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New to plug-in solar?

Plug-in solar lets anyone generate free electricity — no roof, no permit, no contractor. A single panel on your balcony can meaningfully cut your bill, especially as rates keep rising.

What is plug-in solar? →How it saves you money →

Illinois

ConsideringUpdated August 2, 2026

Illinois' Homeowners' Energy Policy Statement Act (765 ILCS 165) bars HOAs and condo associations from prohibiting solar installations, though they can regulate placement if production loss stays under 10%. Net metering changed Jan 1, 2025: new solar customers get 'Smart Solar Billing' (supply-only credits, ~6.5 cents/kWh from ComEd vs prior 13.6 cents), offset partly by a one-time DG rebate ($300/kW). A 'Plug-In Illinois Act' to legalize balcony solar up to 1200W without interconnection agreements stalled in 2026 after opposition, but lawmakers may revisit it.

Get notified when Illinois goes legal

Laws are spreading state by state. One email when Illinois passes — no spam.

What You Can Use in Illinois While You Wait

Plug-in solar that ties into your home's wiring isn't legal here yet — but a portable solar generator (a panel charging a battery you plug devices into directly) never touches your home's wiring, so it's legal in Illinois right now, no law required.

Budget start

Jackery Explorer 300 Plus (288Wh Battery)

0.288 kWh battery · Jackery 100W panel · recharges in ~4.4h

Powers: Phone, router, and lights through the outage, plus ~6 hours of CPAP a night

$299 + $199 panel
Check price ↗View panel ↗
Most popular

Jackery Explorer 1000 v2 (1kWh Battery)

1.07 kWh battery · Jackery 100W panel · recharges in ~16h

Powers: A fridge, router, and lights running through a full day outage

$449 + $199 panel
Check price ↗View panel ↗
Whole-apartment backup

Jackery Explorer 2000 v2 (2.04kWh Battery)

2.042 kWh battery · Jackery 100W panel · recharges in ~31h

Powers: A full-size fridge and CPAP for days, or a window AC unit for a few hours

$749 + $199 panel
Check price ↗View panel ↗

See the full solar backup guide

Runtime charts for real devices, more kit options, and setup steps.

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Electricity Cost Trend

↑ 4.0%/yr avg — Moderate
Rates up 22% over the past 5 years
From $0.107/kWh in 2021 → $0.130/kWh today. Every year you delay solar, your bills compound.
4.0%
avg. annual increase
Historical avg. residential rate ($/kWh)
$0.107
2021
$0.111
2022
$0.116
2023
$0.120
2024
$0.125
2025
$0.130
2026
20-year projected rate
$0.285/kWh
at 4.0%/yr escalation
Extra you'll pay over 20 yrs*
$1,271
vs. today's rates (1,000 kWh/mo household)
Best time to go solar
Now
Each year of delay = a year of higher grid bills

What a Illinois Law Could Look Like

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Based on neighboring states

Utah (1,200W), Maine (600W), and Virginia (1,000W pending) provide the template. A Illinois law would likely allow 600–1,200W systems to plug into standard household outlets — no permit required.

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High rates = strong economics

At Illinois's avg. $0.130/kWh, a 600W system generating ~880 kWh/year saves roughly $114/year. Payback in as few as 7 years at current rates.

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Renters and condo owners

Plug-in solar requires no permanent installation — just an outlet. This makes it uniquely accessible to renters and condo owners who can't get rooftop solar.

FAQ

Can my HOA stop me from installing solar panels in Illinois?
No. The Homeowners' Energy Policy Statement Act (765 ILCS 165) prohibits HOAs, condo associations, and deed restrictions from banning solar energy systems outright. The association can regulate placement, but restrictions cannot cut a system's production by more than 10%.
Does the Illinois Solar Rights law protect renters from landlord restrictions?
Not directly. The 765 ILCS 165 protections focus on HOA/association rules for property owners, not landlord-tenant relationships. As of mid-2026, landlords can still restrict balcony or plug-in solar devices, since proposed legislation that would have limited such restrictions did not become law.
Is plug-in or balcony solar legal to use in Illinois right now?
There's no law specifically banning small plug-in solar devices, but there's also no specific exemption from standard utility interconnection rules. A 2025-2026 bill (the Plug-In Illinois Act) that would have exempted units up to 1200W from interconnection requirements stalled after opposition, so legal clarity is still pending.
How does net metering work for new solar customers with ComEd or Ameren Illinois?
Since January 1, 2025, new solar customers are on 'Smart Solar Billing,' a supply-only net metering structure that credits excess exported electricity at a lower rate than the old full retail-rate net metering. ComEd customers also receive a one-time Distributed Generation rebate of $300 per kW to help offset the change.
Do I need utility approval to connect a small solar device to my home outlet in Illinois?
Under current rules, any grid-connected generation device generally needs to go through Ameren Illinois or ComEd's Distributed Generation Interconnection process and receive a Certificate of Completion under Illinois Administrative Code Title 83 Part 466. Proposed legislation to waive this for very small plug-in units has not yet passed.

Stay in the Loop

We monitor all 50 state legislatures. The moment Illinois files a plug-in solar bill, you'll be the first to know.

Legal DisclaimerLaws change. Information on this site reflects our best understanding of current statutes as of the date shown. It is not legal advice. Verify requirements with your state utility commission, local building department, and a qualified attorney before installation.