When money is tight, even small monthly changes matter. You may not want new devices or home work. The good news: some options can lower costs without new equipment.

Community solar, without anything on your home

With community solar, nothing is installed at your home. No panels, no roof work, no equipment. Your utility keeps delivering electricity on the same wires.

You subscribe to a share of a local solar project. Your subscription supports local solar energy. Each month, solar credits from your share cover part of your utility bill.

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

If you want a deeper overview, read our pinned guide, Income-Qualified? How Your Household Can Save More. You will find it here: Income-Qualified? How Your Household Can Save More.

Income-qualified community solar: who may qualify

There are two common ways a household shows it is income-qualified:

  • Someone in the household gets help from a qualifying program. You show a letter or notice from that program, usually dated within the last 12 months.
  • Your household income is under a limit for your county and household size. Projects often use 80% of area median income or 200% of the federal poverty level as a guide.

Which programs and limits count depends on the state and the project. The project’s rules apply. If you are not sure which documents work, we can explain what that project accepts.

Lifeline: affordable communications for qualifying households

Lifeline helps lower the cost of phone or internet for eligible households. A household qualifies if its income is at or below 135% of the Federal Poverty Guidelines. A household also qualifies if someone gets one of these benefits:

  • SNAP
  • Medicaid
  • Federal Public Housing Assistance (including Section 8)
  • SSI (Supplemental Security Income)
  • Veterans Pension or Survivors Benefit
  • Certain Tribal programs

Only one Lifeline benefit is allowed per household. Eligibility is recertified every year. CSR can help eligible households apply for Lifeline on the same call as community solar.

If you want both community solar and help with phone or internet, visit our Income-qualified and Lifeline page.

What to gather before you apply

Having a few documents ready can make enrollment smoother:

  • A recent letter or notice from a qualifying program, usually dated within the last 12 months
  • Basic income information for your household, if you plan to qualify by income

Project and state rules differ. If your documents do not match what a project needs, we will explain the next step. For more background on how income-qualified community solar works, see Income-Qualified? How Your Household Can Save More.

Protect yourself from scams

Most people who offer community solar and Lifeline are honest. Still, it is smart to check. Use these tips:

  • Ask for the person’s name, ID, and the company they work for.
  • No one enrolling you in community solar should say they are from your utility.
  • Never pay anyone to “hold” a spot or a discount.
  • Read your agreement before you sign.
  • To check a CSR representative, you can call CSR at 612-760-6788.

These steps take only a minute and can prevent headaches later.

Weatherization may help with energy use

The U.S. Department of Energy’s Weatherization Assistance Program is run by states and local agencies. Under DOE guidelines, households at or below 200% of the poverty guidelines, or that receive SSI, are generally eligible. Local providers apply the rules for your area.

Weatherization is separate from community solar and Lifeline. It may help reduce energy use over time.

Many seniors and people on fixed incomes qualify for Lifeline through income or a program like SSI or Medicaid. Community solar can also work for many households, with eligibility set by each project and state rules. Take it one step at a time, keep your documents handy, and use the tips above to stay safe.