1. The federal solar investment tax credit
The federal government has long offered an investment tax credit for home and business solar systems — historically one of the largest single line items in solar economics. Because tax law changes and eligibility depends on your personal tax situation, we quote it conservatively and always tell customers: confirm the current rate with your tax professional. We supply every document you need to claim it.
2. Illinois Shines (the Adjustable Block Program)
Illinois Shines pays solar owners for the renewable energy credits (RECs) their system will generate — typically as an upfront or contracted payment through an approved vendor. It covers residential rooftops, commercial systems, and the community solar farms we build. This program is the reason Illinois is one of the best states in the country to go solar, and it is funded in blocks — when a block fills, payment levels step down, which rewards acting sooner.
3. ComEd interconnection and billing credits
If you are a ComEd customer, your system connects to the grid through ComEd's interconnection process — which we handle for you — and you receive billing credits for the electricity your panels export. The crediting structure ComEd applies depends on when you interconnect and the rules in force at that time, and ComEd has also offered rebates tied to smart inverters for eligible customers.
4. Property tax treatment
Illinois uses a special assessment approach for home solar so that adding panels does not automatically inflate your property tax bill the way ordinary home improvements can. Your county assessor confirms the specifics for your parcel — in DeKalb County we can point you to exactly who to ask.
How the pieces stack together
For a typical ComEd-area home: the federal credit reduces net system cost, Illinois Shines pays you for your system's RECs, and ComEd billing credits reduce your monthly bill from day one. Batteries like the Tesla Powerwall 3 or FranklinWH add outage protection on top. Whether the stack pencils out for your roof is exactly what our free consultation answers — and if it doesn't, we say so.
Frequently asked questions
What is Illinois Shines?
The state's Adjustable Block Program: it pays solar owners for their system's renewable energy credits. It applies to homes, businesses and community solar.
Does ComEd pay me for extra solar power?
ComEd credits exported electricity. The structure depends on when you interconnect and current rules — we put current written numbers in every quote.
Is there still a federal tax credit?
Federal law has provided a solar investment tax credit for years; confirm the current rate for your situation with your tax professional. We supply all claim documentation.
Will solar raise my property taxes?
Illinois' special assessment approach is designed so it does not automatically do so — your county assessor can confirm for your parcel.