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Customer-Owned Solar

Ameren Illinois wants to help customers looking to invest in solar energy. There are a variety of options available today, including having solar panels installed on your home. It's important to understand all the steps to private solar installation when connecting to the Ameren Illinois grid. Keep reading to learn more.

 

 

 

How Does Customer-Owned Solar Work?

Watch this video to learn how the energy created by your solar system can help you lower your energy costs and potentially earn credits on your energy bill.

 

Installation Options

Application Process

A certified installer will submit all the necessary paperwork to Ameren on your behalf. As your application moves through the process, we'll keep you informed via email from Ameren's software system, PowerClerk.
 

Finding a Certified Installer

A certified installer will help you determine which system is best for you. Your installer will help navigate you through the application process and ensure that your system is installed and operating properly. To learn more about finding a certified installer please consider the following sites:

 

 

Compensation Options

What is Net Metering 

Net Metering is a compensation method in which output from a qualifying renewable energy source is used to offset the usage on your energy bill. Learn more about how this will appear on your bill.

How to Qualify

  • To qualify, residential and non-residential customers must own or operate a renewable fuel-powered generator of 2,000 kW capacity or less, which is located on the customers’ premises and is used to offset some or all of their electric usage.
  • Eligible renewable fuels are solar, wind, dedicated crops grown for electricity production, anaerobic digestion of livestock or food processing waste, fuel cells or microturbines powered by renewable fuels, hydroelectricity, agricultural residues, livestock manure, landscape trimmings and untreated and unadulterated wood wastes.
  • Customers using renewably-fueled generators with nameplate capacities larger than 2,000 kva may qualify to receive compensation through Rider QF-Qualifying Facilities.

Charges or Fees

  • All non-residential customers served under Delivery Service tariffs DS-3 or DS-4 pay the normal charges associated with installing the extraordinary equipment needed to provide dual channel metering.
  • All applicants are subject to any applicable parallel generator interconnection fees.     
  • In addition, all installations after Dec. 31, 2013, will be required to be self-installed or installed by a certified installer according to Part 468 Distributed Generation Installer Certification of the Admin Code.

Application Process

All applications go through the online PowerClerk System. For more information, including paper applications, visit our developer resources page.

What is a Qualifying Facility

After establishing Distributed with Ameren Illinois, you can apply to become a Qualifying Facility and receive compensation for all of a qualifying generator’s out, based on Midwest wholesale electric market prices.

How to Qualify

  • QFs are small-scale generators of commercial energy that meet Federal Energy Regulatory Commission's (FERC) requirements for ownership, size and efficiency to qualify as non-utility generation units. Because they do not directly serve utility customers, QFs are exempt from many federal and state regulatory requirements, including federal and state rate regulation and oversight by the Securities and Exchange Commission. QFs are not exempt from environmental regulations.
  • To operate as a QF, a customer’s generation facility must comply with the standards set forth in Part 430 of the Illinois Administrative Code.

Charges or Fees

  • Utility companies are obliged to purchase energy from QFs based on a pricing structure referred to as “avoided cost” rates.
  • Since Ameren Illinois does not own any generation plants and procures all of its electric power and supply from the wholesale market, QF customers of Ameren Illinois are compensated based on an annual compilation of Midwest wholesale electric market pricing data as published in Platts, an independent publisher of energy and commodity information.
  • The pricing data is then shaped to synchronize the on- and off-peak pricing periods of the Midwest market and Ameren Illinois.
  • Ameren Illinois pays the same level of compensation in all Rate Zones for output from QF operators. See the current compensation rates.

Application Process

All applications go through the online PowerClerk System. For more information, including paper applications, visit our developer resources page.

 
 

Frequently Asked Questions

Energy produced by the solar array goes into your home first and any excess generation is automatically pushed back to the grid through your Ameren Illinois meter.  The energy used by your home from the solar array does not go through the Ameren Illinois meter.  The utility meter registers excess generation from your solar array and energy your home needs pulled from the grid.  This means you're not only reducing your carbon footprint but, also saving on your energy bills. On cloudy days, your solar panels will work to generate as much energy as possible.  If your home needs more power, it will be drawn from Ameren Illinois' grid ensuring you have reliable and uninterrupted delivery of energy.  To summarize, Ameren Illinois' utility meter tracks the excess power you generate and the energy your home pulls from the grid. Ameren Illinois' meter does not register energy produced by your solar array and used in your home. 

Every solar installation is unique; Ameren Illinois recommends our customers be informed and involved throughout every step of the process.  A certified installer should be able to assist you in gathering information when considering the following questions:

  • Do you have a roof or area large enough to accommodate solar panels?
  • How much sun does your roof or large area receive?
  • What is the age or condition of your roof?
  • Can your existing roof support solar panels being added to it?
  • Will the benefits of installing solar panels be worth the investment? Consider the rate of return on your investment.

If you answered yes to the above questions, it might be appropriate to move forward with the installation of Solar Panels:

  • If your property's roof has open space, and you can make the investment, a rooftop solar energy system may be right for you. Because you will be connected to Ameren's smart grid, Ameren Illinois will continue to deliver energy to your home when it needs more power ensuring you have access to a supply of energy.

If you did not answer yes to the above questions: it might be appropriate to check into Community Solar. 

Energy produced by the solar array goes into your home first and any excess generation is automatically pushed back to the grid through your Ameren Illinois meter.  On cloudy days, your solar panels will work to generate as much energy as possible.  If your home needs more power, it will be drawn from Ameren Illinois' grid ensuring you have reliable and uninterrupted delivery of energy.
Yes, even if Ameren Illinois is not your energy supplier, Ameren Illinois will still connect you to the smart grid and deliver energy to you when your solar system does not produce all the energy you need. If you do have an alternative retail energy supplier, please contact them do see if they support net metering.

To aid with sizing of the solar panels, you can access billing statements or usage data through Ameren Illinois' website. If you are not already enrolled, please consider registering for an online account to access your billing statements and download your usage data.

While Ameren Illinois has worked hard to become a trusted source for information about solar energy, we do not sell any solar energy products, nor do we guarantee external savings claims, or partner with any solar contractors. Ameren Illinois encourages you to explore your options and research the viability of any proposed installer. View a list of Illinois Commerce Commission certified installers. 

While each solar installation is unique, please view this video for a general overview of the process:

For safety reasons, your system's inverter that is connected to Ameren Illinois' smart grid is designed to shut down automatically when a power outage occurs. However, if you have battery storage and enough energy was stored away, it is possible that lights and other appliances within your home could stay energized during a utility outage. Battery storage should also be approved by Ameren Illinois to operate in correlation with your solar equipment.
Please contact your municipality to determine if a final inspection is required.

No. You cannot operate your private generation system until:

  • Your Interconnection Application has been approved by Ameren Illinois.
  • You have submitted a Certificate of Completion to Ameren Illinois in accordance with Illinois Administrative Code Title 83 Part 466 and have received a signed Certificate of Completion from Ameren Illinois. 
An Interconnection Application is not required if the generator is temporarily installed for emergency use only and is not capable of sending energy to the smart grid.
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