Are power rates about to double again in 2025?

In this episode of the Solar Power Hour, William Grant and Austin Bare break down why Illinois power costs keep rising, what rate negotiations in January and June could mean for your bills, and how solar + batteries can help offset the damage.

We’ll cover:

• Why winter rates dip but annual bills keep climbing
• How Ameren’s delivery fees & mandated charges have multiplied 5–7×
• The federal tax credit situation vs. remaining state/utility incentives
• What Time-of-Use (TOU) pricing could mean for your family
• Battery strategies: 1 vs 2+ units, backup hours, and peace of mind
• Why waiting for “the right time” often costs more in the long run
• Commercial solar surge in 2025 and how it may affect residential timelines
• Inflation, property values, and why high power bills can devalue your home

Don’t let rising rates decide your future — lock in your power costs and keep your money where it belongs.

In this episode of The Solar Power Hour, hosts William Grant and Austin Bare sit down with Andrew Cohen of the Peoria Rivermen—a longtime fan favorite, front office leader, and now a proud solar customer with Sun Collectors.

Together they dive into:

• Local Sports & Community: Partnership between Sun Collectors and the Peoria Rivermen, highlighting jerseys, sponsorships, and family-friendly experiences.
• Solar Education: Real customer experiences (Andrew Cohen’s solar installation), overproduction results, rebate success, and addressing myths around aesthetics and leasing.
• Community Impact: Sponsorships, giveaways, and how local fans support businesses that support the team.
• Financial Relief: Rising Ameren bills, solar as a long-term hedge against energy inflation, and examples of how solar frees up family budgets.
• Legacy & Growth: Rivermen’s championship culture and Sun Collectors’ role as the oldest standing solar company in Central Illinois.

It’s an energetic, community-driven conversation that connects hockey fans, homeowners, and solar advocates—showing how sports and sustainability team up to create real wins for Central Illinois.

Get ready to get Shine with Solar! Check out these resources for more information:

• Peoria Rivermen: https://www.rivermen.net/
• Sun Collectors’ Refer-A-Friend Program: https://suncollectors.solar/refer-a-friend/

As controversial policies continue to shape the future of solar, we explore the complex and often contentious relationship between politics, energy policy, and the power that fuels our daily lives. From simple energy economics to an executive order poised to send us back to the stone age, we’ll break down how these forces influence the cost of energy, the pace of clean technology adoption, and the options available to consumers.

Here’s what we cover:

• One Big Beautiful Bill: Economic implications that are changing everything — and not in a good way.
• Executive Order Impact: The push to replace renewables with coal, nuclear, and lithium mines — and the harsh language being used to manipulate public opinion.
• Beat the Deadline: The true impact of the shortened FITC* timeline.
• What “Placed in Service” Means: Why understanding this definition is key to securing your incentive.
• 100% US-Made Panels Do Not Exist: The global supply chain reality and how it affects domestic production and retail costs.
• Economic Pressures: 30% average Ameren bill increases, higher costs of goods, and supply chain disruptions.
• Ownership Models: Direct ownership vs. third-party ownership — and why local service matters to avoid becoming a “Stranded Customer.”
• Fun Facts & Technology Milestones: Global demand and solar capacity and California’s groundbreaking successes with renewable energy.

The future of solar isn’t just a question of technology — it’s a race against political headwinds, shrinking incentives, and rising utility rates. Decisions made in Washington are already shaping the cost and accessibility of clean energy in your backyard. For those ready to take control of their power bills and lock in long-term savings, the opportunity is here — but the clock is ticking.

Are you ready to get Solar Empowered? Check out these resources for more details on recent solar policy changes affecting your energy freedom:

Homeowner Updates for Solar Tax Credits: July 2025 Executive Order: https://suncollectors.solar/july25-solar-tax-incentives-il-homeowners/

How the One Big Beautiful Bill Threatens Illinois Solar Progress—and What You Can Do: https://suncollectors.solar/one-big-beautiful-bill-illinois-solar-progress/

* Not all customers are eligible for the FITC.

What if one friendly knock on your door could help you lower your electric bill — or even spark your next career move? In this episode, our guest speaker, Fabian Witte, pulls back the curtain on the day-to-day life, challenges, and rewards of working on the front lines of the solar industry. Whether you’re a homeowner curious about going solar or someone looking for a fast-paced career in door-to-door solar sales, this conversation is packed with insights, stories, and advice you won’t want to miss.

In this episode, you’ll learn:

• What Junior Solar Consultants do and why their role is essential in helping homeowners understand the benefits of solar.
• Why door-to-door is the most powerful and effective method of building trust and connecting with local communities.
• The top 5 reasons homeowners set solar appointments (and what they want to know most).
• The most pleasant and surprising moments in the field that make the job worthwhile.
• Valuable skills and knowledge gained from the job that benefit both career and personal growth.
• What it’s like to represent a local solar company at community and networking events.
• How to stay optimistic and motivated in a challenging sales role.
• How to handle rejection at the door and turn it into an opportunity.
• The most important message consultants want homeowners to understand about going solar.

Whether you’re considering solar panels for your home or exploring a career as a Junior Solar Consultant, this episode will show you how one knock can open countless doors — for homeowners, for consultants, and for the future of clean energy.

🎧 Listen now to learn about the people, purpose and power behind door-to-door outreach, then visit our website to take the next step in your solar journey!

Become a Junior Solar Consultant: https://suncollectors.solar/career/junior-solar-consultant/

Explore Residential Solar Solutions: https://suncollectors.solar/service/residential-solar-systems/

Request a Free Solar Consultation: https://suncollectors.solar/free-solar-quote/

Following the House’s passing of Trump’s “One Big Beautiful Bill,” we’ll analyze the economic impact on consumers, utility companies, and the solar industry alike, should the bill become law.

• 2025 Deadline & Elimination: Heightened sense of urgency and concern amongst consumers as potential policy changes hang in the balance, notably the accelerated deadline to claim the 30% solar tax credit before its proposed repeal.
• Retroactive Bans & Restrictions: How new legislation could jeopardize the economic viability of many solar projects and facilities, especially those that rely heavily on leases and Power Purchase Agreements (PPAs), leading to a significant loss of jobs across the industry and catastrophic consequences for existing and future consumers.
• 30-50% Utility Bill Increase: Breakdown of the huge spike in cost per kilowatt-hour and higher delivery charges implemented with the transition to summer pricing.

In Episode 11 of the Sun Collectors / Solar Power Hour Podcast, founder William Grant and co-host Austin Bare break down what tariffs really mean for the solar industry right now — and why being proactive instead of reactive could save you thousands. They cover how tariffs are hitting panels, batteries, and inverters, what that means for equipment costs, and why the company got ahead of it by stocking up before prices climbed.

From there, they zoom out to the bigger picture — global grid instability, real-world outages in Spain and Puerto Rico, and rising utility rates driven by inflation and supply chain pressure. They make the case for batteries as more than just backup power: a way to own your energy, lock in your monthly costs, and protect your home when the grid goes down. They also walk through Illinois Shines, the smart inverter rebate, and how stacking incentives can reduce your total system cost by 65–70%.

Episode Highlights:

⚡ How tariffs are affecting solar equipment prices and what Sun Collectors did to stay ahead of it

⚡ Why global grid instability — from Spain to Puerto Rico to Midwest storms — makes batteries more relevant than ever

⚡ Illinois Shines, the smart inverter rebate, and how incentives can cut your net system cost by 65–70%

⚡ Why two batteries can cost less than a generator — and actually pay you back over time

⚡ How Ameren's move toward time-of-use rates could change what solar + batteries are worth to you

⚡ The "own vs. rent" breakdown: why locking in a payment beats paying an ever-rising utility bill

⚡ What makes Sun Collectors different — no leases, local roots, dedicated project managers, and real references.

⚡ Why the best day to go solar is today — and what happens when incentive blocks fill up.

For more information, visit https://suncollectors.solar or check out the resources below:

Learn about the Franklin Whole Home Battery Backup solutions we offer: https://www.franklinwh.com/collections/whole-home-battery-backup/

Find out how you can save with Ameren Illinois DG Rebates: https://www.ameren.com/illinois/residential/supply-choice/renewables/rebates

Apply to become a Junior Solar Consultant with Sun Collectors: https://suncollectors.solar/career/junior-solar-consultant/

In this episode of The Solar Power Hour, William Grant (12 years engineering + 6 years running Sun Collectors) and Austin Baer (5-year solar consultant) break down:

🔥 The truth behind “free solar” ads

🔥 Why leases & PPAs can trap homeowners for 25+ years

🔥 How deceptive companies hide real long-term costs

🔥 Why ownership beats leasing every single time

🔥 How the Illinois incentives actually work — without the lies

🔥 Battery rebates, time-of-use rates, and what Ameren isn’t telling you

🔥 The future of solar tech, AI, and satellite power generation

🔥 Common myths about solar in the Midwest (and why they’re wrong)

🔥 Install quality, maintenance, warranties, and avoiding “fly-by-night” solar companies

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By special request, our hosts help real estate agents navigate the solar playing field. Homes with solar panels can be a faster, more lucrative sell if you have all the facts. This episode covers everything realtors need to know, including these hot topics:

⚡Impact of solar panels on property value

⚡Transfer of ownership

⚡Sales tips and resources

In Episode 8 of The Solar Power Hour, hosts William Grant and Austin Bare break down the question everyone’s asking: Do I qualify for solar—and how do I avoid getting burned by the wrong company? They explain what actually makes a homeowner a strong solar candidate (credit, roof age, sun exposure, time in the home, tax liability), why Sun Collectors focuses on ownership over leasing, and how “locking in” your cost of power protects you from rising utility rates over time.

Then they get into the real stuff: the solar “gold rush” problem—companies that sell fast, install sloppy, disappear, and leave homeowners stuck with service issues, warranty runarounds, or contracts full of red flags. William and Austin share the exact steps you can take to vet any solar company: reviewing real long-term testimonials, checking installation photos, verifying who’s actually installing, reading contracts carefully, using the BBB, and even checking Illinois Shines complaints to see a company’s track record at the state level. If you’re even considering solar, this episode is built to give you clarity, confidence, and the tools to make the right decision for your home and your family—without pressure.

Episode Highlights:

⚡ Do you actually qualify for solar? (credit, roof, sun, taxes, time in the home)

⚡ Why ownership matters vs. renting your power

⚡ The “solar gold rush” problem: fly-by-night companies and misinformation

⚡ What to check before choosing a solar company (reviews, BBB, Illinois Shines, photos, warranties)

⚡ What a quality installation should look like (and what to avoid)

⚡ Why project management and service after install matters just as much as the sale

⚡ Contract red flags and how to protect yourself before install day

⚡ Warranty questions you should ask every company (and who actually backs it)

This episode is a reminder: solar can be an amazing investment—but only if you choose the right company and the right agreement.

And if you’re not a good candidate? A good company should be willing to tell you that upfront.

📍 Serving Peoria & Central Illinois

In Episode 7 of The Solar Power Hour, hosts William Grant and Austin Bare break down the new mission behind Sun Collectors: repairing the reputation of solar in Central Illinois.

After six years in the community, they explain why that mission matters now more than ever. With solar companies pulling out of the market, homeowners being left without support, and misinformation still spreading, this episode dives into what separates long-term service companies from short-term sales operations.

William and Austin talk about the changing landscape of solar in Illinois, why batteries and backup power are becoming such a major part of the conversation, and how shifting utility programs are forcing the industry to evolve.

They also explain why education has always been at the center of what they do, why they refuse to push bad-fit projects, and what it means to truly support customers for the long haul. The episode also gets personal.

William and Austin share their stories, how they got into solar, why Peoria means so much to them, and why building something local, honest, and lasting matters more than ever. From stranded solar customers and service issues to local impact, reputation, and the future of energy independence, this episode is a real conversation about where solar is headed and what homeowners should be paying attention to.

If you live in Central Illinois and want to understand where solar is going, what makes a company trustworthy, and why local service matters, this is an episode you won’t want to miss.

Episode Highlights:

⚡ Sun Collectors’ new mission: repairing the reputation of solar in Central Illinois

⚡ Why so many solar companies have gone out of business

⚡ What happens when homeowners are left stranded with no service support

⚡ Why education matters more than ever in today’s solar market

⚡ The rise of batteries and backup power in Illinois

⚡ How changing utility programs are reshaping the solar conversation

⚡ Why Sun Collectors refuses to push bad-fit projects

⚡ The difference between ownership, leases, and long-term service

⚡ Why keeping solar local matters for Peoria and Central Illinois

⚡ William and Austin share their personal stories and why this mission matters to them

This episode is a reminder: solar is not just about panels on a roof—it’s about trust, service, education, and having the right people there for the next 20 to 30 years.

📍 Serving Peoria & Central Illinois

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