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.
| Topic | Last updated |
|---|---|
| Approved Vendor Program Requirements – Annual Checklist | October 31, 2024 |
| Prevailing Wage Requirements | June 14, 2024 |
| Prevailing Wage Walkthrough Video | May 29, 2025 |
| Distributed Generation Project Application Checklist | July 31, 2024 |
| Acceptable Formats for Part II CoC/PTO Documents | August 8, 2024 |
| Traditional Community Solar Part I Application Example | October 17, 2024 |
| How to Determine if Electricity Customer Receives Competitive or Non-Competitive Service | November 8, 2024 |
| Advance of Capital | May 19, 2026 |
| Scheduled Energization Extension Guide | June 1, 2026 |
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 |
|---|---|
| All Disclosure Forms — CSV Upload Guide (PDF) | May 30, 2023 |
| Manage Your Disclosure Forms (PDF) | March 31, 2025 |
| DG Lease Disclosure Form Walkthrough (PDF) | May 30, 2023 |
| DG Project Purchase Disclosure Form Walkthrough (PDF) | May 30, 2023 |
| DG Power Purchase Agreement Disclosure Form Walkthrough (PDF) | May 30, 2023 |
| Community Solar Disclosure Form Walkthrough (PDF) | May 30, 2023 |
These resources support use of the Program portal
| Topic | Last updated |
|---|---|
| How to Reset Your Password | September 27, 2022 |
| Portal Overview | July 1, 2025 |
| Topic | Last updated |
|---|---|
| Part I Applications (DG and CS) | March 31, 2025 |
| Part II Applications (DG and CS) | March 31, 2025 |
| Batching | March 31, 2025 |
| Topic | Last Updated |
|---|---|
| Annual Report Guide | May 18, 2026 |
| REC Performance Evaluation | April 17, 2025 |
| REC Performance Calculation Evaluation Walkthrough Video | May 16, 2025 |
| Community Solar Parameters Evaluation Walkthrough Video (4/13/26 edit) | April 13, 2026 |
| Annual Report and REC Performance Evaluation Walkthrough – May 16, 2025 (4/15/26 update) | April 15, 2026 |
| Community Solar System Parameters Evaluation (Annual Subscriber Evaluation) | April 7, 2026 |
| Collateral and Performance Assurance | February 26, 2026 |
| Assignment of Product Order or Entire REC Contracts | January 27, 2026 |
| 15 Year REC Delivery Contract – Community Solar Subscriber Verification Overview & Timeline | April 17, 2025 |
| 20 Year REC Delivery Contract – Community Solar Subscriber Verification Overview & Timeline | February 27, 2026 |
Application Tips & Tricks Blog
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
Application Tips & Tricks – May 1
Respond to Need Info Requests Quickly to Maximize the Opportunity for Verification Before May 14 DeadlineThe Program Administrator has received a surge of Part I applications in the last few weeks as AVs strive to get their projects ICC approved in this Program Year and contracted on the 2024 REC
Application Tips & Tricks – April 24
Add Comments to the Application Overview to Help Prevent Need Info Requests. Overview comments may be used to explain changes, relationships, and discrepancies and limit Need Info requests that can delay application review and approval. Examples include:
Add Comments to the Application Overview to Help Prevent Need Info Requests
Overview comments may be used to explain changes, relationships, and discrepancies and limit Need Info requests that can delay application review and approval. Examples include: Explaining why the address on supporting documents is different from the address on the DF and application, e.g., “The address at 1234 Main St. is the correct physical address,
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]