How Much Do Solar Panels Save? Our 2025 Update
Do solar panels really save money? Our 18-month update on Sunrun solar panel savings shows the highs, lows, and what we’ve actually paid so far.
Ever since we had our solar panel system installed in April 2024, one of the most common questions I get is, “Do solar panels really save you money?” Honestly, it comes up all the time, whether in my inbox, on Instagram, or from neighbors walking by the house. I get it. Solar panels can feel a little too good to be true. Free energy from the sun? Lower electricity bills? It almost sounds like a scam.
Now that we are a year and a half in, I finally have enough data (and a big stack of ComEd bills) to share a real answer. This is not the glossy brochure version that a solar installer hands you. It is our actual experience as a family of four in Chicago. I will walk you through what our monthly electricity bills look like, when the solar savings feel noticeable, and the times when it has not made much financial sense.
So let’s dig into our 18 month update on solar panel savings. Here is the good, the bad, and everything in between.
Why We Chose Solar in the First Place
Like most families, we are always looking for ways to be more eco-friendly and to lower our energy costs. The idea of powering our home with the sun’s energy felt exciting and responsible. Our kids are growing up hearing about climate change, fossil fuels, and protecting the planet, and we wanted to model what it looks like to take small steps in the right direction.
There were also practical reasons. Electricity costs in Illinois have been climbing, and we knew that our utility bills were only going to get more unpredictable. When a Sunrun representative came to our neighborhood and explained their leasing program, we were curious. Leasing meant no upfront costs, no huge initial investment, and the company would handle the solar panel installation, maintenance, and monitoring. All we had to do was agree to a monthly payment.
Buying a solar energy system outright would have unlocked more financial incentives – like the federal tax credit – but the cost of the system was around $30,000. Since we were not ready to make that kind of upfront investment, the lease felt like the right fit.
If you buy a solar panel system, you may qualify for the federal solar tax credit, also called the Residential Clean Energy Credit. It lets you deduct 30% of the total system cost from your federal income taxes. Sadly, this credit is scheduled to expire at the end of 2025.
How Solar Panel Savings Actually Work
Here is the simple version. Your solar panels produce electricity in kilowatt hours (kWh). If you make more than you use, the extra flows back to the grid and you earn net metering credits. If you need more than your panels are making, you pull from the grid as usual, and the credits help offset your bill.
Because we lease, we do not get the federal tax credit or other upfront incentives. Instead, we pay Sunrun a fixed monthly fee (around $70) that covers installation, monitoring, and maintenance. The idea is that lower ComEd bills, plus that steady Sunrun payment, will add up to savings. In reality, some months we see a benefit and other months we do not.
Our Real Numbers: 18 Months of Data
This is the part everyone wants to know about – the bills. I went through every ComEd statement from the past year and a half and compared them to what we would have paid without solar, using the actual supply rates from each month. That matters, because ComEd’s electricity rates have jumped from around 6.9¢/kWh in 2024 to about 10¢/kWh in 2025. Even though each kilowatt hour of solar is worth more now, the lease fee has still tipped the balance.
- Spring: Our best months. Panels covered a big chunk of our usage, and we saved about $25–30.
- Summer: Mixed. In 2024, we broke even. In 2025, our usage was much higher, and the new rates made everything more expensive. Those months ended up $40–50 more, with solar.
- Fall: Close to break-even. Solar helped, but the lease canceled most of the benefit.
- Winter: The toughest months. Production was low, and we paid $20–75 more, compared to grid-only.
When I added it all up:
- Year one (May 2024–Mar 2025): About $264 more with solar.
- Year two so far (Apr–Oct 2025): About $135 more with solar.
So after 18 months, solar has not saved us money. At best, we break even in the sunny months. At worst, the lease fee outweighs the credits.
Our Sunrun portal shows the exact production of our solar system over the past 18 months. You can clearly see the seasonal swings. Spring and summer bring the most energy, while the winter months drop way down. Those low-production months are when the lease fee really outweighs the credits.
About That $400–$500 Savings Estimate
In my first post, I shared that Sunrun estimated we would save $400–$500 a year. That sounded amazing at the time. That number came from looking at our past ComEd bills, assuming average household usage, and factoring in Illinois’ net metering credits. On paper, it looked great.
Eighteen months later, the reality looks different. Our electricity usage has gone up; rates have changed, and solar production is very seasonal. Instead of saving a few hundred dollars, we have actually spent a bit more compared to staying with ComEd only. Those “savings estimates” are really more of a best-case scenario than a guarantee.
Why We’re Still Glad We Went Solar
Reading those numbers, it might sound like going solar was a mistake. We are not seeing huge financial benefits yet, and some months actually cost us more. But here is why we still feel good about the decision.
Protection Against Rising Electricity Costs.
ComEd’s rates have already jumped in just one year. Every kilowatt hour our panels produce is worth more now than when we started, and if rates continue to rise, those savings will grow. Our lease payment is steady, which gives us some peace of mind compared to unpredictable utility bills.
Environmental Impact
Even when the bills feel disappointing, we know that a big portion of our household’s electricity is coming from renewable energy instead of fossil fuels. It lowers our carbon footprint, and that was a huge reason we wanted solar in the first place. It is kinda cool to look at the graphic above and see how our home is preventing CO2 emissions.
Maintenance Is Handled
Because we lease, Sunrun covers all maintenance, monitoring, and repairs. We do not have to worry about the system size, the number of solar panels, or whether it needs servicing. Everything is guaranteed, which makes it a low-stress way to use solar power.
For us, the benefits are more than just financial. While we may not be pocketing big monthly savings yet, we are investing in renewable energy, lowering our family’s reliance on fossil fuels, and setting an example for our kids.
What We’ve Learned for Other Homeowners
After a year and a half of living with solar, here are the main takeaways I would share with anyone considering it.
Leasing made sense for us.
We chose leasing because it required no upfront costs. It was the easiest way to dip our toes into solar without a huge financial risk. Buying a system can lead to bigger savings, especially if you qualify for incentives.
Your energy usage is key.
The more electricity your home uses, the more potential savings you will see. If your solar panel system is not sized large enough for your household’s demand, you may not notice much of a difference on your bills.
Local rates change the math.
Solar savings depend heavily on utility rates and net metering rules in your state. Our results are based on Illinois rates, which have risen quickly, so your experience may be very different depending on your zip code.
Incentives are worth checking.
Beyond federal programs, some states and utilities still offer solar incentives that can lower your costs. Always look into what is available in your area before making a decision.
It is not only about money.
If you expect huge monthly savings right away, you might be disappointed. But if you care about renewable energy, lowering your carbon footprint, and protecting yourself from rising energy costs, the value goes beyond the dollar amount on your monthly electricity bill.
Conclusion: Are Solar Panels Worth It?
After 18 months, we have not saved money. In fact, we’ve spent a few hundred dollars more, compared to sticking with ComEd. Spring brings the best savings, winter brings the worst, and the rest of the year falls somewhere in between.
Still, we do not regret our decision. Our panels produce clean energy, protect us a bit from rising electricity costs, and let us feel like we are doing something positive for the planet. For us, solar has been more about values than big financial savings.
