CUB is partnering with county governments, a nonprofit and solar professionals to promote a group-buy program that can secure deep discounts on solar installations and help participants cut their power bills by hundreds of dollars a year.
Switch Together–formerly “Solar Switch”– is a nationwide program that makes rooftop solar installations more affordable, while also offering solar education. The most recent auction secured an average discount of $4,838. To date, 1,585 households in northern Illinois have accepted an offer from Switch Together.
“The Switch Together program fits well into CUB’s consumer advocacy mission, because it delivers trustworthy information about solar power–without annoying, high-pressure sales tactics,” said Marina Minic, CUB’s solar programs coordinator. “Clean, affordable energy is in high demand–people tell us this all the time–so we’re happy to work with the Switch Together program to educate people about solar power, and to help interested homeowners enjoy deep discounts in solar installations and cut their electric bills by hundreds of dollars a year.”
The program is a partnership among CUB, fellow nonprofit Midwest Renewable Energy Association and several Chicagoland counties: Cook, DuPage, Lake and Kane. (Residents of Kendall, McHenry and Will counties also can participate in Switch Together.) The program is managed by iChoosr, a company that administers similar programs throughout the United States.
Here’s how Switch Together works to lower costs for participants:
- As a “group-buy” program, it secures volume discounts for quality solar installations.
- The program selects installers through a competitive vetting process and then runs a “reverse auction”–where multiple qualified solar installers compete to secure a low base-price.
- The 30 percent federal tax credit can further reduce costs, and incentives through the Illinois Shines Program could provide additional savings of approximately 30 percent.
- There’s no hard sell. As part of the registration process, you answer basic questions about your roof and energy usage. If your roof is suitable for solar panels, you provide your details to receive a personal recommendation.
- You receive a free personal recommendation upon registering for the program. Registrants are also able to attend an online educational session, called a “Solar Power Hour,” to learn more, but there is no obligation to accept an offer. (iChooser promises: “You will not receive sales calls from us or from installers. Your information will not be shared with third parties.”)
- The personal recommendation will be based on your registration details, and will include your estimated costs, savings, and expected electricity generation.
- Then it’s up to you whether to accept or decline the offer–there’s no obligation. If you accept, you will be asked to pay a $150 deposit. The program deposit is fully refundable if for any reason you decide not to move forward with your solar installation.
- If you accept your recommendation, Switch Together connects you with a program installer, who will contact you for a survey (to confirm the roof’s suitability), finalize the offer and set an installation date. (If the survey deems your roof unsuitable, you can cancel the process.)
For more information, visit SwitchTogether.com/Solar/Chicagoland to register or learn more. The final day to register and accept a personal recommendation is June 25.
If you believe you may qualify for the state income-eligible program called Illinois Solar for All, please fill out this form to receive more information. (And read CUB’s fact sheet on Solar For All.)
Additional information from CUB:
