As previously announced, on Monday, May 27, 2024 at 8:00 a.m. CPT, the Illinois Shines program will close for the 2023-24 Program Year in order to prepare for the 2024-25 Program Year opening. All Portal functions, including the ability to submit Part I project applications or to generate, download, or submit Disclosure Forms (in all forms and manners including API, CSV, PDF), will be unavailable during this period.
The Agency has received feedback from the market that this pause in the ability to generate and submit Disclosure Forms will be a challenge and interrupt normal business operations. While we understand that this will have business impacts, after carefully weighing the various considerations, the Agency does not intend to provide a waiver from essential consumer protection requirements during the Portal closure.
In order to assist in the challenges this closure may cause, the Agency has developed one-page letters for both Distributed Generation (DG) and Community Solar (CS) customers that Approved Vendors and Designees can utilize to explain to customers why contract execution may be delayed until June 3, 2024. The Agency hopes that these letters provide transparency to customers on why Portal closure is needed, as well as serve as a tool for Approved Vendors and Designees to help make this Program Year transition period easier.
The DG customer and the CS customer Program Closure letters can be found for download on the “Other Resources” section of the Program Documents page from May 24, 2024 – June 2, 2024.
- The letters explain to the customer the importance of the Disclosure Form and why it is not currently available.
- These letters are to be presented to all current or potential customers whose Disclosure Form was not created prior to the portal closure, thus cannot execute a customer contract during the closure period.
Please keep in mind, Approved Vendors and Designees are still permitted to speak to perform outreach to customers during the closure, but the requirement that customers sign Disclosure Forms prior to signing an installation contract or subscription agreement will remain in effect, and Approved Vendors and Designees will need to plan accordingly. Entities that are found to be in violation of this requirement may face disciplinary action.
The Agency and the Program Administrator greatly appreciate the understanding and patience of Program participants at this time as the portal is updated for the new Program Year.
Thank you!
Illinois Shines Program
[email protected]
