Why we started
The problem we kept seeing
Homeowners in Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will counties were being pitched solar by companies that led with a savings number, waved at "the government program," and asked for a signature the same afternoon. Many of those homeowners said yes without understanding who owned the system, who got the incentives, or what their utility would actually credit them. Some said no to a decision that might have been right for them, because nobody had explained it in a way they could trust.
We thought the first conversation should be different: a real person, a plain-language walk through the options, the facts with their sources, and a written summary with nothing to sign. If that conversation is honest, the rest of the process gets easier for everyone.
What the name means
Why "ISI"
Our name comes from Proverbs 27:17: "As iron sharpens iron, so one person sharpens another." We are a faith-rooted company, and we mention that here because it is true and it shapes how we work, not because it is a reason to buy anything from us. In practice it means three things:
- We tell the truth about fit, even when it costs us the sale.
- We treat your questions as the point of the conversation, not an obstacle to it.
- We try to leave every homeowner sharper than we found them, whether or not they go solar.
What we do and do not do
Our role, stated plainly
ISI Energy is a sales, education, and project-coordination company. We help homeowners understand home solar, battery backup, and EV charging, and we coordinate projects with independent, licensed partners certified by the Illinois Commerce Commission as Distributed Generation Installers. We are not a roofing contractor, not an electrical installer, not a utility, and not a government program. Every regulated task on your project is performed by a licensed partner whose name you will know before you sign anything with them. See How It Works.
The people
Who you will talk to
Chad Panton, Co-founder
Chad Panton is a co-founder of ISI Energy and a Tampa-based entrepreneur who has enjoyed building businesses for two decades. He has gravitated toward marketplace ministry opportunities that are mission-focused and fueled by purpose-driven people. Chad is committed to being part of only organizations that lead with trust and transparency. That value, along with a shared passion for philanthropy and giving back through their communities and churches, brought him and Noah together to form ISI Energy. He's excited to serve families with solutions that reduce costs and provide the peace of mind of owning their home's power source.
Noah Grimes, Co-founder
Noah Grimes is a co-founder of ISI Energy and has been a leader in the solar space for over 10 years. He carries a tremendous heartbeat for faith-based solutions and the solar industry, and he shares Chad's passion for philanthropy and giving back through their communities and churches. Driven to take the opportunity to the next level, Noah co-founded ISI to reach and help more homeowners. He's excited to keep serving customers with best-in-class solutions proven to deliver real value.
How we try to work
Our commitments
1. Plain language. If we cannot explain it simply, we have not understood it well enough to recommend it.
2. Sources, not slogans. Any number we give you comes with where it came from: the IRS, the Illinois Commerce Commission, the Illinois Power Agency, ComEd, or your municipal utility.
3. No pressure. No same-day signatures, no deposits on a consultation, no "this price expires tonight."
4. Your right to stop. Say stop, by phone or text, and we stop.
5. Transparency about partners. You know the licensed company doing the work, and you can verify them yourself.
Where we work
Serving the Chicago suburbs
We work with homeowners and small businesses in Cook, DuPage, Kane, Lake, McHenry, and Will counties, including Schaumburg, Naperville, Arlington Heights, Elgin, Aurora, Waukegan, Crystal Lake, Joliet, and the communities around them. Consultations are by video, so the process is the same whether you are in Lake Forest or Lockport.
Illinois Solar Answers
Why we publish answers
A website that only sells is not much use to a homeowner trying to understand net metering at 10 p.m. So we write short, sourced articles on the questions we hear most, with a named author and a last-reviewed date on each one. Browse Illinois Solar Answers.
Talk to a person who will explain it
Secondary link: Interested in working alongside us as an independent sales representative? See independent sales opportunities.