June 2024 Version

Review of the Illinois Power Agency Consumer Protection Handbook for Illinois Shines Program participation. This version is relevant to the Program Delivery Year beginning June 1, 2024.

As an Approved Vendor of the Illinois Shines Program we're required to document training of our agents/representatives and provide certification annually to the Program Administrator as part of the annual renewal process for Approved Vendor participation.

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* 1. What is Illinois Shines?

Illinois Shines is a state-administered incentive program for new solar photovoltaic (PV) systems. The program provides payments in exchange for delivery of Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) generated by PV systems over 15 or 20 years, dependent upon system type.

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* 2. What is the Adjustable Block Program?

The Adjustable Block Program is the legislative name for Illinois Shines, and the name used for the program in the Illinois Power Agency Act. Participation in the Adjustable Block Program is the same thing as participation in Illinois Shines.

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* 3. What are RECs and why are they valuable?

RECs represent the environmental value of the electricity generated from solar panels, but not the electricity itself. Whoever owns the RECs has the right to make claims about the use of that solar power. Utilities must purchase RECs to meet their obligations to supply a certain amount of power from renewable energy. RECs can also be valuable to businesses seeking to be able to say that they use solar power.

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* 4. We are not to engage in unfair or abusive acts or practices in relation to the involvement in the Illinois Shines Program.

An act or practice is considered unfair if:
  • It causes or is likely to cause substantial injury to customers;
  • The injury is not reasonably avoidable by consumers; and
  • The injury is not outweighed by countervailing benefits to consumers or to competition.


An act or practice is abusive if:
  • It materially interferes with the ability of a consumer to understand a term or condition of the offer or contract; or
  • It takes unreasonable advantage of (1) a customer's lack of understanding of risks, costs, or conditions of the offer or contract or (2) the inability of the consumer to protect their interests in accepting an offer.

Please provide comments and/or questions below on unfair or abusive acts. If you do not have any comments or questions please submit ' I understand ' as a response.

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* 5. We may not make the following or similar claims related to the energy produced by Program projects;

  • 'Your home will run on cleaner, greener energy.'
  • 'The sun will provide your electricity.'

Please provide comments, feedback or questions about claims that should not be made related to the energy produced the project.

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* 6. We may make the following claims related to the energy produced by Program projects:

  • 'The renewable attributes ('RECs') of this electricity will be sold by us to keep the cost of your panels affordable.'
  • 'Your solar project will create energy from the sun.'
  • 'Your solar project will contribute to the development of new solar power.'
  • 'Go green and support the installation of solar in Illinois.'

Please provide comments, feedback or questions about claims that can be made related to the energy produced by the project.

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* 7. All marketing materials must explain that the customer will remain a utility customer responsible for a utility bill. We shall not make statements that indicate that customer may eliminate or zero out their utility bill and the following statements are not acceptable.

  • 'Eliminate your electric bill.'
  • 'Fire your utility.'
  • 'No more utility bills.'
  • 'Your electric bill will be reduced to $0.'

Please provide comments, feedback or questions about claims that can not be made about a customer's utility bill.

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* 8. We shall not make claims that an offer is 'free,' 'no cost,' or '$0' unless the customer is guaranteed to not have any financial obligation for the solar project. Free/no cost/ $0 may only refer to offers in which there is a guarantee the customer will not pay anything.

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* 9. We may not claim that customers (a) are guaranteed to save money, or (b) will save a certain amount of money, unless the customer contract includes an explicit and binding savings guarantee mirroring that claim.

The following statements must be supported by an explicit savings guarantee in the customer's contract.

  • 'You are guaranteed to save money.'
  • 'You will save (x)% of your utility bill.'

Please provide comments, feedback or questions about savings guarantees and what is required when those claims are made.

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* 10. We may make general claims about customer savings that do not include an explicit guarantee if there is an objectively reasonable and good-faith basis for such claim. This includes the following;

  • 'Lower your electric bills.'
  • 'Reduce your electric bill.'
  • 'Save money by going solar.'
  • 'We expect that by installing solar you will save money.'
  • 'Offset your electric bill.'
  • 'The installation of your leased system may be covered by your forfeiture of federal and state incentives.'
  • 'Your system's installation is free, but you will pay a monthly fee for the panels.'

Please provide comments, feedback or questions on what claims may be made about savings guarantees.

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* 11. We shall not in any way represent, make claims, or create the impression that they represent, are endorsed by, or are acting on behalf of the State of Illinois, Illinois Commerce Commission, Illinois Power Agency, Illinois Shines, or Illinois Solar for All. The following claims or similar shall not be made.

  • 'We represent Illinois Shines.'
  • 'We are offering solar on behalf of Illinois Shines.'
  • 'Illinois Shines guarantees that you will save money.'

Please provide comments, feedback or questions about what claims are not acceptable regarding representation of Illinois renewable programs.

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* 12. We may reference a project participating in or receiving benefits from Illinois Shines by making the following statements.

  • 'Illinois Shines is a state program that provides an incentive for solar projects.'
  • 'If you sign a contract with us, and our application to Illinois Shines is successful, the solar project we install will be part of Illinois Shines.'

Please provide comments, feedback or questions of what may be stated when referring to Illinois Shines project participation.

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* 13. We shall not represent ourselves as an Equity Eligible Contractor (EEC) unless the we have been certified as such by the Illinois Shines Program Administrator.

We have not been certified as an EEC.

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* 14. All agents/representatives who engage in in-person solicitation for distributed generation projects under 25 kW AC shall display identification on an outer garment. This identification shall be visible at all times and prominently display the following:

  • Your full name
  • ID Number
  • Photograph of respective agent/representative
  • Trade name and logo of Ag Technologies, Inc.

Please provide comments, feedback or questions about required ID. If you are in need of a new ID badge please email Laura Lewis indicating you need a new badge and attach a recent headshot.

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* 15. Standard Disclosure Form Requirements

All system designs must consider the site's azimuth, orientation, and shading before beginning the following steps.

1. A copy of the applicable standard Disclosure Form, with all relevant fields completed, to the customer, including the relevant Informational Brochure attached as the first two pages.
  • For in-person contract execution, the agent/representative must review the Disclosure Form with the customer and provide the opportunity to ask questions.
  • For online contract execution, the platform must provide a phone number or online chat function for customer questions.

* A SIGNED AND COMPLETED STANDARD DISCLOSURE FORM MUST BE PROVIDED BEFORE THE CUSTOMER SIGNS ANY OTHER CONTRACTS.

* THE SIGNATORY MUST BE THE UTILITY ACCOUNT HOLDER OR AN INDIVIDUAL AUTHORIZED TO SIGN ON BEHALF OF THE ACCOUNT HOLDER.

2. A copy of the Going Solar flyer must accompany the standard Disclosure Form at the time of signing.

3. After the preceding steps have been completed and the standard Disclosure Form has been signed other solar contracts may be executed.

4. After execution of these contracts copies are to be provided to the customer.

Please provide comments, feedback or questions on the steps required for standard Disclosure Form and solar contract execution.

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* 16. Please provide your first and last name and the date of completion.

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