Is community solar worth it? The honest answer

Brighter Bills · Energy savings guides

We refer people to community solar programs, so we benefit when you sign up. That's exactly why we're going to be honest about when it's worth it and when it isn't.

When community solar IS worth it

• You rent — community solar is one of the only ways renters can access solar savings
• You want zero risk — no upfront cost, no installation, cancel anytime
• You receive government assistance — the boosted savings rate (up to 20-40% in some states) makes a real dent
• You want to do something for the environment without a $25,000 investment
• You have 5 minutes — that's literally the time commitment

When community solar is NOT worth it

• You already have rooftop solar that covers most of your bill — the marginal savings from community solar on top may be too small to bother
• You live in a state without a program — community solar requires state legislation
• Your electric bill is very small — 5-10% savings on a $40/month bill is $2-4/month. Real, but barely noticeable.
• You want to eliminate your bill entirely — community solar reduces it, doesn't zero it out

The math that matters

Take your monthly electric bill. Multiply by your state's savings rate (5-40%). Multiply by 12. That's your annual savings. For a $200/month bill at 10%, that's $240/year for 5 minutes of work. For a $200/month bill at 40% (Massachusetts Eversource), that's $960/year. The question is whether those numbers feel worth 5 minutes of sign-up time to you.

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