Community solar lets your business support local solar energy without installing panels. You receive bill credits for your share of a project. This guide explains how commercial subscriptions work and what to have ready.

What community solar means for your business

The U.S. Department of Energy defines community solar as a solar project or purchasing program where benefits flow to many customers, including businesses and nonprofits, within a geographic area. The solar panels are off-site, but your account receives credits for your share of the project’s production.

Nothing is installed at your site. No roof work. No equipment. Your utility keeps delivering electricity on the same wires you use today.

Who can subscribe and where it applies

Many programs include commercial accounts. Businesses, nonprofits, places of worship, and community groups may be eligible. Your electric account and the project generally must be in the same utility territory.

Subscriptions are sized to the account’s electricity use. If you manage more than one electric account, we review each account on its own. That way, credits line up with the account that earns them.

Not sure your accounts qualify? You can use our Business eligibility form to share your details: Check business eligibility.

For a plain-language refresher on how community solar works, see our pinned guide: Community Solar 101.

How billing, credits, and savings work

Community solar subscribers usually see a credit on their electric bill for their share of the project’s output. The credit helps cover part of the bill. How you pay for the subscription can vary by project and utility:

  • One bill: the utility applies the credit and the subscription charge on the same bill. Some utilities call this net crediting or consolidated billing.
  • Two bills: you see the credit on your utility bill and receive a separate subscription bill from the solar company.

How savings work is simple to understand. Subscribers pay less for the subscription than the solar credits are worth. Because credits cover part of your bill, any discount applies to the credits, not the whole bill. Savings depend on the state, the utility, and the project.

You do not change utilities. The utility continues to deliver electricity and keeps servicing your meter.

Rate classes and sizing your subscription

Utilities group business customers into rate classes, often based on demand or usage. Names vary by utility. For example, ComEd uses Small Load (0–100 kW), Medium Load (101–400 kW), and Large Load (401–1,000 kW) delivery classes. Your rate class helps us match your account to the right project rules and bill-credit structure.

Right-sizing matters. We look at recent electricity use on the account to estimate a subscription size that fits typical usage. The goal is to align your credits with part of your bill, without over- or under-allocating for that account. If your usage changes over time, we can review and adjust the subscription size where program rules allow.

What to have ready

A short prep list makes enrollment smoother. Gather these items before you start:

  • Recent electric bills for each account you want us to review
  • The utility account numbers for those bills
  • The person who can sign for the business or organization

These items help confirm your utility territory, rate class, and typical usage. Bills also show the service address and account details we need to match your subscription to the right project.

Simple steps to get started

Here is a straightforward path for most organizations:

  1. Learn the basics in our overview: Community Solar 101.
  2. Check your eligibility and share account details: Business eligibility form.
  3. Gather recent bills and account numbers for each site you want us to review.
  4. Confirm who is authorized to sign for the business or organization.
  5. Review how billing will look for your utility (one bill or two bills).
  6. We help right-size a subscription to the account’s typical usage and confirm the project is in your utility territory.

Community solar can fit many types of commercial and nonprofit accounts. With recent bills, account numbers, and an authorized signer ready, getting started is straightforward. We are here to help you support local solar energy while keeping your utility service the same.