On-site solar for homeowners
and multifamily building owners.
Electric bill savings you can count on.
Residential Solar ensures income-eligible homeowners and multifamily building owners save on electricity costs by installing solar panels directly on their property.
HOW YOU SAVE
- Approved Vendors receive incentives for installing solar projects
- No upfront costs for 1–4-unit buildings
- Low or no upfront costs for 5+ unit buildings
- If a contract includes monthly payments to the solar company, these costs will be outweighed by the valued generated by the solar panels.
See FAQ for details.
HOW IT WORKS
1
Homeowners or multi-family building owners determine their eligibility for on-site solar installations.
2
The program helps participants find qualified and vetted solar companies called Approved Vendors.
3
Approved Vendors and participants work together to plan and install solar panels on their property.
4
Participants will see savings on their energy bills.
Who Can Participate in Illinois Solar for All: Residential Solar?
Owners of single-family homes
Must have an income of 80% or less of the Area Median Income (AMI). Landlords can apply for single-family homes they own if tenants are income-eligible.
- Update: Illinois Solar for All has reached capacity for single-family projects in 2025. Residents are encouraged to connect with an Approved Vendor, but will likely need to wait until more program funding is available in 2026.
Owners or managers of multifamily residential buildings
Two- to four-unit properties: At least two units must be occupied by households with incomes of 80% or less of the AMI.
- Update: Illinois Solar for All has reached capacity for two-to four-unit projects in 2025. Residents can connect with an Approved Vendor, but will likely need to wait until more program funding is available in 2026.
Five-unit or larger properties: At least half of units must be occupied by households with incomes of 80% or less of the AMI.
Benefits of Bringing Solar to Your Home
Savings
- No upfront costs for 1-4 unit buildings
- Low or no upfront costs for 5+ unit buildings
- Electric bill savings
Home Improvement
- Low risk investment that can increase the value of your home
- Reduce your home’s electricity costs
Community Impact
- Reduces the impact of climate change
- Helps Illinois reach its renewable energy goals
Frequently Asked Questions – Residential Solar
Thanks to the ILSFA incentives that support solar installations, ILSFA, participants will pay less on their electric bills than they would without the program. The graphic below is an example of how ILSFA can help lower your electricity bill.
Before Solar
Supply 600kWh x $0.12/kWh
Total Supply Costs:$72
After Solar
Supply 600kWh x $0.12/kWh= $72
Solar Energy Generated 500kWh x $0.12/kWh=$60
Total Supply Costs: $12
The savings example is based on average retail electricity rates. This example does not include taxes, delivery costs, or other charges on your electricity bill unrelated to energy supply. Individual savings will vary.
No or low upfront costs
Owners of 1-4 unit buildings will have no upfront costs, while building owners of 5+ unit properties may incur a small upfront cost.
Solar contracts with no or low monthly costs
Most participants will not owe monthly payments to a solar company. If your solar contract includes payments, any ongoing payments will be outweighed by the value generated by the solar panels, after accounting for the application of low-income discounts. For example, in the sample bill above, if you generate an average of $60 worth of solar energy in a month, your solar company could charge you up to $30 on your monthly bill.
Your savings will depend on the following:
- Average Electricity Rate: The more you currently pay, the more money you can potentially save. Check with your electricity supplier or check your electricity bill for current rates. (Note: Some electricity suppliers offer rates that vary month to month.)
- Your Property’s Suitability for Solar: The direction your roof faces, its angle, and how much shade it gets will affect how much electricity a roof-mounted solar project will generate. Your roof’s condition should also be considered. For ground-mounted solar projects, the area or land where the system would be installed should have no obstructions, flooding, or contamination. It should support the weight of the solar panels and equipment.
- Optimizing the System’s Sizing: Sharing your electricity usage history with your Approved Vendor can help them optimize your system. They will design a solar project to fit your needs.
Yes. You will receive your regular electricity bill from your utility, along with a bill from your Approved Vendor. However, these two bills will add up to less than your bill amount before enrollment in the program.
No. Your current electricity provider and rates will remain the same.
Below are the most common financing and ownership options:
- Purchase of Solar Project: Participants purchase the solar project outright. The participant may take out a loan to finance the purchase.
- Lease of Solar Project: Participants lease the project, which is on their property but owned by someone else.
- Purchase of Electricity from the Solar Project: Participants purchase electricity generated by the solar project through a Power Purchase Agreement (PPA). The project is on the participant’s property but is owned by someone else.
Illinois Solar for All protects income-eligible residents through clear requirements for Approved Vendors, transparent pricing, and straightforward contracts, ensuring participants know what to expect and who to turn to if something doesn’t seem right. ILSFA is a state solar program implemented by the Illinois Power Agency (IPA), an independent state agency for the State of Illinois.
Approved Vendors must present a standard disclosure form before you sign a contract or any work can begin. Disclosure Forms provide important information on exactly how much you will pay and estimates of how much you will save. You can even use the Disclosure Forms to compare offers from different Approved Vendors. The ILSFA program ensures savings and has a 14-day cancellation period without penalties.
If you own the system, the lender must allow you the option to re-assign the loan or to pay it off early with no pre-payment penalties.
If you have a lease or Power Purchase Agreement (PPA), your Approved Vendor must allow you to either transfer your agreement to the new property owner or buy the system outright and sell it to the new property owner. Participants should review the terms of the standard disclosure form to understand the conditions under which the transfer may be permitted.
Solar projects are very durable and require little to no maintenance over their lifetime, which can span over 20 years. You should ask your Approved Vendor about the warranties provided on your panels.
Illinois Solar for All requires that participants receive no-cost routine maintenance on residential rooftop and ground-mount solar projects for 15 years.
Residents who do not qualify for ILSFA may be able to adopt solar energy through Illinois Shines, another state solar incentive program.