Frequently Asked Questions
What is community solar, 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. Community solar allows multiple customers to “plug in” to one community solar array that may or may not be located onsite. With community solar, 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 community solar work?
Community solar 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 community 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 community solar program?
There are three parties involved in implementing a community solar program in Montana:
The utility: The electric company is responsible for delivering all electricity to your home and applying your community solar credits to your bill.
The subscriber organization: The subscriber organization is the operator of the community 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 a community solar program can be the subscriber organization.
The customer subscriber: A customer participating in a community solar program.
What are the benefits of community solar?
Community solar 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. Community solar allows these people to take advantage of the benefits solar provides without having to install an array themselves.
While power bills continue to rise, community solar gives utilities a program they can offer customers to help them lower their bills.
Community solar 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. Community solar is another tool to offset rising energy costs, making housing more affordable.
Who can participate in community solar?
If enabled, customers of NorthWestern Energy and Montana Dakota Utilities could participate in community solar 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 community solar. This program is intended for customers who are unable, for whatever reason, to invest in their own individual rooftop array.