Reduce your electric bill by subscribing to community solar. No equipment or installation required!

Semcac is partnering with Minneapolis-based solar provider US Solar to offer income-eligible households access to the Community Solar Garden Program, a state-regulated initiative that provides renters and homeowners in Xcel Energy territory access to electric bill savings.

The program enables eligible homeowners and renters to save money and support local, clean energy without having solar panels installed on their property and without upfront costs. Income-qualifying households save $250 on average in the first year!

ELIGIBILITY

You’re eligible for the Community Solar Garden (CSG) Program if you meet the following requirements:

  1. You have been approved for an assistance program that serves income-eligible households anytime since October 1, 2024.
  2. You receive an Xcel Energy bill for your home’s electricity usage.
  3. You live in a county within our service area of Dodge, Fillmore, Freeborn, Houston, Mower, Steele, and Winona
  4. You’re not currently subscribed to a community solar garden.

Please note: Participating in the CSG Program will not affect your eligibility for energy assistance in the future. We simply want to help you reduce your energy bills and promote clean, efficient energy.

HOW IT WORKS

  1. Qualify: Our team will determine your eligibility for the CSG Program.
  2. Enroll: If you qualify for electric bill savings, we will work with you to enroll.
  3. Save: Once you are enrolled and the solar garden begins producing energy, a monthly bill credit and subscription fee will be applied to your Xcel Energy bill. The credit is always more than the fee, ensuring you save money.

The CSG Program allows you to save money, support local clean energy, and have more control over your power, without ever installing panels on your roof.

FAQs

Community Solar helps renters and homeowners save on electricity
costs even if they can’t install solar panels due to things like upfront cost, roof space, or
renting. Providers like US Solar build solar gardens across the state, bringing clean energy onto
Xcel Energy’s power grid.

Minnesota residents with electricity service from Xcel can join a solar garden and receive bill
credits for participating. The monthly credit amount is based on how much energy the garden
generates. In Minnesota, the program is overseen by the State’s Department of Commerce.

Because your Community Action Partner has already qualified your household’s income, the
State of Minnesota’s program requires that all Community Solar subscription costs not exceed
the value of the bill credit, thus providing a guaranteed savings rate. When the solar garden
starts generating energy, participants who select Utility-Combined Billing will see a credit
automatically applied to their Xcel Energy bill. The average household in Minnesota is
expected to save $250 annually.

Participating in the Community Solar Garden Program will not affect your eligibility for energy assistance in the future. We simply want to help you reduce your energy bills and promote clean, efficient energy.

No, participation in Community Solar doesn’t require any installation. The solar gardens are
built elsewhere in the state, and the energy produced supports Xcel Energy’s electric grid.

If you select Utility-Combined Billing, Xcel Energy will facilitate your Sunscription payment. You
will never see a bill from Sunscription, only the regular Xcel bill credits.

Although a Sunscription fee is billed each month, the State’s program requires that the value
of your monthly bill credit always be more than your fee costs, resulting in a guaranteed
savings rate.

Your credits will vary based on energy produced and your annual household usage. Winters in
Minnesota are not as sunny, so the garden will produce less energy, resulting in smaller bill
credits. During sunnier months, your share of the solar garden may generate more credits
than you may need, allowing you to accrue and bank them to help offset winter costs.

Our Partners

Semcac sincerely thanks our Community Solar partners for making clean energy savings possible and creating opportunities for income-eligible households to lower their energy costs.

US Solar logo in gray and yellow   Sunscription logo in black

This organization is operating under the Low and Moderate-Income Accessible Community Solar Garden (CSG) Program, a state-enabled initiative overseen by the Minnesota Department of Commerce. The CSG Program provides resources to and oversight of Subscriber Organizations but does not promote any individual community solar garden or Subscriber Organization.

For more information about the LMI-Accessible CSG Program, visit the Minnesota Department of Commerce website, email them at CommunitySolar@state.mn.us,or call 651-539-1886. Income-eligible customers may qualify for additional savings.