Community Solar in New York

A community solar project, sometimes referred to as a garden or farm, is a collection of solar panels called an array that supplies electricity to a local power grid serving the region. Community solar projects exist to bring the benefits of solar power to members of a community who may not be able – or who prefer not – to install solar panels where they live or work. People who participate by subscribing to the project benefit from the electricity generated by the community solar project, which costs less than what they would normally pay to their utility for electricity.

It depends on your solar project. Once your project starts generating energy, you may or may not be charged monthly for a portion of the project’s energy production. Either way, you’ll also receive solar credits that help cover your energy bill payment and actually save you money on your monthly energy costs. Your subscription charge (if any), solar credits, and monthly savings will vary depending on the state program or specific solar project, but people who subscribe to a community solar project in New York can save up to 10%. With community solar, your savings are locked in – with no hidden fees – so you’ll always pay less on your energy costs than if you hadn’t subscribed to community solar.

Community Solar: How the Billing Process Works explains this really well if you’d like more information.

When you sign up for community solar, you’re allocated a portion of the project’s energy production. In exchange, you receive solar credits that are applied to your utility bill each month and result in monthly savings on your energy costs. In Maine, you can save up to 15% on your monthly energy costs. (You can watch your solar credits accruing in your community solar dashboard, if you’d like.)

Once your project starts generating energy, you may or may not be charged monthly for a portion of the project’s energy production, depending on your project. With every project, you’ll also receive solar credits that reduce your monthly utility bill charges. Your subscription charge (if any), solar credits, and monthly savings will vary depending on the specific solar project, but people who subscribe to a community solar project in New York can save up to 10% on their monthly energy costs. With community solar, your savings are locked in – with no hidden fees – so you’ll always pay less on your energy costs than if you hadn’t subscribed to community solar.

For more information, see Community Solar: How the Billing Process Works.

You’ll always receive a bill from your utility company that will reflect solar credits you receive for your portion of the solar project’s energy production. Depending on the solar project you sign up for, you may get a separate community solar bill from us on which you’ll pay – at a discounted rate – for your portion of the solar project’s energy production. This is called dual billing. Or, your subscription charges may show up on your utility bill (single billing). In either case, your solar credits will help cover your energy bill payment – and will save you money on your monthly energy costs. With community solar, your savings are locked in – with no hidden fees – so you’ll always pay less on your energy costs than if you hadn’t subscribed to community solar.

For more detail on how single and dual billing work, see Community Solar: How the Billing Process Works.

First, we must determine if there’s an available project near you. To find out, simply enter your ZIP code, county, and utility provider here. If there is, we collect basic information to set up your community solar account. We ask you to provide your estimated average monthly utility usage (or you can log into your utility account instead), and then select your plan. Lastly, if your project uses dual billing, you set up your preferred method of payment; if it uses single billing, you’ll be billed and pay through your utility company. It all takes just a few minutes.

For more on single and dual billing, see Community Solar: How the Billing Process Works.

No. You can save up to 10% on your monthly energy costs, depending on the specific project. With community solar, your savings are locked in – with no hidden fees – so you’ll always pay less on your energy costs than if you hadn’t subscribed to community solar.

If you move and your new address is in the same project territory, you can remain subscribed to the same project – but please let us know so we can update your information. If you move outside the project coverage area, please call us. We may have another project available in your new neighborhood. If you change your mind, there’s no fee to cancel. A notice is often required, and the length of any notice needed is explained in your agreement.