Program Help Guides and Application Tips

This page includes Program Help Guides and Application Tips and Tricks designed to help Vendors and their Designees successfully participate in  Illinois Shines. Click on a topic to view a resource, which include PDFs and videos. This page and these materials are revised as Program systems, processes, and the Program portal are updated.

These materials are designed to support all participating entities, regardless of project category that they participate in.  

For additional reference, interested entities may wish to review the Presentation Recordings and slide decks from the 2023-24 Program Year Mentorship Pilot Program which cover a range of topics including Program overview, REC contracting, project applications, ongoing Program requirements, Marketing best practices and consumer protection, and more. 

Disclosure Forms are an important consumer education tool that customers can use to understand key project information and to compare offers. In addition to these materials, the Disclosure Form Deep Dive tool is a helpful resource solar vendors may wish to review.

These resources support use of the Program portal  

TopicLast updated
How to Reset Your PasswordSeptember 27, 2022
Portal OverviewJuly 1, 2025
TopicLast updated
Part I Applications (DG and CS)March 31, 2025
Part II Applications (DG and CS)March 31, 2025
BatchingMarch 31, 2025

Application Tips & Tricks Blog

When providing a photograph of a string inverter, only showing the Inverter Manufacturer/Make will cause Need Info delays.

A photograph must clearly show the inverter manufacturer/make and include the model number. This can be shown through the inverter information panel of the physical inverter, or can be shown through a monitoring platform’s details page showing the inverter model. If more than one string inverter is used, evidence of

Applications for a distributed renewable energy generation projects must submit an affidavit attesting that the project is not affiliated with any other project.

For purposes of determining colocation, an AV who submits an application for a distributed renewable energy generation project shall be required to submit an affidavit attesting that the project is not affiliated with any other distributed renewable energy generation project such that, if the 2 projects were deemed colocated, the

Projects applying for the Small DG Customer-Owned REC Adder must confirm on both the Disclosure Form and in Part I of the application

Projects which are eligible and applying for the Small DG Customer-Owned REC Adder will need to identified as such on both the Disclosure Form and in Part I Section 2 of the application. REC Adder response discrepancies between the Disclosure Form and application will result in Need Info delays.

Reminder: AVs must ensure applications are brought into compliance with new Program Year requirements

As a reminder, any applications that were not batched in Program Year 2025-26 have been moved back into In Progress status. These applications will not be processed until the AV has brought the application into compliance with Program Year 2026-27 requirements, resubmitted, and batched the application.

Application Tips & Tricks – Ways to Prevent Need Info Request Resulting in Application Delays

Applications Noting Microinverters or “N/A” in Place of the Solar Production Meter Will Face Need Info Request Delays

The Program Administrator has observed an uptick in metering Need Info requests due to a pattern of microinverters being listed as the meter in Part II Section 4 Equipment Details. For example, Enphase IQ8PLUS-72-M-US microinverters are not designed to track solar production. Applications noting microinverters or “N/A” in place of

For assistance within specific project categories, contact the dedicated Sector Strategist, listed here, or the Program Administrator team at [email protected]

Small Distributed Generation

Kaitlin Hogan, at [email protected]

Large Distributed Generation

Stellan Roberts, at [email protected] 

Community Solar (TCS & CDCS)

Jess Blue, at [email protected] 

Public Schools

Brian Keller, [email protected]

Equity Eligible Contractor

Conner Rettig, at [email protected]