financial incentives designed to encourage the use of renewable energy by making installing and using solar panels more affordable. You might be eligible for various kinds of incentives, including cash back, discounts or credit towards your monthly utility bill, depending on your situation. Some incentives come from your specific utility company, county or municipality, some from the Illinois government and others from the federal government. Categories of solar incentives include:
- Net Metering: Make sure you speak to your Oak Lawn utility company about signing a net metering contract. This allows you to get a credit towards your monthly utility bill for the value of excess energy generated by your solar panels. You could receive either a dollar-for-dollar credit or a percentage of the value.
- Tax Exemptions: Sales tax exemptions are applied at the point of sale for your solar system. Property tax exemptions let you exclude the value that your solar panels add when you're calculating how much property tax you need to pay on your house.
- Tax Credits: Tax credits are dollar-for-dollar reductions in the amount of income tax that you owe the government. (A tax credit is different from a tax deduction.)
- Solar Renewable Energy Certificate (SREC): SRECs and other performance-based incentives might be available to you if the solar system on your home produces over a specified (typically small) amount of electricity. These types of incentives are normally handled by the state government. You can sell the SRECs you receive to your utility company or other buyers, and the money you make is normally considered part of your taxable income.
- Rebates: Rebates, or partial refunds after a purchase, are usually given prior to any solar tax credits being calculated. Solar rebates might be given by your local utility company, by your state or by your county.
Federal Solar Incentives
When you think about solar incentives, you likely think of federal incentives first. The solar incentive that you're most familiar with is probably the Federal Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC), which provides a credit on your taxes equal to a predetermined percentage of the cost of your solar system.
The ITC can be applied to the total cost of solar system installation, including the panels themselves as well as equipment, accessories and labor. You can claim this credit for panels installed after January 1, 2006, on a primary or secondary residence located in the United States that you own. The tax credit ranges from 26-30% of total costs depending on when your project was completed. There is no maximum claim amount.
Your local Oak Lawn solar panel installer can offer more information about the ITC and how it applies to your situation.
In August 2022, the ITC (now titled the Clean Energy Credit) was bolstered by the passing of the Inflation Reduction Act. The new Clean Energy Credit extends until 2035. Homeowners can now apply for a 30% credit for solar systems that began installation on or after January 1, 2022, and will be done by December 31, 2032. The total credit will then decrease annually until its expiration. Starting in 2023, the expansion to the program will also make credits for energy storage systems even easier to claim.
More information about the new Inflation Reduction Act can be found here. Your local Oak Lawn solar panel company can answer your questions and explain how the new Clean Energy Credit applies to you.
State & Local Solar Incentives
Not all solar incentives are federal; tax credits, rebates and more are often offered at the local or state level. Some incentives are ongoing, while others are only available for a limited time. They might be given by the Illinois government, or by your county or municipality.
Next Steps for Installing Solar in Oak Lawn
The large number of available solar incentives has helped tremendously increase the use of solar power nationwide over the past 15 years. You might qualify for solar incentives from your local utility company, the Illinois government or the federal government. We suggest talking to your local Oak Lawn solar installation company to learn more about these incentives and to ensure that you're getting the most money possible for your solar panels.
EcoWatch's Oak Lawn, IL Solar Incentives FAQs
How much can I save on my electric bill annually if I install solar panels on my Oak Lawn home?
Generally, Oak Lawn homeowners who install solar panels save approximately $707.72 per year, or about $13,446.62 over 20 years after they make the switch.
What are some of the environmental benefits of switching to solar?
Solar energy is renewable — by changing where you get your energy, you can help lessen the strain on our planet's resources. A solar system can also lower your home's CO2 emissions by 450 pounds annually, or roughly 9,000 pounds in 20 years.
When does the federal solar tax credit end?
The federal solar tax credit, formerly called the ITC and now titled the Clean Energy Credit, is set to end on January 1, 2035. The current 30% credit will end in 2032, replaced by a 26% credit in 2033 and a 22% credit in 2034.
Can I apply for incentives both towards the up-front cost of solar panels, and later as reimbursement?
The order your incentives will be applied in may vary depending on which incentives you receive but generally yes, you can claim multiple types of incentives for your solar project. Get in touch with your solar installer or a local tax professional to make sure you are claiming all the incentives you're eligible for and applying them in the correct order.
Can I use both solar and another type of renewable energy to power my home?
You can use multiple types of renewable energy, or a combination of renewable and non-renewable energy, to power your home. Make sure you discuss your plan with your local Oak Lawn solar installation expert. They can help you plan your project and give you an understanding of various incentives that you may or may not qualify for.
Our goal is to reach as many people as we can with sensible solutions like solar energy. Our team of full-time local researchers collects solar price and installation data for every city in America then compiles it to create these digestible city guides. If you want to read our solar expert's opinion on the top solar companies featured here, follow this link.