01

Why the two pages matter

Cook County's Sun and Save page says the program runs until August 31, 2026, or until money runs out. That sounds like a last chance to apply. But the program manager's customer page now says it is no longer reviewing new applications. It says the remaining money will go to projects for people already on the waitlist. The safer reading is simple. Do not treat the county end date as an open spot for a new solar application. Check the live program manager page first.

02

What Sun and Save was for

Sun and Save was a Cook County program for owner-occupied homes. It included single-family homes and small buildings with up to four homes inside. The owner had to live in the home. The household income had to be between 80 percent and 120 percent of Area Median Income. Area Median Income is a local income number that changes with household size. The program was not a normal cash rebate after you buy solar. It matched eligible homes with a qualified installer after the application review. That is why a sales pitch cannot create a spot after the program team closes new review.

03

Protect your papers

The program manager tells homeowners to email its official address if a vendor says it is promoting Sun and Save and the offer seems unclear. That warning matters now. A real solar application can need income proof and home details. Do not send tax papers, a power bill, or a signed contract to a door-to-door seller just because they say the deadline is near. Use the official Cook County page or the EnergySense program page to find the contact. Ask the program team whether your application is already on the waitlist before you give anyone more information.

04

A closed program does not mean skip solar safety

You may still choose solar outside Sun and Save. That is a separate buying decision. Do not rush because a program page is confusing. Get more than one full-service quote. Ask what your current power plan pays for extra solar. Ask who will handle permits, roof work, inspection, and utility approval. In unincorporated Cook County, the county says a rooftop solar job needs a permit. A city or suburb may have its own rules. A panel system should not turn on until the power company gives its approval.

05

For lower incomes

The Sun and Save manager says homes under 80 percent of Area Median Income do not fit its income band. It points those households to Illinois Solar for All instead. Illinois Solar for All says its income limit is 80 percent of Area Median Income or less. That is not a promise of an instant solar system. Its own residential page says it has reached capacity for some single-family projects. Still, it is a better official place to check than a seller using an old Sun and Save deadline. Use the income tool and read the current program status.

06

Simple homeowner checklist

Do not sign a Sun and Save contract based only on the August 31 date. Open the EnergySense customer page and check whether new applications are being reviewed. If you already applied, ask the official program team about your waitlist status. If a vendor calls, ask for its name and send that information to the official program email before sharing private papers. Check whether your household falls between 80 and 120 percent of Area Median Income, or at 80 percent or less for Illinois Solar for All. If you buy solar outside a program, get two quotes. Ask who handles permits and utility approval. Ask for the full 2026 price without an old homeowner tax credit included.

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