Illinois Took A Step Toward Solar Rights. Now It’s Time…

Contributed by Kavi Chintam | Vote Solar

Last year, I wrote about the patchwork of policies that prevents many Illinoisans from accessing rooftop solar simply because they are served by a municipal utility or rural electric cooperative (muni/co-op). Since then, we have made real progress in establishing the Solar Bill of Rights, a set of basic protections designed to ensure every Illinoisan has a fair shot at solar, regardless of the utility that serves them.

When the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability (CRGA)Act became law, it included two provisions from the Solar Bill of Rights. The new law eliminates unfair and costly insurance requirements and guarantees customers the right to offset their electricity use with solar up to a certain size.

These provisions took effect on June 1, 2026. We are already seeing utilities update their policies, which means these changes are already beginning to help customers and solar developers. This is worth celebrating, but it also points to the work that still needs to be done. Six provisions still need to pass to truly make solar more accessible to customers across Illinois.

What we passed through the CRGA Act

Customers can no longer be forced to buy insurance for their electric utility just because they go solar

Before the CRGA Act, some municipal utilities and rural electric cooperatives required customers installing solar to add the utility as an “additional insured” on their insurance policy. This requirement could be difficult to meet and add unnecessary costs to an otherwise straightforward residential solar project.

The CRGA Act ended that practice. Utilities can no longer require themselves to be listed as an additional insured. They may require the solar contractor to carry up to $1 million in liability insurance, but they cannot place that requirement directly on the customer.

This is a fairly technical policy change, but the impact is tangible. A family should not have to change its homeowner’s insurance or take on extra costs just to install a small solar system.

Customers can right-size their solar systems up to 25 kilowatts

The CRGA Act also guarantees that customers in muni/co-op territories can install small distributed generation systems up to and including 25 kilowatts (kW) of AC output. Before this change, some utilities imposed lower system-size caps. That could prevent a homeowner, small business, farm, or nonprofit from installing enough solar to match its electricity use – even when its roof, property, and electrical system could accommodate it.

To be clear, the new law does not encourage every customer to install a 25 kW system, and in fact, most residential systems will be much smaller. The provision simply gives customers room to right-size a system based on their own energy needs instead of being forced below an arbitrary utility limit.

It also brings muni/co-op territories into better alignment with the standards used by investor-owned utilities in Illinois and state programs such as Illinois Shines. Customers should be able to choose a properly sized system without being limited simply because of which utility serves them.

What’s left to pass in the Solar Bill of Rights

Fair and transparent credit for excess solar energy

Customers need to know how their utility will credit the electricity their solar panels send back to the grid. In some muni/co-op territories, that information can be difficult to find or understand. The rate can also vary significantly from one utility to another.

This provision would require utilities to publish clear information about their crediting policies, rates, fees, and timelines. People should be able to understand the economics of a solar project before investing in it. They should not have to track down scattered documents or wait until after their system is installed to learn how their excess electricity will be valued.

Protection from sudden changes to existing agreements

Solar is a long-term investment. Customers decide whether or not they can afford a system based partly on the rates and policies in place when they install it.

Some muni/co-ops have changed these policies after customers made their investments, sharply reducing the value of the electricity their systems produce. Customers may receive little more than a notice on their bill and have few options to challenge the change.

This provision would establish a 25-year legacy period for existing customers. Utilities could change their policies for new projects, but customers with operating systems would continue under the terms they relied upon when they made their investment.

If we expect customers to make long-term investments in clean energy, the policies underlying those investments should not change overnight.

Access to leases and power purchase agreements

Buying a solar system outright is not an option for every family. Leases and power purchase agreements can allow customers to install solar with little or no upfront cost. Instead of owning the panels, the customer pays to use the system or purchases the electricity it produces.

These arrangements can make solar available to people who cannot afford a large upfront purchase or qualify for a traditional solar loan. However, some muni/co-ops ban systems that are not bought outright by the customer.

This provision would allow customers to use these common financing tools. Solar access should not be limited to households with enough cash or credit to purchase a system outright.

Reasonable meter and engineering-study costs

Some customers face expensive meter charges or engineering-study requirements before they can connect even a small rooftop solar system. Utilities need to make sure new systems can safely connect to the grid. However, the cost and complexity of that review should match the size and actual impact of the project.

A small residential system should not be treated a large power plant. Fees should be transparent, reasonable, and connected to the work the utility actually needs to perform. Otherwise, a surprise charge near the end of the process can render an affordable solar project unaffordable.

A place for customers to resolve disputes

Customers served by ComEd or Ameren can bring complaints to the Illinois Commerce Commission (ICC). Muni/co-op customers often don’t have the same clear path when they encounter excessive fees, long delays, or disagreements about utility requirements.

This provision would create an ICC mediation process for these customers. It would not eliminate local control or place muni/co-ops under the same regulatory structure as investor-owned utilities; however, it would give customers access to a neutral place to resolve problems when they cannot reach a solution directly with their utility.

All customers should have somewhere to turn when they need support.

Reasonable interconnection fees and timelines

Interconnection is the process of getting permission to safely connect a solar system to the grid. It is a necessary part of every project, but it can also become a major barrier when requirements are unclear, fees are excessive, or application decisions are delayed.

This provision would establish clearer expectations for the process, including reasonable fees and timelines.

Utilities would still review systems for safety and grid impacts. Customers and contractors would simply have a better idea of what the process requires, how much it will cost, and when they can expect an answer.

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Progress is possible

The two Solar Bill of Rights provisions enacted through the CRGA Act are meaningful victories. Customers are receiving new protections, utilities are changing their policies, and solar developers will be better able to serve communities that previously had unnecessary barriers.

Despite the progress, a customer can now be protected from an unfair insurance requirement and still face an excessive interconnection fee. A small business can now install a system sized for its needs but still have no protection if its utility changes the solar compensation rate a year later. A low-income family may still be unable to use a lease or power purchase agreement to afford solar in the first place.

Passing two Solar Bill of Rights provisions shows that fair treatment of solar customers by munis and co-ops is within reach. Where someone lives and which utility happens to serve them should not determine whether or not they get a fair shot at solar. Illinois must pass the entirety of the Solar Bill of Rights so all Illinoisans can enjoy the benefits of solar.

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About the Author

Kavi Chintam is the campaign manager for Illinois at Vote Solar, which champions policies that accelerate solar deployment, modernize regulations, and scale proven solutions to cut emissions and grow local economies. In this role, Kavi works to advance clean energy legislation and engages in coalitions to promote equitable and just measures.