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.

Topic Last updated
Creating Disclosure Forms in the Portal Between 10/15/24 and 12/31/24 (PDF) October 3, 2024
All Disclosure Forms — CSV Upload Guide (PDF) May 30, 2023
Errors in Filling Out Distributed Generation Disclosure Forms Walkthrough (Video) March 18, 2024
Manage Your Disclosure Forms (PDF) March 31, 2025
Distributed Generation Lease Walkthroughs
DG Lease Disclosure Form Walkthrough (PDF) May 30, 2023
DG Lease Disclosure Form Walkthrough (Video) May 31, 2023
Distributed Generation Purchase Walkthroughs
DG Project Purchase Disclosure Form Walkthrough (PDF) May 30, 2023
DG Project Purchase Disclosure Form Walkthrough (Video) May 18, 2023
Distributed Generation Power Purchase Agreement Walkthroughs
DG Power Purchase Agreement Disclosure Form Walkthrough (PDF) May 30, 2023
DG Power Purchase Agreement Disclosure Form Walkthrough (Video) May 31, 2023
Community Solar Disclosure Form Walkthroughs
Community Solar Disclosure Form Walkthrough (PDF) May 30, 2023
Community Solar Disclosure Form Walkthrough (Video) May 18, 2023

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

Application Tips and Tricks – Disclosure Form Customer Types

The Disclosure Form includes an automatic validation to confirm that the Customer Type matches the AC size. AVs may have noticed that Customer Type terminology differs slightly from the Program categories.

Application Tips and Tricks – Need Info Requests

On average, more than 1,000 Part I or Part II applications each month necessitate a Need Info request, resulting in delayed application review and approval. Need Info requests are emailed each Monday and Wednesday, and the best way to avoid additional delay is to respond to the request as quickly

Application Tips and Tricks – Battery Backup 

As energy storage becomes increasingly more common as an add-on to solar projects, Approved Vendors should correctly note battery backup components in Part I and Part II applications. Part I – In January 2025, a new field was added to Distributed Generation Disclosure Forms asking “Will project include a battery

Application Tips and Tricks – Project Address Variance 

Part I Section 6 of the DG project application includes a text field for Approved Vendors to explain variances between the Utility Account Holder and the Property Owner. AVs may now use this field to explain variances in project addresses as well. For example, the physical project location address might

Application Tips and Tricks – Project Installer Change 

If the project installer has changed between Part I and Part II, please review all of the installer’s contact information, qualified person, and ICC certification details before submission. Noting this change in the Part II ‘Overview Comments’ could help avoid additional Need Info requests about documentation discrepancies which can delay

Application Tips and Tricks – Accurate, Consistent Information on Project Applications and to GATS Registry

The Program Administrator has observed a trend in data inconsistency between Part II project application data and documentation submitted to the Generation Attribute Tracking System (“GATS”) Registry. Non-matching information will result in a Need Info request that delays application review and approval, and Approved Vendors are advised to ensure accurate,

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]