Solar Panel Cost Guide in East St Louis, IL (2023 Update)
- East St Louis Solar Installation Cost: $11,619
- 25-Year Savings: $9,224
- Payback Period: 13.9 Years
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Updated March 14, 2023
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Average Cost of Solar Panels in East St Louis
We break down average solar pricing in East St Louis.
The national average cost of solar panels is $2.66 per watt, but in East St Louis it's 2.73 per watt. To cover the typical energy needs of the average home in East St Louis, most homeowners require a 6.1-kilowatt system. Using the figure above, a solar installation costs around $11,619, or $16,615 before the federal solar tax credit of 30% is applied.
These figures are just estimates, and your own solar costs will look different based on factors unique to your home and what company you choose to go with. Many homeowners find adopting solar power is a fruitful investment. The average homeowner in East St Louis can save about $13,000 on their power bills over 20 years.
For a free quote from a local solar installer that has been pre-vetted by the EcoWatch team, click the button below.
Solar savings over time in East St Louis
| Year | Return on Investment |
|---|---|
| 1 years | $-10,785 |
| 3 years | $-9,118 |
| 5 years | $-7,450 |
| 7 years | $-5,783 |
| 9 years | $-4,115 |
| 11 years | $-2,448 |
| 13 years | $-781 |
| 15 years | $887 |
| 17 years | $2,554 |
| 19 years | $4,222 |
| 21 years | $5,889 |
| 23 years | $7,556 |
| 25 years | $9,224 |
Top Solar Installers in East St Louis
When making the switch to solar, many homeowners decide to hire a solar installer since putting up solar panels yourself can be a time-consuming project. The expertise that solar companies provide can be invaluable as well, particularly if you aren't sure what brand of solar equipment you need.
There are several licensed solar professionals that can help you install your solar panels. Here are our suggestions:
Best Solar Financing
Blue Raven Solar
- Industry-leading in-house financing
- Competitive pricing
- Excellent reputation
- Doesn't offer solar batteries (coming 2022)
Best Technology
Tesla Energy
- Price-match guarantee
- Sleek, efficient, and durable solar panels
- Best solar battery on the market
- Some reported issues with customer service
- Customer service varies by local dealer
See all of the solar companies in East St Louis
Factors that Affect Solar Panel Costs in East St Louis
The cost of installing a solar system in East St Louis can vary by more than $10,000 from home to home. Your actual cost is dependent on several factors. The largest one is your system size, and other factors include equipment choices, financing options and the solar company you choose.
Solar Equipment
When it comes to estimating the price of a solar panel system in East St Louis, one of the most crucial factors is the size of the system you need. Solar systems are sized by kilowatts (kW) and are primarily based on your home's energy consumption, which you can gauge by looking at past energy bills. Your total cost can increase by around $2,730 for each additional kilowatt you need. Some solar brands — like Maxeon from SunPower — are more expensive upfront but also tend to offer better efficiency. In a city like East St Louis, where sunlight is relatively abundant, efficiency can quickly pay off. In addition, if you have a small roof or limited space for your panels, higher efficiency options will be more impactful. Additional equipment like electric vehicle chargers and solar batteries will also increase the cost.
Solar Financing Terms
Solar panels can save you money on utility bills over many years, but they can also be a big investment. That's why many East St Louis homeowners choose to finance their solar panel systems to offset upfront costs. However, the interest on solar loans also increases your total costs, so it's important to consider that as well. You can always bring down the total you pay in interest and sometimes even your APR by making a larger down payment.
Solar Panel Installation Company
The remaining major cost factor you should keep in mind is the installer you choose. Given the booming popularity of green energy solutions in East St Louis, you'll have plenty of options to choose from, but each comes at different price points for labor and equipment. Additionally, some companies in East St Louis have more knowledge about local solar incentives and can help you take advantage of additional rebates or tax exemptions. Though, they may charge more for walking you through the whole process. Even if they cost more upfront, they could help you save more money in the long run.
Solar Panel Cost Data by System Size
| System size | Cost per system watt | Solar system cost | 25-Year savings | Payback period |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 6 kW | $2.84 | $11,925 | $8,647 | 14.5 years |
| 8 kW | $2.78 | $15,594 | $11,836 | 14.2 years |
| 10 kW | $2.73 | $19,110 | $15,177 | 13.9 years |
| 12 kW | $2.68 | $22,473 | $18,671 | 13.7 years |
| 14 kW | $2.62 | $25,684 | $22,318 | 13.4 years |
| 16 kW | $2.57 | $28,741 | $26,118 | 13.1 years |
| 18 kW | $2.51 | $31,646 | $30,070 | 12.8 years |
| 20 kW | $2.46 | $34,398 | $34,176 | 12.5 years |
How to Save on Solar Panels
The company that does your solar panel installation will affect the warranties and brands you have access to, and it will also have an impact on your total cost. Because picking a company can be a challenge, we have some tips to help you, such as:
- Installation Process: An important thing to understand when going solar is the installation process itself. Be sure to clarify any details you need to know with your solar company, such as what permits you should secure and how long the project will take.
- Solar Panel Brands: Homeowners will have different preferences for panels based on their locations and how much efficiency they need. Even though there are many options for which kind of solar panel you can get, not every company will have the exact one you may want or need, so make sure you peruse their list of options before deciding.
- Reputation: Solar companies that have great reviews from their customers and that have been operating for many years in most cases provide quality solar panel installation and expertise.
- Contract: Even though reading through a contract can take a lot of time, it's important to do it carefully so you can be sure you understand what services your solar company will provide and how part repairs and replacements will be handled.
Best Solar Financing
Blue Raven Solar
- Industry-leading in-house financing
- Competitive pricing
- Excellent reputation
- Doesn't offer solar batteries (coming 2022)
Best Technology
Tesla Energy
- Price-match guarantee
- Sleek, efficient, and durable solar panels
- Best solar battery on the market
- Some reported issues with customer service
- Customer service varies by local dealer
EcoWatch's East St Louis, IL Solar Cost FAQs
What is the average cost of installing solar panels in East St Louis?
This is a hard question to answer precisely, because the cost depends on a variety of factors. Generally speaking, it costs about $13,650 for a 5-kW system and $27,300 for a 10-kW system after the ITC is applied. You can expect to pay more if you want other solar equipment or higher quality panels, or if you have higher-than-average energy consumption. Conversely, you can spend less if you go with a smaller solar panel system or less efficient solar panels.
Can you get solar panels for free in East St Louis?
You can't get solar panels for free in East St Louis. However, you may still be able to get them on a lower budget. You can lease solar panels for a low upfront cost or, if you want to own your solar panels, you can finance them with a solar loan.
Can solar panels significantly reduce my energy bills?
Solar panels can potentially eliminate your electricity bills depending on where you're located and the efficiency of your system. Even if it doesn't get rid of them completely, you can save a lot of money on your bills, about $685.74 per year.
How many solar panels should I get to power my home?
To figure out what solar panel system size you need, you should find out how much energy your home needs and how much sunlight your home gets. For a general estimate, however, since each panel can typically produce about 250 to 400 watt-hours per hour, the average home will need 20 to 35 panels.
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.
Company research was conducted by Melissa Smith and Karsten Neumeister. Local data analysis was conducted by James Savino. See something we missed or could do better? Email the editor.