This is what Colorado Community Solar looks like...
We’re on a mission to make clean, affordable energy accessible to ALL– not just the select few. Let’s start with you!
Be a part of the solution, not the pollution.
You get a share of the output from a solar farm in your area while earning a credit on your bill, lowering your electricity costs.
We handle the solar.
By subscribing to community solar, you’re increasing demand for renewable energy in your community, directly displacing fossil fuels from the electric grid. That means you can support solar and prevent pollution from fossil fuels without having to install or pay for solar panels.
You see the savings.
Maryland electricity customers are guaranteed to save at least 5% and many can save even more. Get started to see how much you can save each month.
Together, we can make a difference.
Each time you pay your electricity bill, you can feel better knowing your payment is supporting your community’s transition to renewables while also saving you money. By choosing Neighborhood Sun, you’re supporting our work to address energy equity and helping us give back to all of our community partner nonprofits and impact-focused organizations.
Switching to clean energy has never been so accessible (or free)
You subscribe online to a local community solar farm- without any fees or installations.
There are no costs, fees, or installations to subscribe, making clean energy available to renters and homeowners alike. Through our quick online sign-up process, we match you with a solar farm in your community that may already be active or still under construction. Just provide us with a sample utility bill to estimate your share size, and we’ll handle the rest so you can sit back and save with solar!
Your share of the solar farm generates clean energy for you each month.
You continue receiving power through your current utility. Each month, your share of the solar farm adds clean energy to the grid, directly displacing the equivalent amount of dirty energy derived from fossil fuels. This improves local air and water quality and allows you to directly combat fossil fuels just by paying your electric bill.
Your guaranteed savings are reflected as clean energy credits on your current utility bill.
Clean energy is cheaper (and safer) than fossil fuels because the sun shines for free. That means you pay for your share of solar energy at a guaranteed discount (between 5%-30%) compared to your current utility rate. These cost savings will be reflected as clean energy credits reflected on your current electricity bill each month.
Community solar is accessible affordable equitable local easy no-rooftop-needed renter-friendly simple solar.
Local Project Spotlight:
Platte Community Solar Farm
Platte Community Solar Farm is actively providing solar savings to over 1,100 nearby households while preventing 6,166 metric tons of CO2-equivalent as its clean energy displaces fossil fuels from the local grid. 23 acres is a lot of ground to cover, so the plan is to use not only the cutest form of vegetation management but also the most eco-friendly: SHEEP!
- Providing 10% solar savings to 1,100+ local households
- Repurposing unusable farmland while the soil recovers
- Preventing 6,166 metric tons CO2-equivalent each year
- 11,570 sun-tracking solar panels harnessing sunshine
Local Policy Spotlight:
Colorado Senate Bill SB24-207
Senate Bill SB24-207, introduced by Senate President Steve Fenberg (D–Boulder), comes at a time of unprecedented federal funding opportunities through the Biden administration’s Inflation Reduction Act. As of May 8, 2024, the bill has passed both chambers and is on the governor’s desk awaiting his signature.</span>
- Reserves 51% of each community solar farm for Low- and Moderate-Income households
- Enhances subscriber experiences with best-in-class enrollment methods, consumer protections, and consolidated billing
- Positions Colorado to capture hundreds of millions in federal dollars to upgrade the state’s grid, promote energy equity, and reduce energy costs for residents
Neighborhood Sun is a subscriber organization that oversees your enrollment to community solar farms in the Xcel territory through Colorado’s Solar* Rewards program, which is the nation’s largest community solar program. Once enrolled, subscribers will begin receiving credits on their monthly utility bill for the solar energy that their subscription contributes to the Xcel Energy grid. Click on your preferred language to view a fact sheet with more information in English or Spanish.
Shining a light on Community Solar in Colorado
- Community Solar in CO
- Neighborhood Sun in the News
- Community Solar in the News
Bipartisan CO Community Solar Bill Introduced by Legislators
Neighborhood Sun’s Colorado Expansion Leads to Energy Savings Opportunity For Households in the Xcel Territory
Half of Americans can’t install solar panels. Here’s how they can plug into the sun.
How To Reap The Benefits Of Solar Without Installing Panels
Community Solar Fact Sheet
Frequently Asked Questions
- Looking to Subscribe
- Already a Subscriber
How does billing work?
Every month, your share of the solar farm earns you energy credits when it generates power. You’ll pay us (Neighborhood Sun) the discounted rate which will automatically be applied to your monthly electric bill through your normal utility provider. For example, if your average monthly bill is $100 a month, and your solar farm discount is 10% off, you will only pay $90 to us and your electric bill will reflect $100 solar credit, nearly zeroing out your electric bill payment to your utility itself.
You may choose automatic debit from a checking account or a credit card. Unfortunately, we do not offer paper billing or non-automated payments. (Hey, it’s better for the planet!)
How do you assign shares to projects?
During your application, you authorize us to review your historical electrical use. We use the past 12-24 months of your electric history to calculate the average amount of kWh you will need each month. Savings are based on the amount of electricity generated by your portion of the solar farm, not your actual kWh use.
How do I save money?
The sum of both bills will be less than your old utility bill. Since we charge less for community solar than what your utility charges for default energy (generated by fossil fuels), you’ll see monthly savings.
Will credits rollover to future months?
Your share of energy generated by the community solar is estimated based on your average monthly energy usage, so some months it may be more or less than the energy you actually end up using. Don’t worry if you use less energy than your share provided because your solar credits will roll forward to the next month without any extra effort on your end. Should you have any rollover credits remaining at the end of your contract period, they will be bought out (repaid) by your utility at that time.
More questions?
Watch our video here to learn more about how a community solar subscription can help you save money and prevent pollution.
Give us a ring at (888) 606-0054 or email us at [email protected]. You can also use our chat feature in the bottom right corner of the screen.
What will credits look like on my electric bill?
When your farm is actively generating clean energy, community solar credits will appear on your current utility bill as “production credits” which reduce the total cost owed to your utility each month. Click on the sample bill below to view an example of the credits on an Xcel bill.
How do I log in to MySolar?
Click here to visit MySolar. MySolar is your one-stop-shop for everything you need to know about your subscription. Log in to view past invoices, track your savings, and see the environmental impact of your subscription. You can also find your referral code their to get credit for any friend or neighbors you might refer. You’ll see a new solar panel pop up for each successful referral, and you can earn money too.
How does billing work?
Every month, your share of the solar farm earns you energy credits when it generates power. You’ll pay us (Neighborhood Sun) the discounted rate which will automatically be applied to your monthly electric bill through your normal utility provider. For example, if your average monthly bill is $100 a month, and your solar farm discount is 10% off, you will only pay $90 to us and your electric bill will reflect $100 solar credit, nearly zeroing out your electric bill payment to your utility itself.
You may choose automatic debit from a checking account or a credit card. Unfortunately, we do not offer paper billing or non-automated payments. (Hey, it’s better for the planet!)
When will I see my community solar credits?
How do I save money?
The sum of both bills will be less than your old utility bill. Since we charge less for community solar than what your utility charges for default energy (generated by fossil fuels), you’ll see monthly savings.
Will credits rollover to future months?
Your share of energy generated by the community solar is estimated based on your average monthly energy usage, so some months it may be more or less than the energy you actually end up using. Don’t worry if you use less energy than your share provided because your solar credits will roll forward to the next month without any extra effort on your end. Should you have any rollover credits remaining at the end of your contract period, they will be bought out (repaid) by your utility at that time.
More questions?
Watch our video here to learn more about how a community solar subscription can help you save money and prevent pollution.
Give us a ring at (888) 606-0054 or email us at [email protected]. You can also use our chat feature in the bottom right corner of the screen.
