This article provides general information on community solar offers–for details on specific offers, please go to SolarInTheCommunity.com, CUB’s community solar resource. If you are not already familiar with community solar, please read our Introduction to Community Solar first.
How does a community solar offer work?
When you sign up for community solar, you are subscribing to a portion of the project’s monthly output. The solar company will analyze your household’s energy demand to determine your subscription size.
Each month, you pay your community solar provider a discounted rate for the amount of electricity generated by your subscription. The provider then reports the output of your subscription to the utility, and the utility company adds a credit to your electric bill equal to that output.
Will I save money with community solar?
Currently, community solar companies typically offer discounts of 10 percent to 20 percent off the utility’s supply rate, and savings can be even greater for certain income-qualified customers.
How do I get billed for community solar?
Companies utilize two billing structures: dual billing and consolidated billing.
- Dual billing: With dual billing, you receive your typical electric bill, as well as a bill from the community solar company. The company will bill you for the energy generated by your subscription, typically with a discount of 10 percent to 20 percent off the current utility rate. So, rather than paying your electric utility for that energy, you are paying the community solar company, at a discounted rate. The total amount you save monthly will vary as the solar production of your subscription varies.
- Consolidated billing: This means both the payment to the community solar company and the bill credits will be shown on your utility bill. The line item on the bill that represents the 10 percent to 20 percent discounted energy is written as “subscription fee” on your utility bill. Your utility will pass this payment on to your community solar provider.
See this blog article for more information on billing.
What is the Community Solar Standard Disclosure Form?
Illinois Shines, the state’s solar incentive program, requires community solar companies to provide the consumer with a disclosure form before signing any contract. This form will summarize the consumer’s specific subscription offer. Read this form carefully to make sure you fully understand your offer. (Learn more about the Illinois Shines Community Solar Disclosure Form.)
When will my subscription go live? When will I start to see credits on my utility bill?
This depends on when the community solar garden connected to your offer is completed. The Community Solar Standard Disclosure Form you receive from your chosen company includes the month they expect your subscription to go live in the “Subscription Specifications” section. Once you sign up, you can also check your customer portal–at your community solar company’s website–for updates on your project.
Is a community solar offer the same as an alternative supplier/municipal aggregation offer?
A community solar offer is NOT the same as an alternative supplier offer. In fact, you can take part in your community’s municipal aggregation offer while also signing up for a community solar offer. All customers, regardless of their electricity supplier, can receive solar bill credits as part of a community solar program.
But remember: If you participate in community solar and sign up for an alternative supplier, your discount will be based on the default utility rate and not the alternative supplier rate. So if your alternative supplier price is more expensive than the default utility supply price, your community solar credit won’t reduce the supply section of your bill as much as you could if your supplier was the utility. On the other hand if your alternative supplier is less expensive than the default utility, a community solar offer could save you even more on the supply section of your bill.
CUB has warned electricity customers about bad alternative supplier deals year after year–Illinois consumers have lost billions of dollars to them. It’s likely that the utility is your best bet for supply. Learn more about alternative suppliers for consumers in ComEd territory and Ameren territory.
What happens if I have leftover community solar credits at the end of the month?
Community solar credits roll over month to month–they do not expire. CUB recommends making sure your subscription fits your typical usage patterns. If the subscription is too large for your usage, you will have an excess of credits that you have paid for through your community solar company but are not using. Ask your community solar company about how they determine the size of your subscription.
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 assign your subscription to someone else. (That person must first properly enroll in the community solar program, including reviewing all of the applicable disclosure forms.) Most, if not all, companies do require 90 days for a cancellation to be processed. During that period the community solar provider will still bill you for the solar produced, and you will still receive bill credits if your account is still active.
Can I sign up for community solar and a real-time pricing program?
Yes, you can participate in community solar programs alongside ComEd and Ameren’s real time pricing programs, which charge a supply price that can change hourly.
Note: Both ComEd (page 523 of Rider POGCS) and Ameren (Rider NMCS) state that even if you’re on a real-time pricing program, the community solar credits will be calculated based on the traditional default utility price.
How to sign up?
Click here to download a community solar offer comparison chart. CUB recommends comparing multiple offers and understanding all the terms before signing up for community solar. Always read your contract thoroughly. If you have additional questions about an offer, contact that company directly.
CUB’s comparison chart, at SolarInTheCommunity.com, compares several community solar offers by highlighting various criteria like utility territory, supply savings, contract term, cancellation fee, credit check. The chart also provides contact information for the companies. Note: Companies provide CUB offer updates periodically, but we may not have a full list of current offers. Contact a company directly to make sure you get the latest updates on their offers.
Have you signed up for a community solar program?
Let us know about your experience!
