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CUB announces return of solar group-buy program

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…...

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Notice: Complaints about EverBright Solar 

CUB has received several complaints recently about a company called EverBright Solar going door-to-door across the state.  The complaints include seniors who say they thought the 25-year lease was free when, in fact, it is not. (Some have told CUB they unknowingly signed up for an extremely expensive contract.)  Because…...

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Chicago Tribune excerpt: Consumer watchdog helps solar roof shoppers cut through the confusion

CUB Note: The following is an excerpt from a Sept. 3, 2024 Chicago Tribune story by Nara Schoenberg on the Solar Switch Chicagoland program, which CUB promotes. You can read the full version of the Tribune story here. Dawn Stockmo wanted solar panels for her Oak Park Victorian, but a…...

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Tips from CUB: Use caution if a solar sales rep knocks on your door

Solar is an excellent deal in Illinois, but that doesn’t mean every offer pitched to you is the right one for your home. CUB’s Scott Allen recently spoke to WGLT, the public radio station in the Bloomington-Normal area, to recommend that consumers use caution if a solar salesperson  knocks on…...

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Solar Landscape: CUB’s evaluation of Solar Landscape’s community solar offer

This is an evaluation of Solar Landscape’s community solar offering. If you are not already familiar with community solar, we recommend reading CUB’s Introduction to Community Solar first. How will signing up for the Solar Landscape community solar offer affect my electric bill? Solar Landscape will look at your annual…...

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Solar Simplified: CUB’s evaluation of Solar Simplified IL Solar for All community solar offer

Solar Simplified is a community solar company offering subscriptions to income-eligible Ameren customers, through the Solar for All program. If you are not already familiar with community solar, we recommend reading CUB’s Introduction to Community Solar first. Learn more about Solar for All. How will signing up for the Solar…...

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CUB Q&A: What’s happening to solar power in Illinois in 2025? 

A solar benefit called “net metering” is NOT going away in 2025, but it is changing, under state law.    What is net metering? Net metering is a benefit for solar users. Under Illinois law, investor-owned utilities (ComEd, Ameren, MidAmerican) are required to offer net metering for renewable energy generation…...

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After a successful summer program, CUB partnership launches Fall Solar Switch program

A unique partnership among five Chicagoland counties, nonprofit advocates and expert solar professionals will educate consumers on how they can install solar panels at some of the deepest discounts in the state, the Citizens Utility Board (CUB), Illinois’ top utility watchdog, said as the program launched its Fall program. The…...

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CUB Explainer: What is a solar group-buy program?

For the last few years, CUB has helped organize a “solar group-buy program” in the Chicago region–now called “Switch Together”–and these programs have helped save participants hundreds of dollars a year on their utility bills, according to CUB’s partner in the program, Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA). Today we’re backing…...

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Do you know about these Illinois solar programs?

Thanks to strong state (Climate and Equitable Jobs Act) and federal (Inflation Reduction Act) incentives, the money-saving benefits of solar power have never been more accessible to so many people in Illinois. #1 Want to install panels? Consider the Solar Switch group-buy program CUB and the nonprofit Midwest Renewable Energy…...

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