Community Solar
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Community solar is a large facility with many solar panels located in an open space in or near your community. The facility’s solar panels are connected to your utility’s electric grid, not on your roof or your property. Each community solar member is allotted a portion of the solar array and the...
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b. What are the advantages of community solar?
Community solar allows you the opportunity to go solar without any upfront cost or installation on your roof or property and most programs guarantee savings on your energy bill from day one. Community solar site locations are selected to allow the solar panels to orient towards the sun at the p... -
Depending on where you live and which option you select, you may end up with one of the following community solar developers: Clean Energy Collective (CEC) is the nation’s leading community solar solutions provider. CEC builds, operates, and maintains clean energy solar facilities for utilities ...
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Customers must have an active electric service address within a particular solar facilities’ numerous load zones in order to participate. Almost all metered Con Edison customers are eligible. Some community solar programs do require a minimum credit score for participation. As an example, CEC r...
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e. Am I still connected to my utility?
Yes. With community solar, you are still connected to your local utility’s electric grid. -
f. Once enrolled in the program, will I receive two bills?
Yes. You will still receive a bill from your utility for “basic service charges”. Since your solar power will still be delivered through the grid, your utility is still providing a service. This is a charge that you already pay today. The bill from your solar provider for the energy consumed, w... -
g. Are there any fees or taxes?
Taxes are already incorporated into the program prices and are handled by the solar facilities directly. In most cases, if your ACH payment fails after an attempt at collection, you will be charged a late fee which is determined by your solar facility directly. -
Each month, your utility allocates a portion of the solar energy from your community solar facility to your bill, based on information provided by the community solar developer. That portion will show as a dollar credit on your utility bill. Separately, you will receive a bill from your communit...
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i. How does participation in community solar save me money?
There are three different ways in which community solar programs are structured to help save on electric bills. Depending on the available projects in your area, they will typically offer one of the following rate-structures: Savings per kWh: This type of program guarantees a certain monetary... -
j. When are my payments due to the solar facility?
Payment schedules are determined and outlined by each individual solar facility. Some solar facilities are able receive usage data from the utility quickly and can match up bill-dates with your utility bill date. In other situations, it can take the solar facility a few days to retrieve usage dat... -
k. How large is the system I’m subscribing to?
Your system size will be customized to meet your energy needs. You will be assigned a system size in kilowatts-DC based on your electric consumption history, and the details of your system size will be outlined in your contract agreement. -
In most cases, you can transfer your community solar service to your new home if you remain within the same load zone (and sometimes a different load zone), and your solar facility has available capacity. If you are moving and want to transfer your service, you can contact your solar facility to ...
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Agreement terms range anywhere from month-to-month to 25 years. Sometimes, a developer will provide favorable savings for a longer term which provides added flexibility and choice.
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n. Am I signing a contract with the solar facility or my utility?
The agreement will be between you and the solar facility. -
With most agreements, once you have signed, you have 3 days to cancel with no penalty.