Green Energy Justice Cooperative (GEJC) offers both market rate and income-eligible community solar deals in Will and DuPage counties. If you are not already familiar with community solar, please read CUB’s Introduction to Community Solar first. Also, learn more about an income-qualified program called Illinois Solar for All.
Community-Driven Community Solar (‘CDCS’) Green Energy Justice Cooperative includes projects, up to 5 megawatts (MW), that are meant to provide direct clean energy benefits to the communities in Will and DuPage counties where they operate. Read how CDCS works, how it will affect your electric bills, and how you can save money.
How will signing up for the GEJC solar offer affect my electric bill?
The subscription process starts by becoming a member: You fill out the membership form and show proof you live in the service area and have a ComEd utility account. Then, choose your one-time fee membership tier: $5 for Lower-Income (with income proof), $25 for Standard, and $750 for supporters/organizations. Once confirmed, you can subscribe to the solar farm.
GEJC will help you determine the right subscription size, measured in kilowatts (kW), based on your average electricity usage and what capacity from the solar farm is available. Next, you will review and sign the solar agreement and provide your utility information. You’ll get confirmation of your enrollment, and GEJC will connect your account with ComEd. Once activated, your subscription will produce solar energy, measured in kilowatt-hours (kWh), each month. The supply section of your electric utility bill will be credited for what your subscription produced that month. Then, GEJC will charge you for those credits through a consolidated billing system, but with a discount of up to 20 percent.
Example: Say you are currently paying your electric utility 10 cents/kWh. Through GEJC community solar, you will be paying 8 cents/kWh (20% discount on the supply) for any electricity produced by the farm.
As a member, you’ll get monthly credits and take part in profit-sharing. You’ll also be able to track your savings online, take part in decisions about the cooperative and attend meetings and educational events.
Note: 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 electricity supplier, can now receive solar bill credits as part of a community solar program. Be careful about bad alternative supplier deals. Read CUB’s fact sheet.
What does CUB think about this offer?
Community solar allows more Illinois consumers to enjoy the benefits of renewable energy, and CUB is pleased to see these offers in the market. This is Illinois’s first community-owned solar cooperative, providing more tangible benefits to community members. Members of the cooperative will be able to vote on decisions, attend member meetings, receive profit-sharing distributions, and gain access to educational resources. GEJC does require an online ComEd account to enroll in the solar farm, which can be a barrier for customers who don’t have online accounts. GEJC offers up to a 20 percent savings over your utility’s energy supply price. Visit www.SolarInTheCommunity.com to see CUB’s analysis of other deals available in Illinois.
This chart summarizes key points about the Green Energy Justice Cooperative deal:
| What utility territory does the company serve? | ComEd (DuPage and Will Counties only) |
| Does the company offer savings? | Yes. Green Energy Justice Cooperative offers up to 20% off the utility default supply rate for the community solar bill credits you receive. |
| Is there a credit check when I sign up? | None |
| What is the contract term? | 30 years |
| Is there an “exit fee” for leaving the contract early? | There is no cancellation fee (“90 days notice required”) |
| What are my billing options? | Consolidated Billing, one time sign up fee of $5 (low income, 80% of area median income), $25 (standard, or $750 (organizations/supports) |
When will my subscription go live? When will I start to see credits on my utility bill?
The solar arrays are still under construction. They expect credits to appear on subscribers’ ComEd bills starting in early 2026.
What happens if I move?
If you move out of ComEd territory, you’ll need to give advance notice. There is no fee, but 90 days notice is required, otherwise you may be charged for the electricity. If you move within the two-county region, you can keep the subscription. Subscribers who move out of DuPage or Will county, cannot keep their subscription. If they still reside in Illinois, former subscribers can keep their membership. This means they would still have a vote as a co-op member and continue to realize any benefits of membership, such as dividends, if any.
Can I sign up for GEJC’s offer and a real-time pricing program?
Yes, you can participate in GEJC’s community solar program alongside ComEd’s Hourly Pricing program.
How do I sign up?
To enroll in GEJC’s community solar program, visit GEJC. See all community solar offers available to you at CUB’s online resource: Solar In The Community
Have you signed up for a community solar program? Let us know about your experience!
