Power purchase agreement most popular
- Upfront cost
- $0
- Each month
- A set rate for each kWh the panels make
- Who owns the panels
- The solar company
- Repairs and monitoring
- Included
- Best for
- Savings without owning equipment
Empowering your Home. Energy Harnessed. Autonomy Earned.
Solar panels and battery backup for Illinois homes, with $0 down
Solar Line Collective helps Illinois homeowners cut their electric costs with rooftop solar, add a battery for outages, and get the full Illinois Shines incentive. We'll also tell you if solar doesn't make sense for your house.
- 1,300–1,450
- kWh a year from each kW of panels on a typical Illinois roof
- 15 yrs
- of clean-energy credits paid for by Illinois Shines
- $0
- upfront on lease and PPA plans for homes that qualify
01How it works
From a first look at your roof to power-on, in four steps.
- A free look at your homeWe check your roof's direction, the shade from nearby trees, and your electric bill, so you know whether solar makes sense before anyone visits.
- A proposal you can read$0 down, lease or buy, side by side, with the monthly cost, the estimated savings, and the official Illinois Shines disclosure.
- Design and permitsEngineers lay the system out for your roof. Permits, the utility application and the Illinois Shines paperwork are handled for you.
- Installation, then power-onMost installs take a single day. Once your utility approves the system, you start making your own power.
02Illinois Shines
The state program pays for fifteen years of your system's clean-energy credits, often in one payment near the start. It's a big reason solar costs less in Illinois.
Illinois Shines, explained plainly
Illinois Shines (officially the Adjustable Block Program) is a state incentive run by the Illinois Power Agency.
- Your panels earn credits. Every 1,000 kilowatt-hours of clean power your system makes earns one Renewable Energy Credit (REC).
- The program pays for 15 years of them through an Approved Vendor, often as a single payment near the start.
- That lowers your cost. It keeps the monthly rate down on a $0-down plan, or comes off the price if you buy.
- You're protected. You get the program's brochure and a standard Disclosure Form before you sign.
Program rules, incentive amounts and capacity change over time. See illinoisshines.com.
03What "$0 down" means
Three ways to go solar. None of them is free.
A $0-down plan means you pay nothing upfront, not nothing at all. Here's how the options compare.
| Power purchase agreement most popular | Solar lease | Buy it cash or loan | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | $0 | $0 | The system price, less the Illinois Shines payment |
| Each month | A set rate for each kWh the panels make | A fixed payment | Nothing for solar (or a loan payment) |
| Who owns the panels | The solar company | The solar company | You |
| Repairs and monitoring | Included | Included | Warranty, then yours |
| Best for | Savings without owning equipment | A predictable monthly amount | The biggest long-term savings |
Solar lease
- Upfront cost
- $0
- Each month
- A fixed payment
- Who owns the panels
- The solar company
- Repairs and monitoring
- Included
- Best for
- A predictable monthly amount
Buy it cash or loan
- Upfront cost
- The system price, less the Illinois Shines payment
- Each month
- Nothing for solar (or a loan payment)
- Who owns the panels
- You
- Repairs and monitoring
- Warranty, then yours
- Best for
- The biggest long-term savings
04Battery backup
Keep the lights on when the grid goes down.
Panels on their own shut off during an outage. That's a safety rule to protect utility crews. A home battery keeps your essentials running and refills from the sun the next day, with no gas and no generator noise.
- Fridge, lights, Wi-Fi, medical devices and the sump pump stay on in a storm.
- Store daytime solar and use it in the evening.
- For qualifying homes, a battery can be included with a $0-down plan at no extra upfront cost.
- Pairs well with Level 2 EV charging and smart thermostats.
05Who qualifies
Most homes that check these five boxes qualify for $0 down.
- You own your homeSingle-family homes work best. Renters and condos usually don't qualify for rooftop solar.
- Credit score around 650+Needed for most $0-down lease and PPA plans. Buying outright or Illinois Solar for All doesn't require it.
- Good sunlight on your roofRoughly 1,200+ usable sun hours a year: a roof facing south, east or west that isn't heavily shaded by trees or buildings.
- An electric bill around $100+ a monthThe more you spend on power, the more solar can offset. You must be a ComEd or Ameren Illinois customer (or ask us about your co-op or city utility).
- A roof in good shapePanels last 25+ years, so your roof should too. If it needs replacing soon, it's best to do that first.
Find out in a few minutes.
Tell us about your home. Before anyone calls, we check your roof's sunlight and shade, estimate your savings, and see which plans fit, including $0 down and battery backup.
- No cost and no obligation
- We never sell your information
- A real person follows up, not a call center
06Where we work
From Chicagoland to Central and Southern Illinois.
- ChicagoComEd
- EvanstonComEd
- Oak ParkComEd
- SchaumburgComEd
- Orland ParkComEd
- AuroraComEd
- ElginComEd
- JolietComEd
- BolingbrookComEd
- PlainfieldComEd
- WheatonComEd
- Downers GroveComEd
- WaukeganComEd
- RockfordComEd
- PeoriaAmeren Illinois
- ChampaignAmeren Illinois
- UrbanaAmeren Illinois
- BloomingtonAmeren Illinois
- NormalAmeren Illinois
- DecaturAmeren Illinois
- DanvilleAmeren Illinois
- BellevilleAmeren Illinois
- QuincyAmeren Illinois
07Questions
What people ask us at the door.
Is solar really $0?
With a $0-down plan (a lease or a power purchase agreement, called a PPA), you pay nothing upfront to have panels installed. You then pay a set monthly amount for the power the panels make, which for qualifying homes is typically less than what you pay the utility for the same power today. Nothing about it is "free", and anyone who says so should be a red flag.
Will I still get an electric bill?
Yes. You stay connected to ComEd or Ameren. Most homes still get a small monthly utility bill for delivery charges and for any power used when the panels aren't producing, such as at night. With a $0-down plan you also pay the solar payment. The goal is for those two together to cost less than your bill today.
What is Illinois Shines?
Illinois Shines (the Adjustable Block Program) is a state incentive run by the Illinois Power Agency. Your solar system earns Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) for the clean power it makes, and the program pays for 15 years of those credits, often in one payment near the start. That payment is a big reason solar costs less in Illinois.
Are you the government or my utility?
No. Solar Line Collective is an independent company. We are not employed by, endorsed by, or acting on behalf of the State of Illinois, the Illinois Power Agency, Illinois Shines, ComEd, Ameren, or any other utility or government program.
What credit score do I need?
For most $0-down lease and PPA plans, the finance partner looks for a credit score around 650 or higher. Buying the system outright doesn't require a credit check. Income-qualified households may be able to use Illinois Solar for All, which has no credit check.
What if the power goes out?
Panels alone shut off during an outage for safety. A home battery keeps your essentials running (lights, fridge, Wi-Fi, a sump pump) and recharges from the sun the next day. For qualifying homes, a battery can be included with a $0-down plan at no extra upfront cost.
How long does it take?
Usually 6 to 12 weeks from signing to power-on: a site survey, design, permits, a one-day install, then utility approval. Your utility has to approve the system before you turn it on.
What if I sell my home?
An owned system usually adds value to the sale. With a lease or PPA, the agreement can typically transfer to the buyer, or it can be bought out. Details depend on your contract, so ask before you sign.
Do I have protections as a customer?
Yes. Before you sign, an Illinois Shines Approved Vendor must give you the program's informational brochure and a standard Disclosure Form that shows your costs, payments and estimated savings in plain terms. You can also check a vendor in the program's complaint database at illinoisshines.com.