Rebates

Community Solar in the state of Maine is governed by by P.L. 2019 c. 478, P.L. 2021 c.390, and Chapter 313 of the Public Utility Commissions (PUC) rules. These rules govern the state's Net Energy Billing (NEB) Policy. Under NEB there are two programs which customers can participate in "Community" or shared renewable projects, a kWh credit program, which is available to all electric utility customers, and a tariff rate program, which is available to non-residential customers.

Net Energy Billing kWh Credit Program

The kWh program allows customers to choose to participate in a larger project on a

D.C. Act 20-196, enacted on December 13th 2013, established a community renewable energy program in the District of Columbia. This program sets a production capacity of 5MW on all systems, along with a minimum of two (2) subscribers. Community renewable energy facilities (CREF) may offset no more than 120% of the subscriber's electricity consumption over the prior 12 months. All individual billing meters must be within the District of Columbia. Credit rates will be applied to customer's each billing month, and will be allocated by multiplying the quantity of kilowatt hours allocated to each subscriber by the subscriber's CREF credit

NOTE: In May 2018, S.B. 9 signed into law and made significant changes to the state's Renewable Portfolio Standard and Net Metering policies. The law ends net metering to new customers when the Virtual Net Metering, Low Emission Renewable Energy Credit, and Zero Emission Renewable Energy Credit programs end on January 1, 2022. The existing net metering customers will be grandfathered until December 2039. Starting January 1, 2022, new customers will be able to select a buy-all, sell-all option, or net billing option under the new Net-Tariff program. The Public Utilities Regulator Authority (PURA) has finished implementing the new program

S.B. 84, enacted in April 2021, established a community solar program in New Mexico. Community solar facilities can generate up to 5 MW of alternating current and must have at least 10 subscribers. A single subscriber can purchase no more than 40% of the electricity from a system, and at least 40% of each system's electricity must be reserved for smaller subscriptions of 25kW or less. Native community solar projects are exempt from these requirements. In addition, 30% of a system's electricity must be reserved for low-income subscribers. The program will open to the public in April 2023.

Through April

Concord Municipal Light Plant (CMLP) offers rebates to commercial customers for a variety of energy efficiency measures, including lighting retrofits, solar panels, EV charging stations, heat pumps, and heat pump water heaters. CMLP covers 100% of the cost of an energy audit through Energy New England for small (G1) businesses and 50% of the cost for medium (G2) and large (G3) businesses.  Audits can inspect mechanical systems, including HVAC, motors, and compressors, or can just look at lighting.

Note: H.B. 5853 and S.B. 684 of 2023 require the Office of Energy Resources to redesign the community remote net metering program to integrate the changes made by the bill and to include a C&I anchor tenant up to 50% of the project. The other 50% of a project must be allocated to LMI residents, residents living in disadvantaged communities, or residents living in environmental justice communities. The Office must file a program proposal and benefit-cost analysis with the Public Utilities Commission, who will then establish a docket to discuss the proposal and rule on the changes within 150 days

Evergy's Missouri utilities offer a rebate for solar PV installations. For installations that become operational between July 1, 2019, and December 31, 2023, the rebate is set at $0.25/W. The system size eligible for a rebate is capped at 25 kW for residential and 150 kW for commercial customers.

Note: Information on community renewable projects in Illinois is also listed in the Net Metering program entry.

Illinois's most recent rules for community renewable generation projects are derived from Public Act 102-0662 (titled the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act) of 2021.

Community solar projects are owned and operated by third parties, which offer subscriptions to individuals and businesses. Bill credits are provided by the electric utility at a rate which includes energy supply, transmission, and capacity values but excludes delivery service costs.

Incentives for community solar projects are provided through the Illinois Shines and Illinois Solar for All programs

Illinois uses a specific formula to value commercial solar energy systems for property tax purposes in counties with fewer than 3 million inhabitants. "Commercial" in this sense means that the system is used primarily to generate electricity for wholesale or retail sale, rather than referring to the customer class.

The valuation formula is calculated by substracting allowance for physical depreciation from the trended real property cost basis (set at $218,000 per MW of nameplate capacity in 2018, with adjustments for CPI inflation). More information is available here.

PPL Electric Utilities offers incentives on a variety of energy efficiency projects, including solar and CHP.

In 2023, the program design changed to offer energy-based incentives of 8 cents per kWh saved, calculated based on annual performance. The savings must be based on production estimates and annual consumption data or estimates and are subject to verification prior to full approval.

New construction projects will be vetted based on the PPL Electric service application. Total Resource Cost and incentives will be calculated based on customer's displaced energy.

Pre-approval for solar projects is required. To receive pre-approval, you must have a service