Is community solar a scam?

In 2015 New York became one of the first states to offer community solar, so most offers are legitimate business offers. Please check out this video on how community solar works in New York State.

Can I purchase panels in a community solar array?

At present there are no community solar arrays in the O&R service area that allow residents to purchase their own panels. 

If I can’t purchase panels, how can I get into community solar?

The companies that own the community solar arrays get customers to subscribe, then they assign each customer a percentage of total output of the solar array based on their usage history; based on that output, they give the customers discounts on their electricity bills, usually a 10% discount. 

How can they give 10% discounts on electricity just for subscribing?

This question was answered very thoroughly in our webinar. But the basic idea is that community solar arrays must be built in the service area of the customers who use it. In exchange for supporting local jobs, developing an important contribution to the local grid, and leasing from local landowners, community solar companies are allowed to get a larger percentage of your electricity payment than if they simply sold the electricity at a wholesale rate. As of September 2021, most community solar companies offer subscribers a 10% discount on their electricity bills. This arrangement makes it a good deal for the customers and the community solar companies, and a good deal for developing our 21st Century grid.

How will I be billed for electricity?

• In months when your share of the community solar production (including prior banked credits) is enough to cover your entire bill, you’ll get a bill from O&R that says what you would have owed, but that the solar array provided credits to offset your bill, so you owe nothing to O&R. But you’ll get a separate bill from the community solar company, asking you to pay 90% of what you would have paid to O&R.

• In months when your share of the community solar production (including prior banked credits) is not enough to cover your entire bill, you’ll get a bill from O&R that says what you would have owed, what part was covered by your production from community solar, and what part of the bill you still owe to O&R. You’ll also get a separate bill from the community solar company, asking you to pay 90% of the remainder.

But it’s good to remember, each month you will get some discount. Either 10% off your whole bill or 10% off a portion of your bill. 

Will I get a 10% discount every month?

No. Depending on when you go active, in some months during the first year (this really means up to the next April), the 10% discount will probably not cover your whole bill. Also, your total usage may also not be covered if either (A) it is a cloudier than normal year, so solar production is lower than expected, or (B) your usage markedly increases. But otherwise, you should get a 10% discount on your monthly bill.

If over time the 10% discount is not covering your entire bill, please contact your community solar provider and ask them to increase your allocation, or email us (CleanEnergy@sustainablewarwick.org) for assistance with that.

If I am already signed up for renewable electricity from O&R, why do I also need to sign up for Community Solar?

It's good to do both! Signing up for renewable electricity from O&R supports the development of renewable energy everywhere, while signing up for community solar further supports the local development of renewable energy -- and it saves you 10% on your electricity bills.

Do I need to have special equipment installed at my home?

No, there is nothing installed at your home and there are no special wires running from the solar array to your home. Orange & Rockland simply adjusts the way you are billed.

Where will my community solar panels be?

By state regulation they must be in the Orange & Rockland service region.  You can ask the community solar company when you sign up where your solar array is located. 

Can I get out of the community solar contract?

Yes!  You can get out of the contract with no penalty.  It may take up to 90 days for Orange and Rockland to make this change after you have contacted your solar community company.

If I want to subscribe for community solar, do they have to sign me up? Can they turn my application down?

Some applicants are turned down because they already have solar panels on their home or if they don’t use a minimum of 1,000 KwH annually. (That means their O&R bill would average under about $35/month.) Also, some -- but not all -- community solar companies will use credit scores or other measures to confirm subscribers will pay their bills, so some are turned away for that reason. Note that low-income New Yorkers (this means someone who qualifies for SNAP or HEAP) with an electric bill from O&R are always eligible for Solar for All.

Will signing up for Community Solar improve my complexion, reverse unwanted hair growth and/or make my children behave better?

Community Solar is not a panacea for all of our woes, but it’s a good thing to do for most families and a positive contribution to how we generate electricity. Having said that, helping friends and neighbors sign up for community solar could boost your popularity.

Are there other ways to save money on my electric bill?

Besides signing up for community solar, you can find ways to use less electricity—check out this website for the Community Energy Advisers from Cornell Cooperative Extension for assistance with that. You may also look for an Energy Supply Company (or ESCO) that offers a lower rate on your electricity supply charges.

Can businesses and nonprofits sign up for Community Solar?

Many can, but businesses with certain account types are ineligible. Please ask any of the community solar companies about your specific situation. 

Will the discount change over time? Can they reduce the 10% off rate? Will they reduce the amount of my discount when I’m not paying attention?

You will always be grandfathered for the discount rate you sign up at. If the discount rates increase, you could switch to the larger discount.

What if I have a complaint about my Community Solar company?

All of the community solar companies operate under the purview of the Public Service Commission. Please report any problems to the Public Service Commission by calling 800-342-3377.

Does Community Solar take up valuable farmland?

The best community solar companies go to great lengths to be sure they are avoiding good farmland. Brownfields, or fields where there’s historically been contamination, are often considered as sights for community solar arrays. Some solar arrays are built on farmland, but the farmer who leases the land benefits from the lease payments and will negotiate for a sunny but otherwise less desirable stretch of land to be used for the solar array. Yet other solar arrays are known for planting wildflowers or grazing sheep between the solar panels. 

Do Community Solar arrays despoil the land they are situated on?

Solar panels usually last about 25 years or so. If a community solar array were to be taken down and removed after 25 years, it could be done with no trace of pollution in the soil, groundwater or air. 

Will I save more if I get solar installed at my home?

If your home has the right solar exposure and if you can responsibly make an upfront investment, you would likely save more from having solar installed at your home. (This is especially true in the O&R service district, but not as true where electricity prices are lower.)

Do I get a bigger discount if I’m a tree hugger?

No.

Do I get a smaller discount if I find tree huggers annoying?

No.

Are the two preceding items really frequently asked questions?

No, but if you share this web page with your friends (especially anyone who could use some savings on their electricity bills), that answer might change going forward.

How can I tell if I am saving 10% a year?

The bill from the community solar company will tell you how much you have saved since you started. 

How long will it take to get community solar?

It will take two or three months to go active after you sign up, because your solar company has to work with O&R to change your account settings. The wait could be even longer if the community solar company has no supply of space at local solar farms and is waiting for new solar arrays to open. 

What happens if the community solar array I'm subscribed to goes offline? (Example: A storm damages the solar array and it has to go offline for repairs.)

If for whatever reason the project you're subscribed to goes offline, you'll still be getting electricity from your utility company, but you temporarily won't be getting the discount from your community solar subscription. Basically, things will go back to how they were before you subscribed. If a project has to shut down completely, the solar array company will help you switch to another project in your area or you could switch to another company.