Quick answer
Pick an installer certified by the Illinois Commerce Commission and registered with Illinois Shines as an Approved Vendor or Designee, then compare at least two or three quotes on price per watt, equipment, warranties and how the incentives are handled. Check each company's Illinois Shines status and complaint history, and never sign under pressure on the first visit.
What certifications does an Illinois solar installer need?
| Credential | Who issues it | Required? | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|---|
| Distributed generation installer certification | Illinois Commerce Commission | Yes, unless you install it yourself | ComEd and Ameren can't net meter a system unless a certified installer put it in or you certify you self-installed |
| Illinois Shines Approved Vendor or Designee | Illinois Shines (Illinois Power Agency) | Yes, to get the Illinois Shines incentive | Only Approved Vendors can enroll your system and receive the REC payment that lowers your price |
| Local electrical license | Your city or village | Depends on the town | Illinois has no statewide electrical license; towns, including Chicago, license electricians themselves |
| NABCEP certification | North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners | No | A respected national credential for solar professionals; a sign of experience, not a legal requirement |
Certified installers must recertify with the Illinois Commerce Commission every year and keep installation records for at least three years. The ICC lists certified distributed generation installers on its website.
How do I check an installer with Illinois Shines?
An Approved Vendor is the company that enrolls your system in Illinois Shines and receives the incentive for its renewable energy credits, which it passes on as a lower price. A Designee works with customers on an Approved Vendor's behalf, such as a sales company or an installer working under one.
- 1
Look the company up
Use the Find an Approved Vendor, Designee or Subcontractor search on illinoisshines.com. In the program's published lists, suspended companies are highlighted in orange.
- 2
Check the consumer protection reports
Illinois Shines publishes a consumer complaint report and a program violations report that list suspended vendors and warning letters.
- 3
Ask which Approved Vendor is on your contract
If you're dealing with a sales company, find out which Approved Vendor will enroll the system and check that company too.
Suspensions are not rare. The Illinois Power Agency's report for 2025 lists 113 suspended entities, most for missing program equity or renewal requirements and a few for problems first raised in consumer complaints.
What should I compare between solar quotes?
- Price per watt before incentives. Our solar quote checker shows whether a quote is in the typical range.
- Equipment: panel and inverter brands and models, and any battery, priced separately.
- Incentives: how the ComEd or Ameren rebate and the Illinois Shines value are handled, shown on the program's standard disclosure form.
- Warranties: especially the installer's workmanship warranty. See solar warranties explained.
- Financing: the cash price in writing, and any dealer fee in a loan. See solar loans and dealer fees.
- Timeline: who handles permits, the Illinois Shines application and utility interconnection. See how long solar takes.
Before you sign, Illinois Shines requires the company to give you the program's standard disclosure form, covering the system, cost, warranties and financing, along with an informational brochure on your rights.
What are red flags when hiring a solar company?
- Pressure to sign on the first visit. For most sales made at your home, the FTC's Cooling-Off Rule gives you until midnight of the third business day to cancel.
- Door-to-door visits outside set hours. Illinois Shines vendors must follow local solicitation rules; where there are none, they can't knock before 9 a.m. or after 7 p.m. unless you arranged the visit.
- "Free solar" pitches. These are almost always leases or power purchase agreements. See solar lease vs. buy.
- No Illinois Shines status, or a suspended one. Without an Approved Vendor, you won't get the Illinois Shines incentive.
- Claims tied to the expired federal tax credit, which ended for homeowner-owned systems after 2025.
Problems with an Illinois Shines vendor can be reported to the program's Consumer Complaint Center at (877) 708-3456. See also how to spot solar scams.
Sources
- Illinois Commerce Commission: Distributed generation installer certification
- Illinois Administrative Code, 83 Ill. Adm. Code 468: Distributed generation installer certification
- Illinois Public Utilities Act, 220 ILCS 5/16-128A: Installation of distributed generation
- Illinois Shines: Find an Approved Vendor, Designee or Subcontractor
- Illinois Shines: Consumer protection support
- Illinois Shines: 2025 annual consumer complaints and disciplinary actions report
- Illinois Power Agency: Consumer Protection Handbook
- Federal Trade Commission: Cooling-Off Rule for sales made at home
- Village of Libertyville: Electrical licensing information (no state electrical license in Illinois)
- NABCEP: About the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners
This guide is general information, not tax, legal or financial advice. Incentive programs change, so confirm current terms with your installer, your utility and a tax professional.