Solar Energy

Solar Energy Basics

Installing solar panels on your roof enables your home to harness the sun's free energy, reducing dependence on the electrical grid and leading to substantial savings on your monthly utility bill. Although you remain connected to and receive power from the grid when needed, what you pay for electricity supply can be significantly decreased. During the daytime, the panels generate electricity, but your home still relies on the grid during periods without adequate sunlight. Any excess electricity produced on sunny days is sent back to the grid. Winnetka offers a “net-metering” program that compensates you for the energy you contribute. 

Solar power not only benefits your wallet but also the environment. By capturing the sun's rays, you contribute to a reduction in harmful emissions from fossil fuel combustion, fight against climate change, reduce the load on the grid, and support a healthier planet. Embracing solar energy fosters energy independence, allowing communities to generate their electricity and decrease reliance on traditional fossil fuels. With the durable and low-maintenance nature of solar panels, you're making a practical and efficient choice for a cleaner, greener future.

• How Solar Energy Works

Solar energy systems are a permitted accessory use

Winnetka supports its residents, businesses, and institutions that have an interest in adopting solar energy to power their homes and buildings. To make it easier and more transparent for anyone planning to install rooftop solar panels, the Village Council has updated the zoning ordinance to make rooftop solar panels a permitted accessory use. 

The ordinance revisions include the following provisions:

• Solar energy systems no longer require a special use permit. Building-mounted solar panels have been made a permitted accessory use;
• The system requires inspection by the Village Building and Fire Departments prior to activation; 
• Homeowners must abide by tree preservation rules and avoid tree removal for the solar panel installation unless approved by village staff; and
• Any system that is inactive for over 12 months must be decommissioned.

Additionally, in 2026, permitting fees for solar energy systems have been waived and new utility rebates have been introduced. The Village is offering  a rebate of $300/kW for up 10kW of capacity or $3,000 while funding remains.

Residential Solar and Net Metering

The number of households installing rooftop solar panels has been growing in Winnetka since the first system was activated in 2012. Since then, Winnetka residential solar arrays have put 241 thousand kWh of electricity back on to Winnetka’s grid, in addition to what the homeowners consumed. This is enough power to serve 14 average-sized Winnetka households for an entire year.

Through the mechanism of Net Metering, residents receive bill credit for solar energy generated from their panels that is transmitted to the grid. Starting in 2020, the Village began providing an increased solar incentive during the summer months (June – September) equivalent to the retail rate that a customer pays. The average credit for Winnetka has more than doubled from $0.064/kWh when the program started to $0.149/kWh in 2025 and is more than double the current ComEd rate under the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act.

*Average credit is for the entire calendar year, and reflects changes in credit rate for summer versus winter billing months.

If you are interested in going solar, our Community Development department has residential and commercial/multi-family checklists and design worksheets. To learn more about the specifics of solar energy installation processes, the Interstate Renewable Energy Council publishes helpful guides.

SolSmart Partnership

The Village of Winnetka recently achieved the SolSmart Silver designation for its work to encourage more solar energy use in the community. The nationwide SolSmart program  helps local governments reduce barriers to solar energy growth and makes it easier for home owners and businesses to invest in solar energy. 

Village Solar Panels

The Public Works Yards building at 1390 Willow Road has a solar installation that produces about 14.5 thousand kilowatt hours of electricity over the course of a year, and reduces the building's electricity consumption from the grid by 6.8%. You may view the output of the solar panels on SolarEdge's website, which may help individuals interested in installing solar panels link current weather patterns with solar output.

The Village will be adding more solar capacity at the Yards following Council's approval for another 250kW to be installed. For more information on this initiative, see the project page for the Rooftop Solar Project at the Yards.

Helpful Resources

Use the following listed resources to find certified and trusted solar installers:

• North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners
• Illinois Commerce Commission
• Illinois Solar Energy Association