Quick answer
An Illinois solar quote should list the system size, panel and inverter models, estimated first-year production and degradation, the cash price and price per watt, the utility rebate and Illinois Shines incentive, any financing terms and fees, warranties and the timeline. Illinois Shines vendors must also give you the program's disclosure form to sign before the contract.
What should each line of a solar quote show?
| Line item | What it should show | Question it if |
|---|---|---|
| System size | kW DC (panels) and kW AC (inverters) | Only one number appears, or it's far above your yearly use |
| Equipment | Panel, inverter and any battery make and model | It says "Tier 1 panels" with no model |
| Production | Estimated first-year kWh and yearly degradation | It's well above your past 12 months of use |
| Price | Total cash price and price per watt | Only a monthly payment is shown |
| Incentives | Utility rebate and Illinois Shines REC value, with who receives them | A federal tax credit is subtracted on a purchase |
| Financing | APR, term, monthly payment and any dealer fee | The loan price is higher than the cash price with no explanation |
| Warranties | Panel, inverter and workmanship terms in years | Workmanship coverage is missing or under 10 years |
| Timeline and permits | Who handles permits, Illinois Shines and the utility application | It's left out |
Check the price per watt against the typical range with our solar quote checker.
What is the Illinois Shines disclosure form?
If the company is enrolling your system in Illinois Shines, it must give you the program's standard disclosure form, along with an informational brochure, and you must review and sign it before you sign the contract. The contract's terms have to match the form.
The form covers the system, its cost and warranties, and the REC incentive the company expects to receive. Read that line closely: the incentive goes to the company, and the program doesn't require it to pass any of it on to you. A good quote shows how much of it lowers your price.
How should the production estimate be calculated?
Illinois Shines contracts must state the system's estimated first-year production and its annual degradation. A sound estimate starts from your roof's direction, tilt and shading, measured on site or from aerial imagery, using a tool like NREL's PVWatts. You can run PVWatts yourself to check a quote in a few minutes.
Be wary of a system that produces much more than you use. Since 2025, exported solar earns only the supply-rate credit, so extra production is worth far less than the energy you use at home. See Illinois net metering.
What should a lease or financing quote show?
For a loan, compare the total financed amount with the cash price: dealer fees that the CFPB says can add 30% or more are often folded into a "low-rate" loan rather than shown as interest. For a lease or power purchase agreement, look for an escalator: a 2.9% yearly increase makes the last payment of a 20-year lease about 72% higher than the first.
How long do I have to cancel a solar contract in Illinois?
Illinois Shines requires contracts for systems of 25 kW or less, including purchases, leases and PPAs, to give you at least three calendar days to cancel after signing. Separately, the FTC's Cooling-Off Rule gives you until midnight of the third business day to cancel most sales made at your home, and the seller must give you cancellation forms.
Contracts can't stop you from complaining to Illinois Shines. See how to choose a solar installer for the complaint line and red flags.
Sources
- Illinois Shines: Distributed generation purchase disclosure form
- Illinois Shines: Distributed generation lease disclosure form
- Illinois Shines: Distributed generation contract requirements (April 2026)
- Illinois Power Agency: Consumer Protection Handbook
- Federal Trade Commission: Cooling-Off Rule for sales made at home
- NREL PVWatts Calculator
- Consumer Financial Protection Bureau: Report on markup fees in solar energy loans (2024)
- Illinois Shines: FAQs related to changes in net metering in Illinois
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.