Frequently Asked Questions
What is a Solar Shares program, and how is it different from rooftop solar?
Rooftop solar provides energy to one customer, and the solar array is located on site at that customer’s home, business, ranch, etc. A Solar Shares program allows multiple customers to “plug in” to one local solar array that may or may not be located onsite. With this program, you don’t need to own your home or business to take advantage of solar power. The program is accessible to renters and anyone with a utility bill!
How does a Solar Shares program work?
This program allows multiple households, businesses, or buildings to share a single solar array. Participating customers would purchase “shares” of the larger community array. Each month, they would receive a credit on their utility bill for the power that their share produced. For example, one customer might purchase three shares of a the local solar array. On their utility bill at the end of the month, they would receive a credit for how much power those three shares produced. Another customer might have bought five shares and another customer two shares. Each customer would receive a credit on their power bill for the electricity generated by their corresponding shares.
Who can build and administer a Solar Shares program?
There are three parties involved in implementing a Solar Shares program in Montana:
The utility: The electric company is responsible for delivering all electricity to your home and applying your solar credits to your bill.
The subscriber organization: The subscriber organization is the operator of the shared solar array and is responsible for supporting participants and reporting participants’ shares of the solar energy to the utility. The utility can also be the subscriber organization, or a third party dedicated to operating the program can be the subscriber organization.
The customer subscriber: A customer participating in the Solar Shares program.
What are the benefits of a Solar Shares program?
This program makes energy savings possible for more Montanans. While many people want to save money on their power bills by going solar, too many barriers exist. Some can’t afford the upfront costs with a rooftop installation, many are renters that don’t own the home, and some may not have a roof or property suitable for solar. A Solar Shares program allows these people to take advantage of the benefits solar provides without having to install an array themselves.
While power bills continue to rise, the Montana Solar Shares Act would give utilities a program they can offer customers to help them lower their bills.
The Montana Solar Shares Act is also part of a solution to address the affordable housing crisis facing many Montanans. Lots of folks live in old and inefficient buildings in need of expensive upgrades. This program is another tool to offset rising energy costs, making housing more affordable.
Who can participate in a Solar Shares program?
If enabled, customers of NorthWestern Energy and Montana Dakota Utilities could participate in this program whether they are homeowners, renters, ranchers, businesses, schools, non-profits, etc.
Importantly, customers who already have rooftop solar or are already net metering with NorthWestern Energy or Montana Dakota Utilities cannot participate in this program. This Montana Solar Shares Act is designed for customers who are unable, for whatever reason, to invest in their own individual rooftop array.