Solar Archives | Citizens Utility Board https://www.citizensutilityboard.org/blog/tag/solar/ Fight utility rate hikes, promote clean energy, and advocate for consumer protections in Illinois. Wed, 27 Aug 2025 21:15:58 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.8.2 https://www.citizensutilityboard.org/wp-content/uploads/2020/09/cropped-CUB_LogoBadgeAlt-32x32.png Solar Archives | Citizens Utility Board https://www.citizensutilityboard.org/blog/tag/solar/ 32 32 Solar Landscape: CUB’s evaluation of Solar Landscape’s community solar offer https://www.citizensutilityboard.org/blog/2024/08/05/solar-landscape-community-solar-offer/ Mon, 05 Aug 2024 21:09:55 +0000 https://www.citizensutilityboard.org/?p=41065 This is an evaluation of Solar Landscape’s community solar offering. If you are not already familiar with community solar, we recommend reading CUB’s Introduction to Community Solar first. How will signing up for the Solar Landscape community solar offer affect my electric bill? Solar Landscape 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. Solar Landscape offers consolidated billing, meaning they are able to charge you for those solar credits right on your electric bill,  but with a 20% discount applied. So, rather than paying your electric utility for that clean energy you are paying Solar Landscape, at a discounted rate.  Example: Say you are currently paying your electric utility 10 cents/kWh. Through Solar Landscape’s community solar, you will be paying 8 cents/kWh (20% discount on the supply) for any electricity produced by the farm. 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. This offer includes a 20% savings discount, which is on the higher end of the range. It also offers consolidated billing, meaning everything will be on the ComEd bill. We recommend comparing multiple offers and reading your contract thoroughly before signing up. We have also heard reports of door-to-door marketing. We recommend accepting marketing materials so that you can do more research later, rather than signing up at the door. This chart summarizes key points about the deal: What utility territory does the company serve? ComEd. Does the company offer savings? Yes, 20% supply savings. Is there a credit check when I sign up? No. What is the contract term? 5 years with 2-year auto renewal Is there an “exit fee” for leaving the contract early? None. What are my billing options? Consolidated Billing. How do I contact them? help@solarlandscape-support.com (888) 595-3990 * 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 post Solar Landscape: CUB’s evaluation of Solar Landscape’s community solar offer appeared first on Citizens Utility Board.

]]>
Solar Simplified: CUB’s evaluation of Solar Simplified IL Solar for All community solar offer https://www.citizensutilityboard.org/blog/2024/08/05/solar-simplified-community-solar-offer/ Mon, 05 Aug 2024 20:32:23 +0000 https://www.citizensutilityboard.org/?p=41060 Solar Simplified is a community solar company offering subscriptions to income-eligible Ameren customers, through the Solar for All program. 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 Solar Simplified community solar offer affect my electric bill? Solar Simplified 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. Solar Simplified offers consolidated billing, meaning they are able to charge you for those solar credits right on your electric bill,  but with a 50% discount applied. So, rather than paying your electric utility for that clean energy you are paying Solar Simplified, at a discounted rate.  Example: Say you are currently paying your electric utility 10 cents/kWh. Through Solar Simplified community solar, you will be paying 5 cents/kWh (50% discount on the supply) for any electricity produced by the farm. 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. Solar Simplified specifically offers deals through Solar for All. Solar for All is Illinois’ income-eligible solar program. Use this tool to see if you qualify. This chart summarizes key points about the deal: What utility territory does the company serve? Ameren. Does the company offer savings? Yes, 50%. Is there a credit check when I sign up? TBC What is the contract term? TBC Is there an “exit fee” for leaving the contract early? None. What are my billing options? Consolidated Billing. How do I contact them? (888) 420-9831, cs@solarsimplified.com *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 […]

The post Solar Simplified: CUB’s evaluation of Solar Simplified IL Solar for All community solar offer appeared first on Citizens Utility Board.

]]>
We asked for your clean energy testimonials and CUB supporters delivered https://www.citizensutilityboard.org/blog/2023/09/15/we-asked-for-your-clean-energy-testimonials-and-cub-supporters-delivered/ Fri, 15 Sep 2023 20:24:05 +0000 https://www.citizensutilityboard.org/?p=38262 We asked our e-newsletter recipients for their energy success stories, and we received many great testimonials on how you’re using clean energy to cut costs. Here are a few of our favorites. Derek, Oak Park Using state and federal clean energy rebates, Derek was able to achieve a significant reduction in his home’s carbon footprint by installing solar panels, making energy efficiency upgrades and swapping out gas appliances for electric ones. “As a homeowner, there are significant steps I can take to do my part in eliminating my own personal climate pollution: replace our appliances with electric ones and generate free, clean energy with rooftop solar panels,” he wrote. “We don’t need to wait for some new technology to be invented, or some new program to make this transition. We can start now, and do our part to save the planet, improve our quality of life, and save money in the long run.” Robert, Chicago Robert participates in ComEd’s Hourly Pricing program, which charges an electricity supply rate that can change hourly. (Read CUB’s ComEd Hourly Pricing factsheet and see CUB’s Electric page for more information on utility special pricing programs.) If you can avoid heavy electricity usage during high-priced times, you can save money. In fact, the average customer is saving about 15 percent on the supply portion of their bill. “We shifted our laundry and dishwasher to overnight operation using built-in delay timers in the devices,” he said. “We have saved 25 percent in energy costs since making the switch.” Ed, Carlinville Ed switched out his air conditioner and furnace for an energy-efficient heat pump system. “The great thing about air source heat pumps is that they offer you more bang for your buck by functioning as a heating source in the winter and, using the same technology in reverse, an AC in the summer,” said CUB’s new Carbon Free Buildings Coordinator Joey Lee. Read CUB’s Better Heat Guide and Heat Pump factsheet to learn how you can make the switch too. Kathy, Chicago Kathy has insulated her home, installed solar panels, bought an electric stove and an electric heat pump dryer and installed a heat pump. “I hope to later this year or early next year put in a heat pump water heater at that point I will be 100 percent electric in a 110-year-old house!” she said. Read CUB’s Guide to the Inflation Reduction Act to learn how you can use federal rebates for these electric appliance upgrades and CUB’s Solar Guide for more information about solar energy in Illinois. Michael, Lincolnshire A few years ago, Michael learned about the Community Solar program, which helps participants enjoy the benefits of solar without having to install panels on their property. The program allows consumers to save money on their electric bills from energy produced by large, offsite community solar projects, similar to how you would save on your electric bill if you installed panels on your own property. Michael signed up, and he said: “I started saving money on my electric bills… For the first 2-year contract ending 1/1/23, I have saved $303.26.” Jim, Berwyn Jim installed […]

The post We asked for your clean energy testimonials and CUB supporters delivered appeared first on Citizens Utility Board.

]]>
What is Electrification? A CUB Explainer https://www.citizensutilityboard.org/blog/2023/04/28/what-is-electrification-a-cub-explainer/ Fri, 28 Apr 2023 15:56:24 +0000 https://www.citizensutilityboard.org/?p=37185 What’s with all the buzz about electrification? CUB has a new “Better Heat” guide that explains this topic in-depth, but here’s a quick CUB explainer to help break it all down.  What is electrification?  Building electrification is the process of replacing fossil-fueled equipment like furnaces and natural gas stoves with their electric counterparts. Switching to electricity to run your home means that your energy can come from clean and more affordable sources like solar or wind, improve indoor air quality and help protect you from high gas costs.  Why does CUB support it?  CUB supports the transition to electrification because Illinoisians simply can’t afford not to.  Gas is bad for our bottom lines: The volatile gas market subjects customers to recurring price spikes and high charges linked to aggressive utility spending. Currently, Illinois consumers face about $887 million in rate-hike requests by the state’s major gas utilities. These problems are felt statewide but seem to be most severe in Chicago, where about one in five customers are consistently one month or more behind on their gas bills. (Last month, we held a protest at the Peoples Gas Headquarters against their record $402 million rate-hike request.)  Gas is bad for our health: There is mounting evidence that gas stoves pollute your home’s air. Sustainability think tank RMI linked the typical use of gas stoves to a 42 percent increase in rates of childhood asthma and additional health problems. Gas is bad for the planet: Heating with gas is a major contributor to greenhouse gas emissions. RMI found that 10 states account for nearly 60 percent of greenhouse gas emissions from buildings — and Illinois ranks third.   Natural gas isn’t a sustainable option, either environmentally or financially, in the long run. It’s time for consumers to explore alternatives.  How do we electrify? Electrification requires planning–this won’t happen overnight. But there are steps you can take now to get started.   Complete your checklist of energy efficiency upgrades. CUB’s Clean Energy page has information on tips and programs to make your home more efficient. A  home energy audit can help you make a checklist of improvements. Making your home as efficient as possible maximizes savings before you switch from gas. Plus, it’ll help when the time comes to purchase an electric heat pump (see below) to replace your gas heat: An energy-efficient home may require a smaller, less expensive pump. Manage your energy use.  When you use energy is as important as how much you use. You can participate in “demand response” programs in which you can put off the bulk of your electricity usage to times when electricity demand is lower. By reducing peak electricity demand, these programs help make the power grid cleaner and more reliable, and they can help you save money. Consider using more renewable energy– you can do this by subscribing to a community solar offer or installing solar panels on your home. There has never been a better time to go solar. Once you’ve done these, consider switching from gas to electric appliances. Geothermal heat pumps are the most efficient method to heat and cool your homes and […]

The post What is Electrification? A CUB Explainer appeared first on Citizens Utility Board.

]]>
Illinois solar energy is spreading thanks to group buy programs https://www.citizensutilityboard.org/blog/2022/09/26/illinois-solar-energy-is-spreading-thanks-to-group-buy-programs/ Mon, 26 Sep 2022 18:50:14 +0000 https://www.citizensutilityboard.org/?p=35621 Thanks to the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act (CEJA) and the Inflation Reduction Act, we’re in an exciting time for solar energy in Illinois. With our partner the Midwest Renewable Energy Association, the Grow Solar group buy program is helping property owners across Illinois take the first steps toward lower electricity bills with rooftop solar.  “Now is a perfect time to consider going solar,” says Marina Minic, CUB Solar Programs Administrator. “Adding solar panels can lower your energy bills right away, and unlike utility companies, those panels will never raise their rates.” A solar group-buy program is where people interested in installing solar panels can enjoy volume discounts. In addition to offering a lower base price for solar panels, the Grow Solar program has a series of price breaks as the program hits participation benchmarks. (On top of that, state and federal incentives can cover up to 70 percent of the cost of going solar.)   Grow Solar Chicagoland, which is open to property owners in Cook, Will, DuPage, Lake and Kane counties, has reached its first benchmark of 50 kilowatts and nearing its second of 300 kW. While the group buy program is still open to new participants, the final day to start the process by requesting a site assessment will be Sept. 30, 2022 and the sign-up deadline has been extended to Nov. 9.  Meanwhile, Grow Solar Urbana-Champaign has already reached its second volume discount benchmark of 100 kilowatts of new solar projects, leading consumers to unlock the second tier of savings. The program is open to property owners in Champaign, Piatt, and Vermilion Counties.  With the recent passage of the Inflation Reduction Act, there are even more reasons to consider going solar. “This new legislation has many great provisions to help homeowners lower their energy costs,” says Marta Monti, Grow Solar Program Manager at the MREA. “The federal tax credit for new solar arrays has been extended and raised to 30%. By combining that tax credit with our group buy rebates and Illinois’ Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SRECs), property owners can save up to 70% on the cost of a new solar system.”  If you’ve missed out on past Solar Power Hour events, watch a replay here on the Grow Solar Facebook Page.  For more information on solar energy:  See Grow Solar Chicagoland and Grow Solar Urbana-Champaign for more group-buy information. Visit CUB’s Clean Energy page.  Read CUB’s Introduction to Rooftop Solar factsheet.  See CUB’s Solar in the Community page for information on a solar energy option for renters. 

The post Illinois solar energy is spreading thanks to group buy programs appeared first on Citizens Utility Board.

]]>
Grow Solar Chicagoland 2022: Join our Virtual Solar Power Hour with MREA https://www.citizensutilityboard.org/blog/2022/05/20/grow-solar-chicagoland-2022-join-our-virtual-solar-power-hour-with-mrea/ Fri, 20 May 2022 14:29:30 +0000 https://www.citizensutilityboard.org/?p=34309 We’re holding a special, interactive Facebook Live event with Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA) to inform Chicagoland consumers about an innovative program that has helped participants use solar power to collectively cut their electric bills by tens of thousands of dollars. This joint online event will answer consumer questions about going solar and how to join the Grow Solar Chicagoland group-buy program. This information session, called a “Solar Power Hour,” is:  Wednesday, May 25, 2022 at 6:30 p.m. Register here or watch live on CUB’s Facebook Page.  Now in its third year, the Grow Solar Chicagoland program offers free educational sessions as well as volume-pricing discounts on solar panels.  Since 2019, the program has helped 205 properties install 1,474 kilowatts of solar. Past participants have collectively reduced their energy costs by nearly $100,000 in just one year. Along with a lower base price for solar panels, the Grow Solar program group buy has a series of price breaks as the program hits participation benchmarks thanks to bulk purchasing. The program officially launched on May 19, and the deadline to participate is Sept. 30. Visit www.GrowSolar.org/Chicagoland/ for more information.

The post Grow Solar Chicagoland 2022: Join our Virtual Solar Power Hour with MREA appeared first on Citizens Utility Board.

]]>
Solstice: CUB’s evaluation of Solstice’s community solar offer https://www.citizensutilityboard.org/blog/2021/03/16/solstice-community-solar-offer/ Tue, 16 Mar 2021 19:06:30 +0000 https://www.citizensutilityboard.org/blog/2021/03/16/us-solar-community-solar-offer-copy/ 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? Yes, with some offers. Make sure to confirm when signing up. 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 […]

The post Solstice: CUB’s evaluation of Solstice’s community solar offer appeared first on Citizens Utility Board.

]]>
Weatherization assistance, solar tax credits included in COVID stimulus package https://www.citizensutilityboard.org/blog/2021/01/04/weatherization-assistance-solar-tax-credits-included-in-covid-stimulus-package/ Mon, 04 Jan 2021 21:36:05 +0000 https://www.citizensutilityboard.org/?p=30359 Many consumers across the U.S. should soon see $600 payments in their bank accounts, thanks to a $900 billion stimulus package passed by Congress. Although headlines focused on financial assistance, the federal legislation also encourages energy efficiency and extends an important benefit for people who want to go solar.   The relief bill became law on Dec. 27.  Here’s a summary of its energy-related provisions: Weatherization The package includes the Energy Act of 2020 and the Energy for the Environment Act, which contain new provisions for the Department of Energy’s (DOE) Weatherization Assistance Program. The federal program reduces energy costs for low-income households by increasing their efficiency.  According to the American Council for an Energy-Efficient Economy, the bill helps the program address more than weatherization, and now includes assistance for health and safety issues in homes as well as solar installations. The DOE program creates 8,500 jobs and provides weatherization services to about 35,000 homes each year. These households save, on average, $283 each year as a result of the program. To apply for weatherization assistance, visit this website. Solar tax credit The package also extends many special energy tax credits that were set to expire at the end of 2020. Notably for Illinois consumers, the Energy Investment Tax Credit (ITC) was extended. This ITC allows consumers to deduct a percentage of their solar project costs from their federal taxes. For solar installations that begin construction by the end of 2022, consumers can deduct 26 percent. The benefit drops to 22 percent for installations that begin by the end of 2023, and in 2024, the credit disappears entirely for residential customers.  This incentive does not depend on how much energy your solar system produces, but you must pay federal taxes to benefit. For more information on the solar ITC, visit this Department of Energy fact sheet. The package also includes a 5-year 30 percent ITC for new offshore wind facilities, including inland waters like the Great Lakes.  Power grid upgrades Electric grid modernization was another dominant feature of the package’s utility provisions. Congress authorized programs to model, test and develop  technologies for a more secure, reliable grid. Along with a slew of other provisions to move along modernization, the Department of Energy was permitted to work on integrating renewable energy and electric vehicles onto the grid.  Water Bill Assistance The legislation also provides $638 million in funding to the Department of Health and Human Services to create a new Low-Income Household Drinking Water and Wastewater Emergency Assistance Program. The new program and funding would be used to help low-income households afford their water bills. The relief package also includes: The Protecting Our Infrastructure of Pipelines Enhancing Safety (PIPES) Act of 2020, which directs the Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration to create rules requiring operators of natural gas gathering, transmission, and distribution pipelines to conduct methane leak detection and repair programs. A national goal to allow at least 25 gigawatts of renewable electricity on federal lands. Note: The legislation also created the Emergency Rental Assistance program, providing $25 billion in funding for renters that can go to rent and utilities. We […]

The post Weatherization assistance, solar tax credits included in COVID stimulus package appeared first on Citizens Utility Board.

]]>
Solarize Chicagoland to Install 80 Solar Arrays https://www.citizensutilityboard.org/blog/2020/11/06/solarize-chicagoland-to-install-80-solar-arrays/ Fri, 06 Nov 2020 16:32:53 +0000 https://www.citizensutilityboard.org/?p=28550 The Solarize Chicagoland program surpassed its goals this summer, achieving commitments to install more than 580 kilowatts (kW) of solar on 80 properties in the Chicago area. The Citizens Utility Board (CUB) and Midwest Renewable Energy Association (MREA) launched this solar group buy program in April, and the program’s participation deadline was September 30. Windfree Solar, based in Chicago, was selected through a competitive process as solar installer for program participants. In their first year of operation, Solarize Chicagoland’s newly-installed solar arrays will offset emissions equivalent to approximately 550,000 pounds of coal burned. Collectively, customers will also save an estimated $79,000 in electric bills in the first year alone. “Over the last couple years my husband and I have really been thinking about our energy usage. When we first moved into the house we installed a smart thermostat, last year we bought an electric vehicle,” said Chicago resident and participant, Katie Aquino. “The fact that Windfree was a local company taking part in a local program was a selling point when we were deciding which company to go with.” Solarize Chicagoland used the power of volume purchasing to make solar more accessible and affordable for home, business and farm owners in Cook, DuPage, Kane and Will Counties. The 2020 program builds on last year’s successful program, which resulted in new solar systems on 124 properties. “When the program launched this year, we didn’t know exactly what it would look like. While the solar industry experienced a slow down earlier this year due to COVID, unfortunately many things, like the phasing out of the federal solar tax credit, are not put on hold. We are happy that we could modify the program, make it virtual, and still get solar information out to so many homeowners in the Chicago area,” said Christina Uzzo, CUB Environmental Outreach Coordinator. Oak Park resident Eric Otto had looked into going solar two years ago, and the group buy pricing made it possible for him to make the switch this year. “Over the long term, the financial benefits are a no-brainer, but the environmental benefits also interest us. From day one when you turn it on, we really like the idea of getting our energy from a renewable source. That was really appealing to us,” said Otto. Navigating the solar market can be intimidating, creating barriers for solar adoption. To help break down those barriers, the program directly educated 521 residents about solar through 27 free, public, one-hour informational sessions called Solar Power Hours. “The presentations provided folks with the information they needed to determine whether solar is right for them,” said Peter Murphy, Solar Program Director for the MREA. “Our goal, and CUB has been very helpful to achieve it, is to provide clear and thorough consumer education, and couple that information with a purchasing opportunity at a lower-than-market rate.” “At Windfree, it has always been our mission to educate our community and future leaders about renewable energy, going green, and going solar. Solarize Chicagoland assisted greatly in our ability to reach a greater volume of people who are like-minded,” said Adam Perri, head of project […]

The post Solarize Chicagoland to Install 80 Solar Arrays appeared first on Citizens Utility Board.

]]>
Arcadia: CUB’s evaluation of a new community solar offer https://www.citizensutilityboard.org/blog/2020/10/27/arcadia-cubs-evaluation-of-a-new-community-solar-offer/ Tue, 27 Oct 2020 19:01:08 +0000 https://www.citizensutilityboard.org/?p=28456 This is an evaluation of Arcadia’s community solar offering. (If you are not already familiar with community solar, we recommend reading our Introduction to Community Solar first.) How will signing up for the Arcadia community solar offer affect my electric bill? When you sign up for community solar, you are subscribing to a portion of the project’s monthly output. Arcadia will analyze your household’s energy demand to determine your subscription size.  Each month, Arcadia will report the output of your subscription to your electric utility, and the utility company will add a credit to your electric bill equal to that output. You will also pay a second monthly bill to Arcadia. Arcadia will bill you for the energy generated by your subscription, with a 10% discount applied. That’s where the savings come in.   So, rather than paying your electric utility for that clean 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. Example: Say you are currently paying your electric utility 10 cents/kWh. Through community solar, you will be paying 9 cents/kWh (10% discount on the supply) for any electricity produced by the farm. 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 enjoy the benefits of renewable energy, and CUB is pleased to see these offers hit the market. Arcadia promises 10-20% savings on the supply, depending on income. Be sure to find out which discount rate you would qualify for. Visit Solar in the Community to see CUB’s analysis of other deals available in Illinois. This chart summarizes key points about the Arcadia deal: What utility territory does the company serve? Ameren and ComEd. Does the company offer savings? Yes. Arcadia offers 10-20% (depending on income)  off the utility default supply rate for the community solar bill credits you receive. Is there a credit check when I sign up? No. What is the contract term? Up to 15 years. Is there an “exit fee” for leaving the contract early? No, but 90 days’ notice is required. What are my billing options? Dual Billing (autopay required) or Consolidated Billing, depending on project. 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 to which you are assigned is completed. The Community Solar Standard Disclosure Form you receive from Arcadia 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 for updates on your project. 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 assign your subscription to someone else. (That person must first properly enroll in the community […]

The post Arcadia: CUB’s evaluation of a new community solar offer appeared first on Citizens Utility Board.

]]>