How Illinois Homeowners Achieved $0 Energy Bills with Solar and Storage
Key Takeaways:
Like many states across the country, Illinois energy prices have risen in recent years, leaving homeowners searching for ways to lower their ComEd and Ameren bills.
Two Illinois residents have lowered their energy bills to $0 after installing solar and storage on their properties in the Chicago area.
The Clean and Reliability Grid Affordability Act (CRGA), signed into law in January 2026, will expand access to clean energy to residents across Illinois.
High energy demand caused increased energy bills across the country this summer, and Illinois residents were no exception. On June 1st, ComEd customer bills increased by 12% while Ameren increased bills by as much as 29%. According to data from the U.S. Energy Information Administration, Illinois residential energy prices have risen 32% since 2020.
During a time when the price of owning a home is more expensive than ever, the last thing homeowners need is a large energy bill. However, some Illinois homeowners have managed to shield themselves from these higher energy bills, paying little to nothing on their electricity thanks to solar.
Mike Bullock, West Chicago
Mike Bullock’s solar and storage system have kept his electric bills at $0 over the past year. Mike installed solar on his house in West Chicago for the first time in 2012.
He expanded that array three years later, while adding a heat pump, an extended-range electric vehicle, and a fully electric vehicle. Eventually, Mike upgraded to a higher-capacity solar array that could support his increased electricity demand.
Most recently, Mike added battery storage to ensure he could take full advantage of his system. In addition to his $0 bills, Mike receives a $57 capacity credit every month – at a time when capacity charges are significantly higher across Illinois than in previous years.
Jay Futterman, Highland Park
Four years after Mike first installed solar, Highland Park resident and Chair of the Highland Park Sustainability Advisory Group Jay Futterman did the same, installing solar panels on the roof of his home. The panels generated enough power to cover all his home electricity use, including an electric vehicle.
Over the years, Jay electrified his home by installing a heat pump water heater and HVAC and purchasing a second electric vehicle.
After the increased usage, he started buying electricity again, so in 2026, Jay added battery storage to his home installation, allowing him to store energy during the day to use later in the evening when electricity is more expensive. He also replaced his original rooftop solar with more efficient panels, and his home is now meeting 100% of its energy usage through clean energy, resulting in $0 energy bills!
The Future of Solar and Storage in Illinois
Through installing solar, not only have these individual homeowners been able to generate clean energy, but they have become energy independent, saving money as energy prices rise to historic levels and show no signs of slowing down anytime soon.
As a result of the passing of the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act (CRGA), Illinois will build 3 GW of energy storage and will help lower demand across the state by creating pathways for Virtual Power Plant programs and technologies, creating additional energy efficiency programs for homeowners, renters, and businesses, and strengthening the state’s long-term energy planning.
CRGA will ensure that storage will be more abundant and available to those who need it, saving Illinois residents over $13 billion on their energy bills within the next 20 years.
In the meantime, installing solar panels or subscribing to community solar remains one of the best ways to protect against rising energy prices nationwide.
View our 2026 Illinois Affordability Guide to learn more about how installing storage can help you save.
