Company-wide credentials earned across SolQ’s installations to date.
Bringing a Proven Track Record to Illinois
SolQ is a NABCEP-certified installer with a 4.8★ rating across 413 Google reviews, an A+ BBB rating, and EnergySage’s 2026 Local Installer of the Year award, built on more than 2,000 completed installations, with Illinois systems already on roofs from Decatur and Champaign–Urbana to the greater Peoria area. We’re bringing that same standard to every Illinois project. And because Illinois runs on a different regulatory framework than anywhere else we operate, we designed this page to explain it honestly: what Illinois Shines actually is, what changed with net metering, and what’s real versus oversold in solar marketing here.
Source: SEIA/Wood Mackenzie Solar Market Insight, data current as of June 2026. Statewide figures, not a claim about SolQ’s Illinois installation volume.
Illustrative comparison, not to scale. Illinois ranks 5th nationally for projected solar growth. Source: SEIA/Wood Mackenzie Solar Market Insight, June 2026.
Illinois’s Utilities, Explained Honestly
Illinois has three very different electric utility territories, and your solar economics depend on which one bills you. Here’s the real breakdown, not a one-size-fits-all pitch.
ComEd
Northern Illinois / Chicago MetroCommonwealth Edison serves the Chicago metro area and northern Illinois, the largest utility territory in the state. ComEd customers are eligible for the Illinois Shines Adjustable Block Program and the DG Rebate described below, and are subject to the same Smart Solar Billing transition that took effect January 1, 2025 for new solar customers statewide.
Ameren Illinois
Central & Southern IllinoisAmeren Illinois, headquartered in Collinsville, serves central and southern Illinois, a very different geography and customer base than ComEd’s territory. Ameren customers choose between two export-crediting methods (kWh usage netting or monetary value netting) at the time of application, a decision that’s permanent once made, and are eligible for the same $300/kW-DC generation rebate and $300/kWh storage rebate as ComEd customers.
MidAmerican Energy (Illinois)
Quad Cities & Moline AreaA third, smaller territory: MidAmerican Energy (the same Iowa-headquartered utility that serves much of our Iowa business) also serves the Quad Cities and Moline area of Illinois, under its own Illinois-specific tariff separate from both its Iowa rates and from ComEd/Ameren’s rules. If you’re in this territory, we confirm MidAmerican’s current Illinois-specific terms directly rather than assuming ComEd or Ameren rules apply.
How Illinois Shines & Smart Solar Billing Work Together
What Is Illinois Shines, Really?
Illinois Shines is the state’s Adjustable Block Program, administered on behalf of the Illinois Power Agency to help the state meet its renewable energy goals. Here’s how it actually works: when your solar system generates electricity, it creates Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs), the tradable proof that clean energy was produced. Through Illinois Shines, an Approved Vendor can sell those RECs into the program in exchange for payment, which is typically used to help offset your system cost. SolQ is a registered Designee under multiple Approved Vendors participating in Illinois Shines. We are not the State of Illinois, the Illinois Power Agency, the Illinois Commerce Commission, or any of the utilities named on this page, and we don’t control REC pricing or program capacity.
A few things worth knowing upfront: REC value depends on current program pricing and available block capacity, both of which change and are set by the program administrator, not by SolQ. If your system’s RECs are sold into Illinois Shines, you’re being compensated for that environmental attribute. You aren’t separately claiming the system was “free,” and we won’t tell you it is. We’ll show you the current program mechanics that apply to your specific proposal rather than a number pulled from an old rate card.
Net Metering Changed in Illinois: Here’s What That Means
If you’ve heard Illinois solar rules “changed” and weren’t sure what that meant, here’s the straight version.
Smart Solar Billing, Since January 2025
Since January 1, 2025, all new solar customers of ComEd, Ameren, and MidAmerican Illinois are automatically placed on the new billing structure rather than legacy full-retail net metering. This applies to systems installed from that date forward.
Existing Solar Is Grandfathered
If your system was installed and interconnected before December 31, 2024, you keep full legacy net metering benefits for the life of that system. This page’s changes don’t retroactively affect existing Illinois solar owners.
A One-Time DG Rebate Is Available
Both ComEd and Ameren offer a one-time Distributed Generation rebate of $300 per kilowatt of installed generating capacity, plus a separate $300 per kilowatt-hour rebate for battery storage. It’s not a recurring credit, and eligibility rules differ by utility (see FAQ below).
Taking a Rebate Can Affect Legacy Status
For existing ComEd customers, claiming the generation rebate causes you to lose legacy net metering status (the storage rebate alone does not). Ameren customers can generally expand system capacity by up to 100% and keep full legacy benefit on the expansion. We walk through exactly what applies to your account before you decide.
Illinois Shines block capacity, REC pricing, and utility rebate terms are set by the Illinois Power Agency and each utility, and they change. We confirm the current Program Year terms, your utility’s specific rebate eligibility, and exactly how your system’s RECs will be handled as part of every Illinois proposal, not as a generic promise.
Illinois Solar Incentives, Straight Talk
No State Income Tax Credit
Illinois’s residential solar economics run through Illinois Shines’ REC value and utility rebates, not a state income tax credit, which Illinois doesn’t offer. Be wary of anyone pitching one.
Property Tax: Capped, Not Exempt
Illinois uses an alternate valuation that assesses your home as if it had a conventional heating/cooling system instead of solar, and applies whichever value is lower. It caps the tax impact rather than fully exempting it, and it isn’t automatic. You (or SolQ, on your behalf) file with your county assessor’s office.
Federal Credit: Financing-Dependent Now
The 30% federal residential credit (Section 25D) ended for cash and loan purchases not completed by December 31, 2025. Lease and PPA agreements can still pass through a federal credit through 2027 under a separate provision. See our full Iowa & Illinois tax credit guide for the honest breakdown, or see our FAQ below.
The Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act
Illinois has continued expanding clean-energy policy at the state level, including grid and storage investment goals. Program specifics shift with legislation and rulemaking, so we confirm anything relevant to your proposal against current program guidance rather than an outdated summary.
You’re Already Paying for Power. Why Not Own It?
Every month, a payment leaves your account for electricity — and that money buys you nothing you keep. Here’s the real difference between renting your power and owning it.
What Makes SolQ Different in Illinois
Illinois’s solar market has plenty of national call-center installers and door-to-door sales teams pitching Illinois Shines like a coupon. Here’s what sets SolQ apart.
A Real Track Record, Not a Startup Pitch
More than 2,000 completed installations to date across our markets, including real completed installs in Decatur, Champaign, Urbana, and Mahomet, with Peoria-area coverage expanding. A real, verifiable operating history, not a new logo and a sales script.
Verified Credentials, Not Just Claims
NABCEP-certified installation, an A+ BBB rating, and EnergySage’s 2026 Local Installer of the Year award. All independently verifiable.
We Explain Illinois Shines Instead of Overselling It
RECs, program capacity, and rebate eligibility explained honestly and specific to your address, not a generic “go solar for free” pitch.
Trusted Equipment, Sourced Right
SolarEdge, Enphase, Q CELLS, Aptos, and Tesla equipment sourced through distributor CED Greentech, not unbranded overseas hardware.
Where We Serve in Illinois
Illinois has three separate electric utilities, and SolQ now has dedicated pages across all three: ComEd in the Chicago metro and northern Illinois, Ameren Illinois across the central and southern part of the state, and MidAmerican Energy in the Illinois-side Quad Cities. Start with your utility territory below for the full rebate, billing, and Illinois Shines picture, or jump straight to your city.
Chicago metro & northern Illinois
Central & southern Illinois
Illinois-side Quad Cities
Browse by County
Directory of cities across Cook County
Directory of cities across DuPage County
Directory of cities across Will County
Directory of cities across Lake County
Directory of cities across Champaign County
Directory of cities across Kane County
ComEd Territory Cities
Ameren Illinois Territory Cities
MidAmerican Territory, Municipal Utilities & Boundary Guides
I-80 corridor guide (Ottawa, La Salle-Peru, Streator & more)
County-wide guide: MidAmerican, Ameren & Geneseo Municipal
Municipal utility (City of Princeton Electric) — not ComEd, Ameren, or MidAmerican
Municipal utility (Naperville Electric Utility, since 1899) — not ComEd
Municipal utility (Village of Chatham Electric Dept., IMEA-supplied) — not Ameren
Municipal utility (Village of Rantoul Electric Division, IMEA-supplied) — not Ameren
Municipal utility (Village of Riverton Electric, IMEA-supplied) — not Ameren
Don’t see your specific town? We’re still expanding city-by-city coverage. Reach out and we’ll confirm current coverage, your exact utility, and installer availability for your specific address.
More Illinois Counties
Directory of cities across Tazewell County
Directory of cities across Woodford County
Directory of cities across Williamson County
Directory of cities across Montgomery County
Directory of cities across Douglas County
Directory of cities across Vermilion County
Built Around Illinois’s Rules, Not a National Template
From ComEd’s Smart Solar Billing to Ameren’s permanent netting choice to Illinois Shines REC mechanics, every proposal starts with your actual utility and program terms, not a copy-pasted savings estimate from a national call center.
Get Your Free EstimateFinancing Options
Lease or PPA $0 DOWN
A multi-year lease or power-purchase agreement with no upfront cost, through our financing partner LightReach. You pay either a fixed monthly lease payment or a per-kWh rate for the power your system produces, not ownership of the equipment.
Cash or Loan Purchase
Own your system outright with no ongoing lease or PPA payment. Loan options available through Salal Credit Union, with specific term and rate disclosed as part of your written proposal.
Illinois Solar Questions, Answered
Is solar really “free” in Illinois?
No, and we’ll never tell you it is. Illinois Shines pays for the environmental attributes (RECs) your system produces, which can meaningfully offset your cost, but it isn’t free equipment or installation. A $0-down lease or PPA means no upfront cash from you, not that the system has no cost; you’re paying for the power it produces over the contract term instead.
Is SolQ affiliated with the State of Illinois, the Illinois Power Agency, or my utility?
No. SolQ is an independent solar installer and a registered Designee under multiple Approved Vendors participating in Illinois Shines. We are not the State of Illinois, the Illinois Power Agency, the Illinois Commerce Commission, ComEd, Ameren, or MidAmerican Energy, and we don’t set program rules, REC pricing, or utility rebate terms. Those are determined by the program administrator and each utility.
What actually changed with Illinois net metering?
Since January 1, 2025, new solar customers of ComEd, Ameren, and MidAmerican Illinois are automatically enrolled in Smart Solar Billing rather than legacy full-retail net metering. If your system was installed and interconnected before December 31, 2024, you keep legacy net metering for that system’s life. New systems are eligible for a one-time $300/kW-DC generation rebate and $300/kWh storage rebate instead of ongoing 1:1 export credits.
Is the federal solar tax credit still available in Illinois?
For cash and loan purchases, no. The 30% federal residential credit (Section 25D) ended for systems not completed by December 31, 2025. Lease and PPA financing can still pass through a separate federal credit through 2027 because the financing company owns the system, and that benefit is typically already built into your monthly rate. We’ll walk through exactly what applies before you sign anything.
What’s the difference between ComEd, Ameren, and MidAmerican Illinois?
They’re three separate utility companies with different service territories and, in some cases, different program details. ComEd covers the Chicago metro and northern Illinois; Ameren Illinois covers central and southern Illinois; MidAmerican Energy serves a smaller Quad Cities/Moline-area territory under its own Illinois-specific tariff. All three participate in Illinois Shines and the DG Rebate program, but the specific export-crediting choices and eligibility details vary, so we confirm which apply to your address.
Do I keep the RECs from my solar system, or does SolQ?
It depends on how you finance. If you own your system (cash or loan), you own the RECs and can choose whether to sell them into Illinois Shines. If you finance through a lease or PPA, the financing company typically owns the system and its RECs unless your specific contract states otherwise. We’ll show you exactly what your agreement says before you sign.
How long does solar installation take in Illinois?
Timelines vary more in Illinois than some states because Illinois Shines application processing and utility interconnection review add steps beyond the physical installation. Many projects are installed within 30 to 60 days of signing, though program queueing or permitting in some jurisdictions can extend that. We’ll give you a project-specific timeline before you sign anything.
See What Solar Could Mean for You in Illinois
Free consultation, an honest walkthrough of Illinois Shines and your utility’s specific rules, and a system proposal built around your address. No “free solar” pitch, no pressure.
Get Your Free Estimate
SolQ is an independent solar provider and is a registered Designee under multiple Approved Vendors participating in Illinois Shines. SolQ is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of the State of Illinois, the Illinois Power Agency, the Illinois Commerce Commission, ComEd, Ameren Illinois, MidAmerican Energy, or any government agency. “Illinois Shines” and the Adjustable Block Program are administered by the Illinois Power Agency and its program administrator, not by SolQ. Renewable Energy Certificate (REC) pricing and Illinois Shines block capacity are set by the program administrator and change over time; figures on this page are general program information, not a quote or guarantee for your system. Solar RECs are a form of compensation for your system’s environmental attributes, not a rebate on the equipment itself, and selling them does not make a system “free.” Savings, rebate, and incentive figures shown are general information and estimates, not guarantees. Actual results vary by system, usage, and current program terms. The federal residential solar tax credit (Section 25D) ended for cash/loan purchases completed after December 31, 2025; a separate credit may apply to third-party-owned lease/PPA systems through 2027. Financing offered through third-party partners (LightReach for lease/PPA, Salal Credit Union for loans); terms, including contract length and payment structure, are disclosed in your specific agreement and subject to partner approval. Illinois’s property tax treatment of solar is an alternate assessment method, not a full exemption, and requires an application to your county assessor; confirm current eligibility with your tax advisor. Content verified as of July 2026.