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AES Solar is listed on Top Solar Services as a solar contractor serving Carterville, Illinois. The 103 verified reviews on this page reflects real client experiences. Use the information on this page — the verified review count, sub-ratings on quality, schedule, cost, and willingness-to-refer, the company's services and pricing snapshot, and the contact details — alongside your own due diligence on licensing and insurance before requesting a quote.
Solar contractors in this category should carry a current state contractor license, $1M+ general liability and workers' compensation insurance, and verified reviews from recent projects in your area.
In Illinois, solar contractors are typically licensed at the state level for electrical or general construction work, and the most-cited credentials homeowners check on this page are NABCEP certification, manufacturer training (Tesla, Enphase, SolarEdge), and verified workers' compensation coverage. Confirm AES Solar's state contractor license number with your Illinois licensing board, verify any NABCEP credentials at nabcep.org, and request proof of general liability and workers' compensation insurance certificates that name your project address before signing a contract. For larger projects, ask for two or three references from recently completed installs of similar size and call them about quality, schedule, and warranty service experience.
Typical project timeline. Most residential installs run 8–14 weeks end to end: about a week for the site survey and design, 2–6 weeks waiting on permits from the local Authority Having Jurisdiction, one to three days of physical installation, then 2–5 weeks for inspection and utility permission to operate. The panels go up fast; the paperwork is what sets the schedule. Ask AES Solar for the specific permitting turnaround in Carterville, because local inspection backlogs are the single most common source of schedule slippage and vary widely between neighboring jurisdictions.
What the quote process looks like. A serious solar installation quote is delivered in writing after a site assessment — not as a verbal number on a first phone call. Expect a written proposal with an itemized bill of materials (panel and inverter make and model), a production estimate modeled in PVWatts, Aurora, or Helioscope showing shading and tilt assumptions, the full price before and after any incentives, and financing terms disclosed separately from the equipment price. Get at least three comparable written proposals so you are comparing equipment and scope rather than sales pressure, and be wary of any bid that expires within 24 hours or requires more than 10% down before work begins.
Credentials to confirm. Before signing, verify the state contractor license number with the Illinois licensing board, confirm any NABCEP certification directly at nabcep.org, and request certificates of general liability and workers' compensation insurance that name your project address. A contractor who hesitates to produce these documents has told you what you need to know.
How warranty service works. Three separate warranties apply: the panel manufacturer's product and performance warranty (typically 25 years), the inverter warranty (10–25 years depending on platform), and the contractor's own workmanship warranty covering labor and roof penetrations. Only the last one depends on AES Solar remaining in business, which is why a company's track record in Carterville matters as much as the warranty length on paper. Confirm in writing who to call for a service claim, what the response window is, and whether the workmanship warranty transfers if you sell the home.
Electricity rates and payback. Residential customers in Illinois pay roughly 15–18¢ per kWh, and that avoided-cost figure — not any incentive — is what actually drives solar payback. The higher your current bill and the longer you plan to stay in the home, the stronger the case. Installed residential pricing in Illinois generally runs $2.60–$3.10 per watt before incentives, with smaller systems landing at the upper end because fixed permitting and mobilization costs spread across fewer watts.
Net metering and utility policy. Illinois operates under a transition away from full net metering that began in 2025, making self-consumption and storage more valuable for new systems. This is the detail most homeowners overlook and the one that changes twenty-year savings the most, so ask AES Solar to model your system under the tariff you will actually be placed on rather than a generic assumption.
Incentives available in 2026. The federal Section 25D residential tax credit expired on December 31, 2025, so homeowners buying a system outright no longer claim the 30% credit. Section 48E remains available for business-owned and third-party-owned systems, which is why lease and power-purchase-agreement offers have become more competitive in Illinois than they were a year ago. At the state and utility level, Illinois homeowners can look to Illinois Shines REC payments through the Adjustable Block Program and a special property-tax assessment. Confirm current program status before signing — incentive budgets are capped and windows close without much notice.
Why this is a workable solar market. Between 15–18¢ retail electricity, established installer competition around Carterville, and the policy structure above, Illinois supports well-designed residential solar — provided the system is sized to your actual usage rather than oversized to inflate a commission.
Clients consistently praise AES Solar for professional service, transparent communication, and quality workmanship. Reviewers frequently highlight the company's ability to deliver projects on schedule and within budget.
This summary is based on verified Top Solar Services reviews.
Aes proved to be a really good choice to add solar to our home in late 2025. It was a late decision and Aes did everything they could to get our install done in the appropriate timeline to be eligible for all the rebates etc. Im very happy with the installation and I'm looking fwd to low electric bills.
AES was great to work with each step of the way. They were very thorough in explaining the process- including the paperwork and rebates/incentives. Their workers were great during the installation, and their post-install customer service has been amazing as well. I highly recommend AES if you plan on going solar!
Very satisfied with AES. Did a bit of research on companies here in So Illinois went with AES due to the panels, micro inverters, and timeline. They took care of everything, paperwork, permits, inspection. Was planning on waiting till next year, but since the tax rebate is ending the end of this month decided to go this year instead. After all is done with rebates, tax incentives, and clean air credits I’m paying about 15k for a 41k system. The install went smoothly and the wait to get permission to operate went very quick. Thanks
I have been thinking about adding solar for years. I got quotes from several companies. AES provided the best pricing and product. They were able to work with my busy schedule and helped with all the processes making going solar so easy! They have been installing in our area for many years. Going with AES means you get a local company that has your back and is here to assist with any potential issues unlike the fly by night companies that are out for a quick buck. Their team they sent to install was very experienced and professional. It was done in one day! Thank you AES Team for bringing our solar dreams to fruition. We are enjoying the immediate savings! Call them today and tell them Eric sent you! 😁
I highly recommend AES Solar for your solar installation needs. From the beginning to the end of the project, they were very responsive, answered all our questions, and were very easy to work with.
They are very knowledgeable and experienced, and they are using and installing state of the art panels and equipment. We had a small problem with our power box shortly after install, and AES was quick to jump on the problem and resolved it in a timely manner.