December 27, 2019
Community solar has been growing in popularity across New York, and across the entire United States, in recent years. For those lacking the necessary roof space, or facing other barriers to installing solar panels, the community solar approach has been a revelation. Particularly in New York City, where space is tight, signing up for community solar offers an excellent alternative route to solar savings and green energy use.
On December 12, the New York Public Service Commission further boosted the potential of community solar in the state, by issuing an order which will allow for consolidated billing on future community distributed generation projects. That is to say, the order will consolidate utility bills for new community solar projects across New York.
For consumers, this will likely lead to lower bill payments and a simplified, more accessible community solar experience in general. This consolidated billing order will also make things that bit easier for community solar sponsors and developers, encouraging the development of new community solar projects across New York and further boosting the state’s clean energy revolution in the coming years. With such ambitious climate targets, every new push toward a cleaner future will be vital for the state of New York and this is no different.
The most obvious and immediate change for community solar consumers in New York will be the manner in which they are billed. Currently, those customers subscribed to a community solar project receive two separate bills each month—one coming from their utility company, and one from the solar developer overseeing the community distributed generation project. With the consolidated billing approach, this will be streamlined and consumers will only receive a single bill each month, making things much simpler. This makes payment easier, and gives customers a clear idea of how much they’re saving with community solar.
If you’re a New York resident interested in community solar, speak to YSG Solar today—call at 212.389.9215 or send us an email.
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By Shane Croghan
Sources:
https://www.nrdc.org/experts/cullen-howe/new-york-state-greenlights-boost-community-solar