Going solar in Illinois is no longer limited to homeowners who can pay upfront or take on a loan. An Illinois residential solar PPA (Power Purchase Agreement) opens the door to supporting clean energy by giving you a simple, low-friction way to access solar power. With this option, you can go without owning the equipment and without changing the financial strategy you already use for your home.
Instead of purchasing panels, you pay only for the electricity the system on your roof (or property) produces–with no upfront costs, no equipment to manage, and no maintenance worries. This structure helps homeowners control rising energy rates in Ameren Illinois and ComEd territory,* and in many cases you may pay less than what you currently pay your utility.
*At this time, our solar PPA is only available in Ameren Illinois and ComEd territory.
A solar PPA is an agreement where a homeowner purchases clean solar power from a system installed on their roof—without owning the equipment.
Instead of paying for panels, you only pay for the electricity they produce, usually at a lower cost than standard utility rates. The system owner is responsible for installation, monitoring, maintenance, and capturing available incentives.
In other words: You get the benefits of solar power, without the upfront expense of going solar. If you do want to own your panels down the road, your PPA includes a buyout option.
A PPA may be a strong fit if you:
Here’s the basic step-by-step flow of a power purchase agreement.
StraightUp Solar does NOT own your solar panels if you choose a solar PPA option, but we are the team who installs them and may be selected by the lease company to do service work as needed.
Even though we’re not the system owner in a PPA model, you still benefit from choosing a trusted, experienced local installer.
Yes. While both options involve a third party owning the equipment, there are key differences:
Our Solar Project Developers can help you compare them all your available financing options so you can make a confident, informed choice. Reach out to get started on a free, custom quote.
Yes. Our residential PPA is available in Ameren Illinois and ComEd territory for qualifying homes.
Our PPA offers a 25-year term — designed to provide long-term energy stability.
PPAs are typically transferable to the next homeowner, subject to standard qualification steps.
Yes. Your power purchase agreement sets the rate you will pay for the solar power generated at the home.
No. The system owner receives all incentives. These incentives help lower your PPA rate.
With a solar PPA, the system owner is responsible for maintenance and service needs throughout the agreement term. Many homeowners prefer this hassle free approach.
It depends on your needs. A PPA offers no upfront cost and immediately lowers your electricity rate. A loan, lease, or cash purchase offers ownership benefits, but may require an upfront payment for the system. Our team can help compare financing options.
The Anna-Jonesboro Elks Lodge #1641 can dedicate more funds for veterans and children programs throughout Southern Illinois because of the electricity savings generated by their
Purple Fields & Sunshine Yields Long Row Lavender Goes Solar Wright City, MO December 2024 For Long Row Lavender, a family-run flower farm outside of
St. Louis real estate investor and developer, Mark Jaffe, first went solar in 2014. Since then, he’s continued to brighten rooftops and his bottom line,
