Solstice offers both market rate and income-eligible community solar deals. If you are not already familiar with community solar, we recommend reading CUB’s Introduction to Community Solar first. Learn more about Solar for All.
How will signing up for the Solstice community solar offer affect my electric bill?
Solstice will look at your annual electricity usage history to determine your community solar subscription size, which is measured in kilowatts (kW). Once your subscription is activated, each month, your subscription will produce solar energy, measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh). The supply section of your electric utility bill will be credited for what your subscription produced that month. Then, Solstice will charge you for those credits in a separate solar bill, but with a 20-60% discount applied. So, rather than paying your electric utility for that clean energy you are paying Solstice, at a discounted rate. Even though you are now receiving two bills, you should be saving money overall.
Example: Say you are currently paying your electric utility 10 cents/kWh. Through Solstice community solar, you will be paying 5 cents/kWh (50% discount on the supply) for any electricity produced by the farm.
Solstice works within IL Shines, the market rate program, and Illinois Solar for All (ILSFA), the income-eligible program. The discount rate you receive will depend on your income. If you are subscribed to a newer ILSFA farm, you may receive consolidated billing, meaning everything will show up on your utility bill.
Your subscription size is designed to provide credits for your full electricity usage for the year, though there will be changes in your subscription’s energy production from month to month. For example, your subscription will produce less in winter, but more in summer, and your credits from the summer will rollover to help cover your electricity usage in winter.
What about alternative suppliers?
All customers, regardless of their alternative electricity supplier, can now receive solar bill credits as part of a community solar program. Learn more about alternative suppliers for consumers in ComEd territory and Ameren territory.
What does CUB think about this offer?
Community solar allows more Illinois consumers to access the benefits of clean energy, and CUB is pleased to see more offers hit the market. Solstice offers at least a 20% discount rate, which is on the higher end of the range. They also offer farms through ILSFA. You can find out which discount rate you would qualify for at Solstice’s website. We recommend comparing multiple offers and reading your contract thoroughly before signing up.
This chart summarizes key points about the Solstice deal:
| What utility territory does the company serve? | Ameren and ComEd. |
| Does the company offer savings? | Yes. Solstice offers 20-60% savings, depending on eligibility. |
| Is there a credit check when I sign up? | No. |
| What is the contract term? | 15-20 years, depending on the program. |
| Is there an “exit fee” for leaving the contract early? | None (Solstice requires 90 days’ written notice) |
| What are my billing options? | Utility Consolidated Billing or Dual Bill with Autopay, depending on the project. |
*Your payment is equal to the value of bill credits, assuming the default electricity supply charge with your utility, minus your discount percentage.
When will my subscription go live? When will I start to see credits on my utility bill?
You should only be charged by your community solar company once you start receiving utility bill credits. When that is depends on when your subscribed community solar project is interconnected to the utility grid.
You can find the month the company expects your subscription to go live in the “Subscription Specifications” section of the Standard Disclosure Form provided to you (if you weren’t provided a Standard Disclosure Form, that’s a problem – see the questions and concerns section below).
What happens if I move?
If you move within your current utility territory, you can take your community solar subscription with you. If you move outside of the utility territory, you can either cancel or assign your subscription to someone else.
Solstice does not charge a cancellation fee, and you must give 90 days written notice. In those 90 days, Solstice will still bill you for the solar produced by your subscription, and you will still receive utility bill credits if your account is still active.
Can I sign up for Solstice’s offer and a real-time pricing program?
Yes, you can participate in Solstice’s community solar program alongside ComEd’s Hourly Pricing program or Ameren’s Power Smart Pricing plan.
How do I sign up?
To sign up for Solstice’s community solar offer, visit their website here. CUB recommends comparing multiple offers before signing up. See all offers available to you at www.SolarintheCommunity.com, under the “Current Community Solar Deals” tab.
Who do I contact with questions or concerns?
We do our best at CUB to provide transparent information to consumers, but CUB does not administer the community solar program. If you have a complaint about Solstice or questions about the community solar program generally, contact the Illinois Shines program by calling 1-877-783-1820, emailing
[email protected], or visiting IllinoisShines.com.
If you still have questions or concerns about solar, including an advertisement you might have seen or someone who came to your door, you can call the CUB Hotline: 1-800-669-5556, Monday through Friday from 9am to 4pm.
If you believe you have been subject to fraudulent or deceptive sales practices, the Consumer Protection Division of the Illinois Attorney General’s office may be able to help. Customers can contact the following hotlines: Chicago: 1-800-386-5468 (TTY 1-800-964-3013), Springfield: 1-800-243-0618 (TTY 1-877-844-5461), Carbondale: 1-800-243-0607 (TTY 1-877-675-9339), and Spanish: 1-866-310-8398.
Have you signed up for a community solar program? Let us know about your experience!
