Solar + Battery VPA · Illinois
Solar and a home battery. $0 upfront.
With the Solar + Battery VPA, offered through our partner SOLRITE Energy and installed by Cox, you get a custom solar system and a 60 kWh Duracell battery with no loan, no down payment, and no equipment to buy.
What's included
$0 upfront. Everything covered.
$0
Upfront cost
60 kWh
Duracell battery included
12¢/kWh
Solar rate
- Custom solar system designed for your roof
- 60 kWh Duracell battery with a storage-first design
- Backup power for your home when the grid goes down
- Professional installation by Cox Solar's licensed crews
- All maintenance, monitoring, and repairs covered
- A 12¢/kWh rate on the solar your system produces
The rate applies to solar generation under the Solar + Battery VPA agreement. Equipment is owned and maintained by SOLRITE. Available in ComEd and Ameren Illinois territory, subject to the VPP Program Addendum and qualification. Your agreement governs the final terms.
A new kind of solar agreement.
Solar used to mean paying $20,000 or more up front. Tax credits and PPAs made it easier, but Illinois changed the math in 2025: solar you send back to the grid now earns much less, so you need a battery to get full value from your panels. A battery big enough to matter adds tens of thousands of dollars, and that pushes most monthly payments too high to save money.
The VPA (Virtual Power Plant Power Purchase Agreement) solves that. Your battery works for the grid every day as part of a real virtual power plant, not a program that calls on it a few times a year. That ongoing revenue covers the cost of the batteries, which is how a large home battery comes included with your solar at no extra cost.
How it works
How the VPA works in Illinois.
- 01
Daytime runs on solar
Your panels power the house during the day. Central and southern Illinois average about 4.4 to 4.7 peak sun hours a day, and panels run more efficiently in cold weather.
- 02
The battery stores the rest
Extra midday solar charges the 60 kWh Duracell battery instead of going to the grid, so your home runs on your own solar in the evening.
- 03
Grid services pay for it
The battery is part of a virtual power plant. During short peak-demand windows it sends stored energy to the grid, and that revenue funds the equipment instead of your wallet.
Why it works in Illinois
Illinois rates keep climbing. Here's where the VPA fits.
Illinois electricity supply rates have risen sharply in recent years for both ComEd and Ameren customers. Under the VPA, your solar is billed at 12¢/kWh, a rate set in your agreement instead of one that moves with the utility.
Until 2025, solar you exported earned full retail credit. New Illinois solar customers are now credited only against the supply portion of the bill, not delivery charges, so exported solar is worth far less. How Illinois net metering works now.
That’s why every VPA system in Illinois includes a 60 kWh Duracell battery. Extra solar charges the battery instead of being exported, your home runs on stored solar in the evening, and the battery’s grid-services revenue covers the equipment.
Compare your options
How the VPA stacks up.
Three ways to put solar on your roof, and the trade-offs of each.
| Feature | Cash / Loan | Solar PPA | Solar + Battery VPA |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | $10K–$30K+ for solar, far more with a battery | $0 | $0 |
| Who owns the equipment | You, once it's paid off | The solar company | SOLRITE |
| Monthly payment | Your electric bill, plus a loan payment if financed | A per-kWh rate on what your solar produces | A predictable monthly bill based on production at 12¢/kWh |
| Maintenance & repairs | Yours after the warranty ends | Usually covered; varies by contract | Always SOLRITE's responsibility |
| Home battery | Optional, extra cost | Sometimes, extra cost | 60 kWh included |
| Backup during outages | Only if you add a battery | Usually no | Yes |
| Illinois incentives (RECs & rebates) | Go to you | Go to the system owner | Go to SOLRITE and are built into your rate |
| If you sell the house | Pay off or transfer the loan | Transfers to the buyer (subject to credit) | Transfers to the buyer |
General comparison; loan and PPA terms vary by provider. Paid in cash, a system with as much battery as the VPA would cost around $70,000. Solar + Battery VPA terms are set out in the SOLRITE agreement; review it in full before you sign.
The equipment
Powered by Duracell.
The Duracell Power Center is built around the Max Hybrid 15 inverter, with stackable battery modules that fit along a garage or basement wall.
- LFP (lithium iron phosphate) battery chemistry
- Max Hybrid 15 inverter: 15 kW continuous output, 96.5% CEC efficiency
- Twelve stackable 5 kWh modules in three stacks for 60 kWh
- About 9 feet of wall space in a garage or basement
- Built for virtual power plant grid services from day one
Already have solar?
Add a battery with the Battery VPA.
If your Illinois home already has solar, the Battery VPA adds a Duracell battery for $0 upfront, and you keep your existing utility plan.
- Solar installed before 2025: backup power, plus a safety net if you ever lose full 1:1 net metering.
- Solar installed in 2025 or later: real savings from using your own solar instead of exporting it at the reduced credit.
FAQ
Solar + Battery VPA questions
So I don't own the solar panels?
Correct. Under the VPA, SOLRITE owns the equipment. That's by design: if something needs repair or replacement during the agreement, SOLRITE handles it, not you. At the end of the 25-year term, you can renew the agreement or buy the system from SOLRITE for $0.
How is this different from a solar lease or PPA?
A lease charges a fixed monthly fee for the equipment on your roof. A PPA charges for the energy your system produces, so the bill moves with good and bad solar months. The VPA gives you a predictable monthly bill based on your system's production, funds the equipment through grid services, and includes a large home battery built for daily grid services, not just rare backup.
What does "grid services pay for it" actually mean?
Your battery takes part in a virtual power plant. During peak demand, usually a few brief windows a day, it sends stored energy back to the grid, and the grid operator pays for that capacity. That revenue covers the cost of your equipment.
Do I need a 700+ credit score?
No. There's no loan, so credit standards are lighter than most solar loan programs. SOLRITE verifies your utility history and homeownership.
Where in Illinois is the VPA available?
In ComEd and Ameren Illinois territory, including the Chicago area, Springfield, Peoria, Bloomington, Champaign, Decatur, the Metro East, and Carbondale. It isn't available on municipal utilities or electric co-ops. Missouri homeowners can buy or finance a system instead.
Illinois ended full net metering. Is solar still worth it?
This is where the battery matters. New ComEd and Ameren solar customers since January 1, 2025 are credited only against the supply portion of the bill, not delivery charges, so exported solar is worth much less than before. The 60 kWh battery stores your extra solar for evening use instead of exporting it, so more of your solar offsets power at the full retail rate.
Who gets the Illinois incentives, the RECs and rebates?
SOLRITE does, as the system owner. Illinois Shines renewable energy credits and the ComEd and Ameren smart inverter and battery rebates belong to whoever owns the system. That incentive value is part of what makes a 60 kWh battery system possible at $0 down and a 12¢/kWh solar rate.
What about hail and storms?
SOLRITE owns the equipment, so SOLRITE carries the equipment risk. If a storm damages the system, repair and replacement are on SOLRITE. During an outage, the Duracell battery keeps your home running until the grid is back.
Will my air conditioning stay on during an outage?
In many homes, yes. Every home gets an engineering review before installation that sizes the system and confirms exactly which loads can be backed up, including larger loads where your home and electrical panel allow. You'll know what to expect before you sign.
How long does installation take?
Most Illinois homes are designed, permitted, installed, and turned on within 8 to 12 weeks of signing. Cox Solar's crews handle the installation, and permits, inspections, and the ComEd or Ameren interconnection paperwork are handled for you. You share a recent utility bill and provide access for the site survey and install day.
What happens if I sell my home?
The VPA transfers to the new owner. Most buyers see lower bills and backup power as a plus, and SOLRITE works with the buyer's lender on the handoff.
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