Check your territory
Enter your ZIP code and identify your electric utility. Community-solar programs are usually tied to specific utility service areas.
☀ Shared solar · no rooftop required
Lower your electricity bill with Community Solar
Subscribe to a share of an off-site solar project and, where available, receive bill credits tied to your portion of the project’s generation. Availability, savings and enrollment terms vary by utility territory and program.
No rooftop installationRenters may qualifyBill-credit modelLocal availability varies
Check community-solar availability
Tell us where you receive electric service. We’ll use your ZIP code and utility to help identify relevant options.
Submitting this form does not enroll you in a solar program. Project availability and savings must be confirmed for your specific utility territory.
Simple accessNo panels on your roof
Renters welcomeEligibility depends on program
Bill creditsCredits can offset supply costs
Clean energySupport local solar generation
How it works
Community solar in three simple steps
Community solar projects send electricity to the utility grid. Subscribers receive an allocated share of the project’s value, typically reflected as credits associated with the electricity generated by their share.
Review a project
Compare subscription structure, estimated bill credits, cancellation terms, project location and any stated savings.
Subscribe & receive credits
Once enrolled, the project generates electricity and your allocated value may appear as a credit on your electric bill or through the program’s billing process.
Why community solar
Solar access without changing your roof
It can be useful for renters, condo residents, shaded homes and customers who prefer not to install or maintain rooftop equipment.
No roof required
Participation is based on a remote project, so roof orientation and structural condition are not the main constraint.
Flexible participation
Some programs offer subscription models instead of purchasing a rooftop solar system. Review contract terms carefully.
Potential savings
Programs may offer a discount to the value of bill credits, but actual savings depend on the project and utility rules.
Renewable impact
Your subscription helps support solar generation delivered to the grid serving participating communities.
Availability
Where is community solar available?
Programs are state- and utility-specific. Some states have established community-solar frameworks while others offer limited pilots or utility-specific projects. Exact eligibility should always be confirmed using the service address.
Market coverage changes over time. The map is a visual guide, not a guarantee that a project serves a specific address.
Shared generation
One solar project can serve many subscribers
A community project can be located on open land, a commercial property, brownfield, landfill or another suitable site. The energy flows to the grid rather than directly to an individual subscriber’s home.
The financial relationship is handled through allocation and billing rules. That is why comparing the credit value, subscription charge and cancellation language matters more than simply comparing panel capacity.
Savings estimator
Estimate potential monthly savings
This simple calculator illustrates how a discounted community-solar credit might affect a bill. It is not a quote and does not account for every utility charge.
Example: if eligible project credits are worth $100 and the subscription charge is 90% of that value, the illustrative net savings is $10.
Illustrative monthly savings: $15.00
Actual credits, subscription charges and eligible bill components vary.
Actual credits, subscription charges and eligible bill components vary.
What savings can look like
Illustrative bill-credit examples
The examples below are for education only. They are not current offers.
| Monthly eligible credit value | Illustrative discount | Subscription charge | Illustrative net savings |
|---|---|---|---|
| $75 | 10% | $67.50 | $7.50 |
| $125 | 10% | $112.50 | $12.50 |
| $200 | 10% | $180.00 | $20.00 |
No panelson your property
Shared projectserves multiple subscribers
Bill creditsbased on project allocation
Compare options
Community solar vs. rooftop solar
Community solar
- Off-site project; no rooftop panels required
- Can work for renters and multifamily residents
- Benefits typically delivered through subscription and bill credits
- Availability depends heavily on state and utility territory
- Review cancellation, credit and billing terms
Rooftop solar
- Panels installed on your property
- Requires a suitable roof or ground-mount location
- May involve ownership, financing, lease or PPA structures
- Production directly serves the home before excess energy reaches the grid
- Installation, permitting and equipment decisions are part of the process
Local energy
Community-scale solar can fit into working landscapes
Projects can be sited near farms, neighborhoods, commercial areas and previously disturbed land. The best projects are designed around local land-use requirements, interconnection capacity and community needs.
UtilityProviders is an independent comparison and referral website. We do not operate solar projects or guarantee project availability.
Frequently asked questions
Community solar questions
What is community solar?
Community solar is a shared solar project or purchasing program in which the benefits of one solar project flow to multiple customers. Subscribers generally do not need panels installed on their own property.
Will community solar eliminate my utility bill?
Usually not. Utility delivery charges, taxes and other non-creditable items can remain. The exact bill treatment depends on the local program and utility.
Do I need to own my home?
Not necessarily. One reason community solar exists is to make solar benefits available to customers who rent or cannot install rooftop panels, subject to project eligibility.
Can I cancel?
Cancellation terms vary by provider and subscription. Review notice periods, early termination charges, transfer provisions and any minimum term before enrolling.
How are bill credits calculated?
The project’s generation is measured and a subscriber receives an allocated share of the value under applicable program rules. The subscription charge may be separate from the utility credit.
Does community solar work during an outage?
Community solar does not normally provide backup power to an individual home. Outage service is still managed by the local utility unless a separate resilience arrangement applies.
Ready to check community-solar availability?
Use your ZIP code to start with programs that may serve your electric utility territory.