As previously shared, on October 31, 2025, the IPA published an updated 2024 Long-Term Plan that conformed with the Illinois Commerce Commission (“ICC”) Order in Docket 23-0714. Changes from the 2024 Long-Term Plan Re-opening impacting Illinois Shines include imposing an interim reallocation of 50% of remaining unused capacity on April 1, 2026, distributed among waitlisted projects as the waitlist exists on April 1, 2026.
To reallocate capacity by April 1, the Program will pause for two business days, from March 29, 2026, at 11:59 p.m. CPT through April 1, 2026, at 8:00 a.m. CPT, to undertake data and reporting updates necessary to reallocate program capacity, make updates to the Program website and the Program Portal, and allocate capacity to waitlisted applications. Please see this announcement for impacts to the Program Portal during the Program pause.
Program Year 2025-26 Program Guidebook Addendum
The Program published a Program Guidebook Addendum to detail changes resulting from the 2024 Long-Term Plan Re-Opening. All Program requirements set forth in the 2025-26 Program Guidebook will continue, with considerations described in the Program Guidebook Addendum.
50% Uncontracted Capacity Reallocation
The Agency will determine the amount of uncontracted capacity that remains available across all program categories two business days prior to April 1, 2026. That uncontracted capacity will be summed to a total amount and 50% of that total amount will be distributed according to the prioritization set out in Section 7.3.4 of the Modified 2024 Long-Term Plan and reproduced below. For categories without Group A/B distinctions, reallocated capacity will be applied to the category’s waitlist in rank order until the waitlist is depleted. For categories that do feature the Group A/B split, capacity will be divided along the 30%/70% split and applied to Group A/B waitlists accordingly. If a category other than Public Schools has subcategories or subdivisions within the Group, those percentages will be followed after the Group A/B percentages are applied to the available capacity. For all prioritizations below, the Agency will endeavor to clear out all waitlists that remain in all Program categories:
- First, the Agency will allocate any uncontracted capacity to the Small Distributed Generation category waitlist.
- Second, the Agency will allocate any uncontracted capacity to the Large Distributed Generation category waitlist.
- Third, the Agency will allocate any uncontracted capacity to the Distributed Generation subcategory of the Equity Eligible Contractor category waitlist.
- Fourth, the Agency will allocate any uncontracted capacity to the Distributed Generation subcategory of the Public Schools category waitlist.
- Fifth, the Agency will allocate any uncontracted capacity to the Community‐Driven Community Solar waitlist. Eligible waitlisted projects will be required to have met the minimum scoring threshold for waitlist placement.
- Sixth, the Agency will allocate any uncontracted capacity to the Community Solar subcategory of the Equity Eligible Contractor category waitlist. Page 5 of 6 Program Year 2025-26 Guidebook Addendum – October 31, 2025
- Seventh, the Agency will allocate any uncontracted capacity to the Community Solar subcategory of the Public Schools category waitlist.
- If uncontracted capacity remains after the above allocations are made, the Agency will evenly distribute the remaining uncontracted capacity across the remaining Program categories featuring waitlists on a pro rata basis. Should a category’s waitlist be satisfied by less capacity than that distribution, then the remaining capacity shall be added to any other category or categories featuring waitlists.
- Capacity will then subsequently be allocated to projects in the process of being scored (for which, as of April 1, an application has been submitted, the application fee has been paid, and subject to fulfillment of minimum scoring requirements).
If any or all uncontracted capacity cannot be used to satisfy the waitlists, including projects currently being scored, subject to minimum scoring requirements, then that remaining uncontracted capacity can then be distributed across all Program categories on a pro rata basis.
On April 1, 2026, the Program will publish the results of the capacity reallocation, including associated updates to capacity awards, waitlists, and the Block Capacity Dashboard. The following week, the Program will publish a memo detailing the specific methodology and results of the capacity reallocation.
Thank you!
Illinois Shines Program
[email protected]