Frequently Asked Questions

Most solar companies size the biggest system they can sell. We do the opposite. We look at your whole home first, windows, siding, and heating and cooling, to cut wasted energy, then we put a right-sized solar system on top of an efficient home. You end up with a smaller, smarter system that costs less and performs better.

Solar Power Midwest has been in solar since 2001, and founder Dave Sonner has served 30,000+ customers across his family of companies since 1993. Dave stays personally involved with customers long after the job is done.

We serve homeowners and businesses across the Midwest. Some incentives, like Illinois Shines SREC payments, ComEd rebates, and the Illinois 20-year property tax exemption, are specific to Illinois.

No. Because solar and energy upgrades stay with the property and their incentives go to the owner, we work with property owners only.

Yes, for most homes. Illinois Shines SREC payments, net metering, the 20-year property tax exemption, and $0 down financing combine to bring most SPM systems to payback in 7 to 10 years, with the panels then producing free electricity for years after that. Your actual payback depends on your roof, usage, and current bill, which is why we build the real number from your bill instead of a generic average.

Yes. Chicago-area homeowners get the same Illinois Shines SREC payments and net metering as the rest of the state, and solar panels run on daylight rather than heat, so Chicago's cloudy winters do not stop a system from paying off. Most Chicago-area SPM customers see payback in 7 to 10 years once incentives and $0 down financing are factored in.

Yes. Solar panels run on daylight, not heat, and they often produce more efficiently in cool, clear weather than in extreme summer heat. Modern systems are sized around your full year of usage, so strong spring and summer production offsets shorter, cloudier winter days, and Illinois Shines SREC payments and net metering apply the same way regardless of how sunny any single week is.

Plug-in (portable, balcony-style) solar panels can offset a small amount of usage, but they are not a substitute for a permitted rooftop system. They are not eligible for Illinois Shines SREC payments or ComEd rebates, which require a certified, permitted installation, and connecting any solar panel to your home wiring without a licensed, permitted install raises real safety and code concerns. For real bill savings and incentive eligibility, a properly sized and permitted rooftop or ground-mount system is the only option we recommend.

Savings depend on your current bill, roof, and usage, so any number before a real assessment is only an estimate. Many homeowners save meaningfully each month once the home is made efficient and the system is right-sized. We show you the actual numbers before you commit.

A battery adds backup power during outages and more control over when you use stored energy. It is not right for every home. We evaluate whether it makes financial sense for you rather than adding it by default. Standalone battery storage is also available on a lease or PPA.

A single battery (10-13 kWh) typically runs essential loads, such as the refrigerator, select lighting circuits, internet, and device charging, for 10 to 24 hours depending on usage. Multiple batteries extend that further. SPM sizes the battery around the specific circuits you want backed up during your free estimate.

Home battery systems typically run $10,000 to $20,000 installed, depending on capacity and brand. ComEd customers may qualify for a battery rebate up to $1,000 through the ComEd Energy Efficiency Program, and SPM offers $0 down financing to spread the cost out.

Most Illinois homes need a system in the 5 kW to 12 kW range, with a typical home landing around 8 kW. Exact panel count depends on the wattage of the panel model used on your project and your roof's available space, so your free estimate sizes this exactly from your actual electric bill and roof, not a generic average.

Permitting typically adds about 4 to 8 weeks before your system goes live, on top of the 1-2 day installation itself. Naperville permits go through the City's TED Business Group, and because Naperville runs its own municipal utility, Naperville Electric handles interconnection instead of ComEd. Joliet permits go through the City's Building Inspectional Services Division, with ComEd handling interconnection. SPM manages both the city permit and the utility interconnection paperwork for you either way.

Crest Hill permits go through the City of Crest Hill's building department and typically add a few weeks on top of the 1-2 day installation itself. Crest Hill is in ComEd territory, so SPM manages both the city permit and the ComEd interconnection paperwork for you.

SPM services and troubleshoots the solar systems it installs, including diagnosing inverter issues, throughout Chicagoland and northern Illinois. Your inverter carries a manufacturer warranty, and SPM reviews your specific coverage and service options with you as part of your installation. Contact SPM directly for a service call on a system it installed.

Yes. If you already own or plan to buy an electric vehicle, that charging load should be factored into your solar sizing, not added on top of a system built for today’s usage. Let your estimate team know about a planned charger so it gets included in the numbers.

The 30% residential federal credit (Section 25D) expired December 31, 2025. The commercial credit (Section 48E) is still active: new commercial, farm, and nonprofit projects generally need to be placed in service by December 31, 2027 to claim it. Projects that began construction on or before July 4, 2026 have until December 31, 2030. Confirm your specifics with your CPA.

Illinois homeowners can still benefit from Illinois Shines SREC payments (paid per kWh your system produces), the Illinois 20-year property tax exemption on the added home value, and ComEd rebates on qualifying equipment like heat pumps and appliances.

Residential RECs currently run about $60 to $75 each through the Illinois Power Agency Adjustable Block Program, and one REC represents 1,000 kWh your system produces. That income goes straight to you once you own the system, on top of the electric bill savings from net metering.

ComEd offers rebates for qualifying heat pumps (up to $2,000), ENERGY STAR appliances, and, for businesses, custom and standard efficiency incentives for lighting, HVAC, motors, and more. We review every project for ComEd eligibility before finalizing your plan.

As a ComEd Trade Ally partner, SPM identifies which of your upgrades qualify, submits the rebate application on your behalf, and applies the rebate as an instant discount on your invoice or a follow-up check. You never fill out a ComEd rebate form yourself.

Most SPM customers in the Chicago and Naperville area see payback in 7 to 10 years once Illinois Shines SREC income, net metering, and $0 down financing are factored in. Naperville is served by Naperville Electric rather than ComEd, so ComEd-specific rebates do not apply there, but Illinois Shines SREC payments still do.

Most Illinois home solar systems run about $15,000 to $30,000 before incentives, or roughly $2.25 to $3.00 per watt. Illinois Shines SREC income, net metering, and the Illinois property-tax exemption bring the real cost down further. Your free estimate builds the actual number from your bill and roof, not a generic average.

This is an illustrative example only. Your free estimate builds the real numbers from your bill and roof. Most Naperville homes need roughly an 8 kW system, typically running $18,000 to $24,000 installed before incentives. Every 1,000 kWh that system produces earns one Illinois Shines SREC, currently worth about $60 to $75 through the Illinois Power Agency Adjustable Block Program, on top of net-metering bill savings. Your free estimate calculates the exact REC count for your actual production. Add $0 down financing and the Illinois 20-year property tax exemption, and most Naperville homeowners land in the same 7-to-10-year payback range we see statewide. Naperville is served by Naperville Electric rather than ComEd, so ComEd-specific rebates do not apply here, but Illinois Shines SREC payments still do.

Yes. We offer $0 down financing options so you can start saving without a large upfront payment. We separate guaranteed utility savings from estimated incentives so you and your lender see honest numbers.

Yes. Owning your system, with cash or a loan, is what unlocks the tax credits and the Illinois 20-year property tax exemption, since those benefits go to the owner. We walk you through cash, loan, lease, and PPA options.

Energy-efficient windows, insulated siding, and heat pumps. These reduce how much energy your home wastes, which is why we look at them before sizing solar.

We review your bills, verify the real numbers, identify every incentive you qualify for, and build a whole-home energy plan. There is no pressure and no obligation. If solar is not right for your home, we will tell you.

Use our free "Take Control of Your Energy" assessment to get a personalized plan and a free estimate. It takes just a few minutes and there is no obligation.