Solar Panel Guidelines

Solar Installation Checklist

Before installing solar panels, here is a checklist that will help guide you through the process.

Statement of Interconnection and Fair Crediting

Residential and commercial customers of the City of Naperville electric utility have the right to interconnect their privately owned renewable generating facilities with the City's Utility Distribution System as long as such facilities are primarily intended to offset a customer's own electrical requirements and produce, consume, and store their own renewable energy, or any combination thereof, and as long as said customer-owned renewable energy facility is located on premises they own or lease and on the customer's side of the billing meter. Read the statement for more details. 

Additional Solar System Permitted Size Criteria 

1. If a customer’s calculated 3-year average peak kW-AC is UNDER 10 kW AC, they are limited to 110% of that average calculation in kW AC. 
2. If a customer’s calculated 3-year average peak kW-AC is UNDER 10 kW AC and they include the installation of an EV charger with the PV system, the allowable maximum size is up to 10 kW-AC.
3. If a customer’s calculated 3-year average peak kW-AC is UNDER 10 kW AC and they DO NOT include the installation of an EV charger with the PV system, but plan on installing an EV Charger in the future, they would be limited to the size allowed by the 3-year average peak kW-AC * 110%, until an EV charger is included or installed, and then they could upgrade their solar system.
4. If a customer’s calculated 3-year average peak kW-AC is OVER 10 kW AC, they are limited to 110% of that average calculation in kW AC, even if they are installing an EV Charger with the PV system.
5. If a customer has less than 3 years of consumption data at the solar install address, they are limited to 7.6 kW AC.  However, if they include the installation of an EV charger with the PV system, the allowable maximum size is up to 10 kW-AC.
6. Naperville Solar Incentives are limited to 7 kW AC and will not exceed $1,750.  ($250/kW AC rated at AC Inverter).  Subject to funding availability. 

Solar Incentive Application 

If you have installed solar panels in the past six months, you may be eligible for an incentive. Here are some tips for applying.

Eligibility & Requirements: 

• 100% complete application must be submitted within six months of passing final inspection. 
• Homeowner must contribute to the Naperville Renewable Energy Program at the $5/month per month for 5 years. 
• Applicants must own their own solar systems. Leased systems are ineligible for the incentive. 
• No incentives awarded until the project is complete, system is operational, and has passed final inspection by the City of Naperville. 
• Rebates will end when funding is expended.  Projects purchased or installed in the calendar year when all funding is expended will NOT be eligible for future incentives.  

All residential incentive applications must be submitted via the City's GOVQA portal. You will need to create an account and password. If you already have an account you will be directed to the GOVQA login. Once you login, the specific incentive program application will display. Please note the checklist near the bottom of the application and attach all required documentation. 

As of 4/10/24, Naperville has awarded 73% of the available funding for Residential Energy Efficiency/Renewable Energy projects. The following Incentive programs will end for the year when all funding is expended and will NOT be eligible for future incentives. 

1. Attic Insulation
2. Single Pane Window Replacement
3. Residential Solar
4. Air Conditioning Tune Up
5. Furnace Blower Motor Replacement

Roof Top Solar - Re-Roofing, system modifications or additions

In all cases, a City of Naperville Building Permit will be required to re-install any system that has been removed due to any re-roofing project. Additionally, any modification to an existing system will require a City of Naperville Building Permit. Please view the solar checklist for permit information.

Solar Panel Guidelines include:

• Solar Installation Application Packet that includes information about:
• Utility Connection Standards
• Net Metering: Customers with solar panels installed can participate in Net Metering, which is an arrangement by which excess energy generated by a renewable energy system is distributed back to the grid. Customers will see a credit on their bill.
• Solar Compliance Form
• Residential Load Calculation
• Historic District Guidelines

Can Your Property Currently Support Renewable Energy Installations?

The Electric Utility recognizes that its residential and commercial customers want to show their commitment to sustainability by installing eco-friendly energy sources at their properties. To help, the utility has created two capacity maps for builders, vendors, and homeowners looking to add electric vehicle chargers and solar panels to their buildings. The maps show whether your location currently can support these types of renewable energy installations or whether the Electric Utility needs to upgrade its facilities. Please click on the link below that applies to your building type.

Residential Capacity Map

Commercial Capacity Map

Service Rules and Regulations

Naperville Electric Utility Service Rules and Regulations states that all customer-owned generation equipment, including traditional combustion, photovoltaic (PV), wind, or any alternate means of electric energy generation must meet the appropriate national electrical standards (NEC, NESC, etc.), local codes (building, fire, etc.), and all applicable permits must be obtained by the customer.

Approval of Interconnection and Permission to Operate

Approval of interconnection to the Naperville Electric Utility grid is automatically granted when a City of Naperville Building Permit is issued to the applicant.

Permission to operate is automatically granted after the system has passed the final electrical inspection by a City of Naperville electrical inspector.

Documentation of a Functional Net Metering System - Grants

Documentation from the Naperville Electric Utility for a vendor or customer submittal to entities providing grants may be obtained by emailing Ben Hendron, hendronb@naperville.il.us or Vince Amari, amariv@naperville.il.us two weeks after the system is in operation. Documentation will only be provided to the utility customer or vendor as identified on the Solar Compliance Form.

Solar Resources

• Grow Solar Local Government Solar Toolkit
• Homeowners' Solar Rights Act
• U.S. Department of Energy - State & Local Energy Data
• DSIRE - Database of energy-related policies and incentives in Illinois

Consumer Protection Resources

• Interstate Renewable Energy Council Consumer Protection
• Illinois Solar Energy Association Code of Conduct
• Solar Energy Industries Association Customer Resource Portal
• Solar Energy Industries Association Consumer Protection Resources
• Solar Energy Industries Association Guide to Land Leases

Find Your Solar Potential

• Project Sunroof
• State & Local Energy Data

Find A Certified Installer

• North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners

For more information, contact Ben Hendron, hendronb@naperville.il.us.