Community solar for renters: yes, you qualify
Rooftop solar has always been a homeowner's game — you need a roof you own, and a long payback period to justify it. Community solar flips that. If you rent an apartment or house anywhere in ComEd or Ameren territory and the electric bill is in your name, you can subscribe.
Why renting doesn't matter
Your share of solar lives at a farm somewhere in Illinois, not on your building. The connection to you is purely on paper: the farm's output generates credits, and your share of those credits lands on your electric bill. Your landlord is never involved, nothing is installed, and the building itself is irrelevant.
What happens when you move
Because the subscription follows your utility account rather than your address, moving within the same utility's territory generally just means updating your account information. Moving out of the territory ends the subscription — ask about the current terms during enrollment so you know exactly how that works.
What renters actually get
- Credits applied monthly to your ComEd or Ameren bill
- You keep 10% of the credit value as savings — up to 20% if you receive LIHEAP, SNAP, Medicaid, SSI, or similar assistance
- No installation, no equipment, no fees, no landlord signature
- Sign-up online in about 5 minutes with a copy of your bill
Ready to see your own numbers? Enrollment is free, takes about 5 minutes with a copy of your bill, and nothing gets installed at your home.
Check my savingsSecure enrollment via Ampion & VoltEra EnergyThe one requirement
The electric account should be in your name (or the name of whoever's enrolling). If utilities are included in your rent and you never see a bill, community solar isn't available to you — the credits need a bill to land on.
More guides: Is community solar a scam? How to tell a real offer from a bad one · How to lower your ComEd bill · How to lower your Ameren Illinois bill · LIHEAP + community solar