Ensuring the Credibility of Solar Companies
Solar companies that want to participate in the ILSFA program must apply and be accepted into the program before they can operate as Approved Vendors in ILSFA. Some Approved Vendors may also use partners called Designees or subcontractors to help perform their work. These Designees and subcontractors must also register with the program. A complete list of all companies vetted to participate in the ILSFA program can be found using our Find a Solar Company directory.
Guaranteed Savings
Residential Solar (On-Site)
Illinois Solar for All requires Approved Vendors to provide solar offers with no upfront costs for income-eligible homeowners interested in installing solar projects. Homeowners may be required to pay ongoing costs and fees, but those costs cannot exceed 50% of the value of energy generated by the solar project, regardless of whether the project is owned, leased, or financed through a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). Similar requirements apply (with a few limited exceptions) to solar projects for multi-family housing.
Community Solar
Residents participating in Community Solar will also see no upfront costs, and ongoing costs and fees cannot exceed 50% of the value of the bill credits applied to the customer’s electric bill.
Non-Profit and Public Facilities
ILSFA helps organizations save money by providing affordable solar projects that reduce electricity bills. Organizations will use electricity generated from their solar project and pay less in electricity bills. If the project generates more electricity than used, that electricity is sent back to the electric grid and organizations receive bill credits applied to their electric bill. Ongoing costs and fees cannot exceed 50% of the value of the electricity generated by the solar project.
For more information on these Participant Savings Requirements, see section 5 of the Approved Vendor Manual.
Financing Requirements
Financing amounts, terms, and conditions must be based on an assessment of the participant’s ability to repay the debt, as defined by federal requirements. Loans cannot be secured by the participant’s home or home equity to help avoid the risk of liens or foreclosures. Contracts must include a forbearance option and cannot include penalties for pre-payment. Contracts must allow a grace period of at least seven calendar days after the participant payment due date before any late fees are charged.
Here are the most common financing options:
Lease
You lease the solar project, and you use the energy it produces, with excess electricity credited on your electricity bill.
Power Purchase Agreement (PPA)
You purchase the electricity from the project owner. The project is on your property but is owned by someone else.
Purchase
You purchase the solar project and use the energy produced by the solar project, with excess electricity credited on your electricity bill.
Learning How to Make Informed Decisions
The Illinois Solar for All program is designed to help participants make informed decisions about going solar. Approved Vendors must ensure that a participant receives a completed standard Disclosure Form that provides key information about their solar offer, including all costs and fees, information about the system design, warranties and guarantees, and estimated savings. Participants must have an opportunity to review the Disclosure Form before signing a contract. Doing so prioritizes transparency and ensures that every participant understands the material provided.
Approved Vendors must also ensure that each customer receives an informational Brochure that provides important information about ILSFA and the decision to go solar. Consumer education materials can be found on the Consumer Education and Resources page.
Ensuring Quality Matters To ensure participants receive quality solar installations, Approved Vendors must meet technical system requirements to ensure efficient system performance and meet all local ordinances governing building codes, permitting, and zoning. In addition, Approved Vendors and Designees are required to meet minimum site suitability guidelines and must allow all installations to undergo photo and onsite inspections by ILSFA’s Program Team. Approved Vendors are required to assess the proposed site for the solar project, including:
- Roofing and structural: Examining the building’s structural integrity and roof condition
- Electrical: Determining whether a home’s electrical panel and wiring will support solar
- Space and Accessibility: Discerning whether there is enough space for the solar project to be installed
- Health and Safety: Ensuring the solar project will be safely installed
Marketing Requirements and Other Program Protections
Approved Vendors and Designees in the Illinois Solar for All program market directly to participants. This means that our Approved Vendors and Designees must follow requirements from the program’s Approved Vendor Manual and Consumer Protection Handbook. Consumer protection requirements include ensuring that the information shared with customers is clear and accurate to provide a transparent and positive experience for all who participate in ILSFA. Approved Vendor and Designee outreach can include:
- Event flyers or factsheets
- Presentations/slide decks
- Direct mailers or brochures
Illinois Solar for All provides guidelines to support Approved Vendors and Designees as they market the program, oversee marketing materials distributed to participants, and are a source for marketing-related questions.
Additionally, Approved Vendors and their agents (including marketers and installers) must meet a specified set of contract requirements in their residential, non-profit, and public facility installation contracts or community solar subscription contracts. While these documents are primarily used by Approved Vendors and Designees, interested participants may also review the contract requirements.
Compliance with consumer protection requirements is monitored by the Illinois Solar for All program throughout the solar project approval processes.
What do I do if I have a problem and/or complaint as an ILSFA participant?
If participants run into any problems during their participation in ILSFA, they are always welcome to reach out to the ILSFA Program Team for assistance. The ILSFA Program Team can mediate complaints against solar companies and can take disciplinary action against companies for program violations. For more information about how to file a complaint or for more information on complaints filed against companies participating in ILSFA, please visit the Complaints page.
