Electricity Costs in Chicago, Illinois (2026)
Chicago households pay Illinois’s statewide average residential rate of 19.89¢/kWh (June 2026), served primarily by ComEd. Below: exact operating costs for the appliances and vehicles most likely to be on your bill, plus solar payback specific to Chicago’s latitude. Based on the EIA U.S. average household consumption of 893 kWh/month. Actual Chicago usage varies with climate — Sun Belt cities like Phoenix or Houston average 1,200-1,500 kWh/month; mild-climate cities like San Francisco or Seattle average 400-600 kWh/month. Each of the biggest household electric loads, at Chicago’s rate: Home Level 2 charging costs for popular EVs, at Chicago’s residential rate: A typical 6 kW rooftop solar system in Chicago costs about $18,000 gross ($3.00/W Illinois state avg), $12,600 after the 30% federal tax credit. Estimated annual savings: $1,359. Payback: 9.3 years. Full Illinois solar payback analysis → · Are solar panels worth it in Illinois? → Typical gross install costs for major home energy upgrades, at Illinois averages (Chicago may run ±15%): Primary utility: ComEd. Rate data on this page uses the EIA Illinois residential state average. Your actual utility bill may include time-of-use pricing, tiered rates, or monthly service fees on top of the per-kWh energy charge.Top appliance costs in Chicago
Appliance Annual cost See full calculator Electric Water Heater $980 Details → Tankless Electric Water Heater $915 Details → Level 2 EV Charger $852 Details → Central Air Conditioner $668 Details → Hot Tub $653 Details → Pool Pump $430 Details → Heat Pump (whole-home) $418 Details → Portable Air Conditioner $248 Details → EV charging cost in Chicago
EV Annual home charging cost Full breakdown Tesla Model 3 Long Range $663 Details → Tesla Model Y Long Range $717 Details → Tesla Model S $758 Details → Tesla Model X $884 Details → Solar in Chicago
Installation costs in Chicago
About Chicago electricity