By using this website or our advisory services, you agree to these terms. They're written in plain English so you can actually understand what you're agreeing to.
Who we are
The Illinois Clean Energy Association ("ILCEA," "we," "us," or "our") is an independent solar advisory organization that helps Illinois homeowners evaluate solar energy options and connect with vetted, Illinois Shines-approved installers. We are not a solar installer ourselves. We are not affiliated with the Illinois Power Agency or any state office.
What we provide
We provide informational and advisory services, including:
- Free home assessments to evaluate solar potential
- Connections to Illinois Shines-approved installers
- Collection and standardization of competitive bids on your behalf
- Plain-English explanation of bids, financing options, and incentive programs
- Ongoing support through interconnection, REC applications, and warranty questions
Our service is free for homeowners. We are compensated through a flat referral fee paid by the installer you choose. This compensation structure is described in detail in our Disclosures.
What we don't provide
To be clear about the limits of our role:
- We do not install solar systems. Installation, equipment, warranties, and post-installation service are provided by the installer you select.
- We are not financial, tax, or legal advisors. The information we provide is general in nature and should not be treated as professional financial, tax, or legal advice for your individual circumstances. Consult appropriate professionals for advice specific to your situation.
- We do not guarantee savings or system performance. Solar economics depend on many factors including weather, equipment performance, utility rates, and incentive program availability. We provide our best estimates based on current information, but actual outcomes will vary.
Your responsibilities
When you use our services, you agree to:
- Provide accurate information about your property, energy usage, and ownership status
- Make your own decisions about whether and how to proceed with a solar project
- Read and understand any contracts you sign with an installer or financing provider — we encourage you to review them carefully, and we'll help you understand what they say, but the contracts are between you and that party, not us
- Use the website and our services only for lawful purposes
About the installers we recommend
Every installer we recommend is an Illinois Shines Approved Vendor, meaning they've passed the Illinois Power Agency's consumer protection vetting. We also apply our own additional standards regarding licensing, insurance, warranty terms, and customer outcomes.
However: we do not warrant or guarantee the work of any installer. The contractual relationship for your solar project is between you and the installer you select. Disputes regarding installation quality, warranty service, equipment defects, or financing terms must be resolved between you and that installer (with assistance from the Illinois Shines Program Administrator's consumer protection procedures, where applicable).
We do our best to recommend reputable installers, but we cannot anticipate every issue. We will use our reasonable efforts to help mediate or resolve issues that arise, and we will stop recommending any installer who fails to meet our standards.
Website use
You may use this website for personal, non-commercial purposes. You may not:
- Use automated tools to scrape, harvest, or extract data from the site
- Attempt to interfere with the security or operation of the site
- Misrepresent your identity or provide false information through any form on the site
- Use the site to send spam or unsolicited communications
Intellectual property
The content of this website — including text, graphics, logos, and design — is owned by the Illinois Clean Energy Association or our licensors. You may share links to our content and quote brief portions for legitimate purposes (such as journalism or commentary), but you may not republish substantial portions or use our branding without our written permission.
Disclaimers and limitation of liability
Our services and this website are provided "as is" without warranties of any kind, express or implied. We don't guarantee that the website will be available without interruption, free of errors, or free of viruses or harmful components.
To the maximum extent permitted by law, the Illinois Clean Energy Association and its employees and agents are not liable for any indirect, incidental, consequential, special, or punitive damages arising from your use of our services or this website, including but not limited to lost savings, lost opportunities, or damages resulting from third-party actions.
Our total liability to you for any claim arising from these terms or our services is limited to the amount you have actually paid to us — which, for our free advisory service, is zero. This limitation does not apply where prohibited by law.
Governing law
These terms are governed by the laws of the State of Illinois. Any disputes arising from these terms or our services will be resolved in the state or federal courts located in Illinois.
Changes to these terms
We may update these terms from time to time. If we make material changes, we'll update the "Last updated" date and, where appropriate, notify you. Continued use of our services after changes means you accept the updated terms.
Questions
If you have questions about these terms, contact us:
Illinois Clean Energy Association
Email: hello@illinoiscleanenergy.org
Phone: (309) 225-8899
Hours: Monday – Friday, 8am – 6pm Central