Community solar in New York lets you support local solar energy without installing anything at home. Your utility still delivers electricity on the same wires. This guide explains how it works for Con Edison, National Grid, NYSEG, RG&E, Central Hudson, and Orange & Rockland customers.

New York uses the term Community Distributed Generation, or CDG. CDG is part of NY-Sun. For a quick overview and updates, see our New York community solar page.

Community solar basics in New York

With community solar, nothing is installed at your home. No panels. No roof work. No equipment. A solar project sends electricity to the grid. You get bill credits for your share.

Your utility keeps delivering electricity the same way it does today. You keep the same account and meter. Long Island (PSEG Long Island) is not covered in this guide.

Who can subscribe and where

Customers of these utilities can subscribe to a project in the same utility territory:

  • Central Hudson
  • Con Edison
  • National Grid
  • NYSEG
  • Orange & Rockland (O&R)
  • RG&E

Your project must be in your utility’s territory so credits apply to your utility bill. If you are unsure which projects fit your account, you can check your eligibility.

How billing and credits work

Community solar uses bill credits. Credits lower part of your utility charges. How you pay for your subscription depends on the project:

  • Some projects offer one utility bill. This is called net crediting. Your credits and subscription charges appear on your utility bill.
  • Other projects use two bills. You get your normal utility bill with credits applied, plus a separate community solar bill.

Here is how savings work. Subscribers pay less for the subscription than the solar credits are worth. Credits cover part of the bill, so any discount applies to the credits, not the whole bill. Savings depend on the state, the utility, and the project.

CDG, NY-Sun, and the Value Stack

CDG is part of NY-Sun. New York uses the Value Stack to set bill credits for CDG projects. The Value Stack pays credits based on when and where a project supplies electricity to the grid. This ties the value of credits to real grid conditions.

Because of this structure, credits appear on your utility bill. Your subscription price is separate from the credit value. Some projects bundle subscription charges into the utility bill through net crediting. Others bill you directly.

If you want more background before you enroll, our New York state page covers the basics in plain language.

Statewide Solar for All: who is enrolled automatically

New York also runs Statewide Solar for All through the utility. If you are a new Energy Affordability Program (EAP) customer and live in a disadvantaged community, you are enrolled automatically. You receive a separate credit. There is nothing to sign up for. You do not need CSR or anyone else to get it.

If you think you get this automatic credit, review your utility bill. The separate credit should be listed by the utility.

Why we do not publish savings forecasts

New York’s UBP-DERS rules cover how community solar is marketed, including online. Under these rules, any savings forecast must use a three-year average of actual utility rates. Because of this requirement, we do not publish savings forecasts. If you compare offers, look at how billing works and how the discount applies to credits.

Getting started

If you get service from Central Hudson, Con Edison, National Grid, NYSEG, O&R, or RG&E, this guide applies to you. Your utility will still deliver electricity on the same wires. Nothing is installed at your home.

  • On Long Island (PSEG Long Island)? This guide does not apply there.
  • Unsure which utility territory you are in? Use our short form to check your eligibility.

Many people like community solar because it is simple. You keep your utility. You receive credits for your share of a local project. Your subscription supports local solar energy.

New York’s rules are clear and consumer-focused. Credits come from CDG projects and reflect the Value Stack. Billing may be one bill or two. If you have questions, review your utility bill and our New York page, then decide what fits your needs.