Solar Panel Guidelines

Net Metering Policy 

The new policy will include the following:

• Eliminate size restrictions on solar arrays primarily intended to offset the customer's own electrical requirements on the premises on which the renewable energy facility is located, except that such arrays may not be larger than 1MW and shall be reasonably sized as determined by the Utility. 
• Allow self-supply City Utility customers to be credited for each kilowatt hour of energy delivered to the Utility on a 1-kilowatt hour to 1-kilowatt hour basis to offset the electric utility component of their monthly City utility bill (not including other Electric Utility fees such as the Utility's meter fee and electric demand charge, and not including amounts due to other City utilities.)
• Allow monthly accumulation of energy credits when a self-supply customer over-produces which credits will expire on March 31st in any year. This will allow those who over-produce solar energy during the summer to offset their winter electric bills when solar traditionally produces less energy.
• Provide for self-supply customers to be paid for expired credits at the avoided cost rate (currently 4.9 cents per kWh) in April of each year. The avoided cost rate reflects the value to the Utility of energy and capacity provided by solar facilities on an intermittent and unpredictable basis. 

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 Interconnection Agreement Here

Solar Incentive Application 

If you have installed solar panels in the past six months, you may be eligible for an incentive. Please review the solar program incentive guide for tips to apply. 

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. 
• Customers who receive a Naperville Solar Incentive are limited to 1 incentive award. If they later add to their solar system, the new project will be ineligible for an additional incentive. 
• Rebates will end when funding is expended.  Projects purchased (contract signed), permitted or installed in the calendar year when all funding is expended will NOT be eligible for future incentives.  
• Interconnection Agreement must be signed and submitted in the system. 

Apply for Residential Solar Incentive

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:

• 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. 
• Interconnection Agreement 
• 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 only granted once the Interconnection Agreement has been signed by both the solar customer and the City of Naperville. 

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

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 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 Vince Amari, amariv@naperville.il.us or Ben Hendron, hendronb@naperville.il.us.