Community Solar

If you want to benefit from solar energy but can’t install your own system due to living in an apartment, upfront costs, a shaded roof, or other barriers, community solar may be a good fit for you. It allows you to enjoy the benefits of solar energy without installing your own panels. By subscribing to a community solar project, you can support local clean energy and lower your energy bill.

When you subscribe to a community solar program in Illinois, you receive net metering credits on your utility bill based on how much energy your share of a community solar project produces.

For example, if your home uses 700 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of electricity in a month, and your share of the solar farm produces 650kWh, you’ll receive a credit on your bill for those 650kWh.

In this case, you would only need to pay your utility for the remaining 50kWh. You still pay the solar farm for your monthly electricity usage, but it is typically at a lower rate than what your utility charges for electricity.

How Community Solar Works

A community solar project is built in your utility’s service area
The project owner covers the upfront costs to build, maintain, and connect the project to the grid
You subscribe to a portion of the solar farm’s energy and pay the owner for your share of electricity produced
Each month, the owner reports how much electricity your share produced to your utility company
Your utility company applies bill credits to your electric account based on your portion of electricity produced
These credits reduce the amount you owe on your monthly electric bill

Illustration by Ben Arthur, University of Illinois Extension.

Community Solar State Programs

Illinois offers two state-run programs that support community solar subscriptions created under the 2016 Future Energy Jobs Act. These programs, administered by the Illinois Power Agency, work with approved vendors and provide consumer protection support.

State programs provide a way for Illinois consumers to support newly developed local solar energy projects. For both programs, you must subscribe to a project within your same electric utility service territory.

Illinois Shines Community Solar

All Illinois residents
Goal is to expand solar access, market-driven program
Savings are dependent on the size of the subscription and how much energy the solar farm produces
No upfront cost
Receive credits applied to utility bills

Illinois Solar For All Community Solar

Income of 80% or less of the area median income
Goal is to provide affordable, clean energy access
Guaranteed savings and reduction in electricity bills
No upfront cost
Receive credits applied to utility bills