The Certasun Blog
Our blog contains in-depth articles and company news.
Also see our FAQs page for a list of the questions we get most often (and their answers)!
Electricity Price Increases and Your Utility Bill
You’ve likely noticed that your monthly electricity bill seems to be getting higher and higher. And you’re right, energy prices have increased dramatically in recent years. But by how much? For ComEd customers in Northern Illinois, it’s quite a bit. Let’s take a...
Thank You!
As we kick-off Certasun’s fifth year serving our neighbors in Illinois and Wisconsin, I wanted to take a moment to express my deep appreciation to all our customers. The last few years have been a challenging time. We have all been through a lot. In the midst of...
The Inflation Reduction Act and Residential Energy
Today, the President signed the Inflation Reduction Act of 2022. Among (many) other things, the Act provides new and expanded tax credits or rebates for consumers purchasing solar, energy storage, electric vehicles, EV chargers, and high efficiency electric...
What’s in the Illinois Energy Transition Act?
On Monday, September 13, the Illinois Senate is poised to pass the Energy Transition Act. Governor J.B. Pritzker has said he will sign it as soon as possible after it passes. So what is in Illinois’s energy bill?
Understanding Solar Production Estimates
So you’re comparing solar quotes and the production estimates are very different? This is actually very common. But it can also be very confusing. In this post, we give you the tools you need to understand solar production estimates—and to determine which ones to trust.
About That “25-Year” Panel Warranty
So you're getting a 25-year solar panel warranty? Great news! But, wait, is it really 25 years...? Maybe not. A mistake we see all the time is to conflate the panel warranty with the power warranty. Both of those warranties come from the panel manufacturer, but...
Introducing SunVault
Certasun is thrilled to introduce SunVault, the energy storage system from SunPower. SunVault provides the peace of mind that comes from energy independence and better backup than a generator. It does so with zero maintenance required, a market-leading warranty, and eligibility for a generous federal tax credit. Best of all, it integrates seamlessly with your existing SunPower solar system.
Thank You Customers
2020 was a challenging year for our country. As we look back over the past 12 months, we’d like to offer a very sincere and heartfelt “thank you” for trusting us to make your 2020 a little bit sunnier.
#1 Illinois Solar Installer in 2020
Certasun is tremendously honored to be named by SolarReviews.com as the #1 Illinois solar installer for 2020. With a score of 4.74 out of 5.00, Certasun earned the top ranking in the state.
Why Go Solar Now? It’s a Predictable Investment
Why now may be the right time to go solar Amidst economic uncertainty, a stock market crash, and a pandemic, it's only natural to think: "I'll just wait on solar until things calm down." But solar might actually be the smart way to go right now. Here are three...
The Benefits of Solar
Are you an Illinois homeowner curious about going solar? Wondering how solar might benefit you? You've come to the right place. This post explains the specific benefits of solar and why going solar now, rather than waiting, is the right idea. Three main benefits of...
Certasun Guide to EV Charging Equipment
If you are considering buying an electric vehicle—or even if you already have one—you may be considering adding some type of home charging equipment. However, the choices are not necessarily straightforward—especially if you aren't an electrician or electrical...
Naperville Solar Panels Get Extra Incentives
Updated: April 26, 2021 Are you a Naperville homeowner thinking about going solar? Good news: Naperville solar installations in the Naperville Electric Utility service area get a special solar incentive payment of up to $3,000! The Naperville solar incentive is in...
Community Solar vs. Rooftop Solar in Illinois
If you live in Illinois you have probably received a mailer recently offering "community solar". Or, perhaps someone knocked on your door selling subscriptions to a community solar farm. You might be wondering about the benefits of community solar vs. rooftop solar...
ComEd Loses Lawsuit; Will Pay Municipal Utility Customers to Go Solar
Under the Illinois Shines program, ComEd is required to buy Solar Renewable Energy Credits ("SRECs") from Illinois homeowners who go solar. For many homeowners, this means a check worth upwards of $10,000. But, until this week, it appeared that homeowners served by...
Illinois Solar Incentive Payments Are Here!
Illinois Shines is finally paying out and Certasun customers got 28% of the very first program distribution. In total, Certasun customers received $247,016 in solar incentive payments from ComEd. How the Illinois solar incentive payments program works Established by...
Can Solar Get Me Off The Grid?
So, you want to go off the grid? Don't trust ComEd? Don't like their rates? Want to be self-sustainable? We get it. Many of our customers feel just the same way. In this post we'll break down exactly how – and how not – solar can help you get off the grid and...
How Much Solar Can I Get?
Solar can be a great investment. But, that's only true if you live by the rules of (1) the Illinois incentive program and (2) your utility. These rules do many things, but the most important one is to limit the size of solar system you can install. There's a lot of...
Understanding Your ComEd Bill with Net Metering
In this post we walk through how to interpret your ComEd bill once you begin net metering, and how the information on your bill compares to the data you see in your solar system monitoring account. To learn about what net metering is and how it works, check out our...
How Many Solar Panels Do I Need?
In our recent blog about the cost of going solar, we explained that one of the biggest drivers of cost is the number of panels in the system. But how many solar panels do you need? The number of solar panels you will need for your home depends on three main factors:...
Introducing the Certasun Production Guarantee
So you're thinking about going solar? Great idea! But, make sure you get an energy production guarantee. A production guarantee is a vote of confidence for your system. It's the installer saying that you'll get the benefits described and if for some reason you...
Illinois Solar Incentives 2020 and Beyond
Illinois homeowners thinking about going solar may have heard that the sooner they go solar, the more they'll be able to benefit from the federal and Illinois solar incentives. In 2019, federal and Illinois solar incentives combine to cover about 60% of the purchase...
Net Metering Benefits Homeowners in Illinois
When Illinois homeowners go solar, they are eligible for something called "net metering." Net metering allows homeowners who go solar to benefit from their solar system not only on sunny days, but also at night and during darker winter months as well. In this post we...
How much do solar panels cost?
How much will going solar cost you? This guide will help you understand solar panel costs in Illinois, including the factors that go in to determining that cost.
Are My Illinois SRECs Taxable?
Yes, the proceeds from the sale of your SRECs to ComEd are taxable. That’s because the IRS considers the sale of the SRECs to be a sale of property rights. And it doesn’t matter which company you go with; it’s always the same legal question.
Illinois Energy Sources: How Is Illinois Energy Generated?
Illinois energy currently comes from a variety of sources, and solar is now a part (and quickly growing part) of that mix. Thanks to new state incentives, over 61,000 homes in Illinois will add rooftop solar over the next few years. This is a massive jump from the 750 Illinois homes that had installed rooftop solar by 2017.
Illinois Shines Now Open for Participation
As of January 30, 2019, Illinois homeowners can now participate in the state’s Adjustable Block Program, Illinois Shines, state-administered incentive program supporting the development of new solar energy generation in Illinois.
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