Products and prices
Everything that keeps the lights on.
From a $300 power station to whole-home backup, with the typical prices up front. Not sure what you need? The free Backup Power Check tells you the smallest option that covers what must stay on.
No installation: portable power
For renters, apartments and anyone who wants something today. Charge it before the storm, plug in what matters.
Small power station (~1 kWh)
Phones, Wi-Fi, lights, a CPAP for a night
~$300
typical
Buy online, no installation
Mid-size power station (~2–3 kWh)
Plus a fridge for most of a day
~$1,000
typical
Buy online, no installation
Large / expandable station (~3–6 kWh) + folding solar
Fridge, sump pump and essentials, recharged by portable panels on a long outage
~$2,000+
typical
Buy online, no installation
Storm Ready Basics
Small jobs that prevent the most common outage damage. Installed by a licensed electrician or plumber.
Sump pump battery backup
Keeps the basement dry when the power and the rain arrive together
$600 – $2,000
typical, installed
Installed by a licensed plumber
Whole-home surge protection
Protects appliances and electronics when the power comes back
$200 – $800
typical, installed
Installed by a licensed electrician
Safe hookup for a portable generator
Inlet + interlock: run house circuits from a portable generator without extension cords
Quoted per home
all three Basics together: typically $1,200 – $3,500
Installed by a licensed electrician
Home batteries and solar
Silent, automatic backup. Installed by our licensed installer partner. Illinois incentives may reduce the cost.
Essentials Backup: 1 home battery (~13.5 kWh)
Fridge, furnace fan, sump pump, Wi-Fi and lights stay on
$11,500 – $16,500
typical, before incentives
Installed by a licensed installer partner
Battery for the solar panels you already have
Your panels shut off in an outage without a battery. This fixes that
$11,500 – $16,500
typical, before incentives
Installed by a licensed installer partner
Whole-home batteries (2+, ~27–40 kWh)
Most of the house, including central AC on many homes
$22,000 – $35,000
typical, before incentives
Installed by a licensed installer partner
Solar + battery (8–11 kW + battery)
Backup that recharges every sunny day, plus lower bills year-round
$35,000 – $50,000
typical, before incentives
Installed by a licensed installer partner
Standby generators
Runs as long as there is fuel. Installed by a certified generator dealer.
Standby generator (20–26 kW) + transfer switch
The whole house for days, switches on automatically
$9,500 – $24,000
typical, installed
Installed by a certified generator dealer
Add-ons
Usually added to a battery, solar or generator project.
Second battery (expansion)
Longer runtime or more circuits
$9,000 – $14,000
typical
Installed by a licensed installer partner
Level 2 EV charger
Overnight charging at home
$1,200 – $3,000
typical, installed
Installed by a licensed electrician
Smart panel / energy monitor
See and control what uses power, at home or during an outage
Quoted per home
Installed by a licensed electrician
How we get paid
You never pay us directly. Installer and dealer partners pay us a referral fee when you buy through us, and online stores pay us a commission on affiliate links. Some links on this page are affiliate links: if you buy through them, we may earn a commission at no extra cost to you. We only list products we would recommend to a neighbor.
Prices are typical ranges for Illinois homes, for education only, not a quote or an offer. Your price depends on your home, equipment and incentives, and is set by the installer in a written proposal.
Lights On Illinois is a marketing and education company. Installations are performed by licensed, insured Illinois installer partners.
We are not affiliated with ComEd, Ameren, the State of Illinois, or the Illinois Shines program.