The Illinois Power Agency (IPA) has finalized an amendment to the Renewable Energy Credit (REC) Contracts following stakeholder feedback for all existing and future solar projects in the Illinois Solar for All (ILSFA) and Illinois Shines programs. The amendment is designed to implement two consumer protection initiatives first outlined in Chapter 9 of the 2024 Long-Term Renewable Resources Procurement Plan (2024 Long-Term Plan), including an escrow process (to be used when an Illinois Shines Approved Vendor fails to pass through promised incentive payments to customers) and a Stranded Customer REC Adder to incentivize support of customers whose Approved Vendor (or Designee) is unable or unwilling to continue to move the customer’s project forward in the Program. Due to the savings requirement involved in all ILSFA contracts, the outlined escrow process will only be applicable to Illinois Shines. These initiatives incentivize additional protections around existing requirements for Approved Vendors and Designees. See previously shared information on the REC Contract Amendments.
Signing the Amendment
Approved Vendors are expected to sign the REC Contract Amendment through DocuSign within 45 days of receiving each contract’s amendment. One amendment is required for signature per contract ID, and Approved Vendors may, therefore, receive multiple emails over multiple days; each individual amendment correlating to an Approved Vendor’s active REC contracts must be signed. Because DocuSign will automatically email a request for signature to the Approved Vendor upon each utility or IPA Buyer’s signature of the individual REC Contract Amendment, the exact date when the Approved Vendor receives a DocuSign request may vary.
The request to sign will come directly from DocuSign. The ILSFA Program Administrator will route requests to the primary email address that the ILSFA program has on file for each company. If that email address does not reach the appropriate individual to sign the amendment, DocuSign will allow the recipient to assign it to someone else to sign. Additional details about the DocuSign request will be shared in the week of March 24, 2025.
Compliance
Utility and IPA Buyers must sign all amendments by April 14, 2025. Approved Vendors should receive a request to sign on or before that date and will be expected to sign the amendment within 45 days of receiving the DocuSign request by May 30, 2025.
Non-compliance in executing the amendment during each 45-day time window will result in disciplinary action and/or suspension from the program. For those participating in both Illinois Shines and Illinois Solar for All, Approved Vendors must also sign all amendment requests for Illinois Shines contracts to remain in compliance with both programs, as noted in Section 7.7 of the 2-24 Long-Term Plan. See additional information on Illinois Shines’ REC Contract Amendments.
Next Steps
Once fully executed by both the contracting Buyer and the Approved Vendor, the Approved Vendor will receive a copy via email for the purpose of record-keeping. The Program Administrator will track that the amendment has been signed and the amended Schedule A or B templates are used, as applicable per contract version and type.
If you have questions, please contact the IPA at IPA.ILSFA@illinois.gov.