Solar by City / Illinois / Waukegan
Data last verified: 2026-08Is Solar Worth It in Waukegan, Illinois? (2026)
The honest answer depends on four numbers unique to Waukegan: your electricity rate, your solar production, your net metering policy, and your state incentives. Here are the real figures, with sources and dates. City production is a modeled estimate derived from Illinois's real NREL PVWatts v8 value adjusted for local latitude.
Solar Snapshot for Waukegan, Illinois (2026)
| Residential electricity rate | 19.1¢/kWh (EIA, 2026 YTD May) |
| Solar production (modeled) | ~1277 kWh per kW per year (derived from NREL PVWatts v8 1290 kWh/kW, latitude-adjusted) |
| Net metering | full-retail net metering |
| State tax credit | None in 2026 |
| Rebates / performance | Adjustable Block REC $65–85/MWh |
| SREC market | Active — ~$75/MWh (2026 market) |
| Property tax exemption | Yes |
| Sales tax exemption | No |
Estimate Your Own Payback in Waukegan
The table above is a 6 kW benchmark using Illinois's real inputs. Your home is different — use the Solar ROI Calculator with Illinois pre-loaded to get your exact payback, or the 30-second worth-it quiz for a go/no-go verdict.
Waukegan FAQ
How much solar production can I expect in Waukegan?
PVFig models Waukegan at ~1277 kWh per kW installed per year, derived from Illinois's NREL PVWatts v8 state value (1290 kWh/kW) adjusted for the city's latitude. This is a modeled estimate — a site-specific PVWatts run with your exact roof azimuth, tilt and shading will differ. Actual output also depends on panel quality and local weather.
What is the estimated solar payback in Waukegan?
At a typical 2.85/W installed cost and 19.1¢/kWh electricity, a 6 kW system in Waukegan has an estimated payback of about 8 years. That is one of the faster paybacks in the country.
Does Illinois have net metering and a solar tax credit in 2026?
Illinois uses full-retail net metering. There is no state income tax credit for residential solar in 2026. The federal residential credit (Section 25D) expired Dec 31, 2025 and does not apply to 2026 installations.
More cities in Illinois
Solar in Chicago
Estimated payback for a 6 kW system in Chicago, Illinois.
Read →Solar in Aurora
Estimated payback for a 6 kW system in Aurora, Illinois.
Read →Solar in Naperville
Estimated payback for a 6 kW system in Naperville, Illinois.
Read →Solar in Joliet
Estimated payback for a 6 kW system in Joliet, Illinois.
Read →Solar in Rockford
Estimated payback for a 6 kW system in Rockford, Illinois.
Read →Solar in Springfield
Estimated payback for a 6 kW system in Springfield, Illinois.
Read →Solar in Elgin
Estimated payback for a 6 kW system in Elgin, Illinois.
Read →Solar in Peoria
Estimated payback for a 6 kW system in Peoria, Illinois.
Read →Solar in Cicero
Estimated payback for a 6 kW system in Cicero, Illinois.
Read →Solar in Champaign
Estimated payback for a 6 kW system in Champaign, Illinois.
Read →Solar in Bloomington
Estimated payback for a 6 kW system in Bloomington, Illinois.
Read →Solar in Arlington Heights
Estimated payback for a 6 kW system in Arlington Heights, Illinois.
Read →Solar in Evanston
Estimated payback for a 6 kW system in Evanston, Illinois.
Read →Solar in Decatur
Estimated payback for a 6 kW system in Decatur, Illinois.
Read →Compare Illinois with nearby states
- Massachusetts — 30.1¢/kWh, ~1302 kWh/kW
- Connecticut — 29.8¢/kWh, ~1252 kWh/kW
- Maine — 29.7¢/kWh, ~1319 kWh/kW
- New Hampshire — 26.8¢/kWh, ~1259 kWh/kW
- Rhode Island — 29.5¢/kWh, ~1294 kWh/kW
- Vermont — 23.9¢/kWh, ~1222 kWh/kW