The Illinois Power Agency and Illinois Shines Program Administrator are pleased to announce the launch of the escrow process, first outlined in the 2024 Long-Term Renewable Resources Plan. The escrow process may be used when an Approved Vendor fails to make promised pass-through payments to customers. Through the escrow process, Illinois Shines incentive payments will be made to an escrow agent, rather than to the Approved Vendor. The escrow agent will then disburse any promised payments to customers, with the remainder disbursed to the Approved Vendor. The details of the escrow process were developed through a stakeholder process in the Fall of 2024, and necessary updates were included in the amendment to the REC Contracts earlier this year.
On June 13, 2025, Illinois Shines published a Rationale Document that responds to stakeholder feedback and explains final decisions on the design and implementation of the escrow process. With the official launch of the initiative, the escrow process is now available for use going forward, should the Program Administrator become aware of an Approved Vendor that is not passing through promised payments to customers.
Questions should be directed to the Program Administrator at [email protected].