Frequently Asked Questions
What is community solar?
Community solar is a state-authorized way for renters and homeowners to benefit from clean energy without installing solar on their own property. Individuals can subscribe to a solar project in their area and receive monthly credits that reduce their electric bill. It’s a great way to access clean energy, save money, and support a healthy environment at the same time!
Who qualifies for Sunwealth’s low to moderate income community solar?
Individual households (both homeowners and renters) who are either on the Eversource discount rate (R2/R4) OR reside in an income tagged environmental justice zone. Anyone who lives in the lime green, forest green, dark blue, and teal zone of the linked map automatically qualifies for our program.
What are the benefits of this program?
Sunwealth has industry leading savings with a 20% or 25% discount on bill credits which will reduce your total yearly energy spend by approximately 22%. The average Massachusetts yearly electricity cost is $3,456. Joining a Sunwealth community solar array would save you around $760 per year!
Additionally, you are participating in the clean energy economy. By paying for these bill credits, you are financially supporting a cleaner, local power grid! There are other benefits to our program like our trusted community-based partnership approach and our customer friendly contract, as explained below.
What are some of the examples of community organizations that Sunwealth partners with?
Sunwealth has teamed up with municipalities such as the City of Cambridge and the Town of Becket to foster trust and educate community members on energy-saving practices. The company also collaborates with non-profits like MassEnergize, Heading Home, and Caritas to develop targeted outreach campaigns and help save money for these organizations. Furthermore, Sunwealth works with housing authorities like the Wayland Housing Authority to offer educational resources on community solar to their residents.
Do I need a credit check?
No! Our program does not require a credit check.
Are there any additional fees?
No, there are no sign-up or cancelation fees! Sunwealth will process your cancellation request within 30 days and will not charge you for any credits received after 30 days. We will never charge you for anything other than your solar credits.
How does billing work once I subscribe: 25% Example
Once the project is producing energy, your utility company (e.g., Eversource) will put credits on your electric bill, reducing the amount you owe to them. Then, Sunwealth will charge you for those credits at a 25% discount. If your electric bill is around $100, you would receive a credit around $85 from your community solar subscription, leaving you with a $15 Eversource bill. Sunwealth would then bill you for $63.75.
Electricity costs before community solar: $100
Electricity costs after community solar: $83
$15 Eversource Bill
$63.75 Sunwealth Bill (25% discount applied)
Savings: $21.25
All in all, you will save about 22% of your yearly electricity costs by participating in a
Sunwealth community solar program.
How do I change my payment method to Sunwealth?
You can update your payment information through your Sunwealth portal link. If you are having any trouble with updating the information, please email Sunwealth’s Community Solar team at communitysolar@sunwealth.com or call us at 617-520-4033.
Can I have Sunwealth’s invoices mailed to me?
Invoices can be mailed directly or sent via email. Please notify our team of this preference upon enrollment in the program.
What happens if I move while enrolled in the program?
Please email Sunwealth’s Community Solar team at communitysolar@sunwealth.com with your new address and utility account so we can verify eligibility and keep you enrolled. If you move out of the utility service area, please provide Sunwealth with 30 days notice so we can remove your account from the program.
How does Sunwealth calculate a customer’s portion of credits?
We analyze your last 12 months of electricity usage and match it with the appropriate percentage of solar production. Sunwealth generally undersizes your allocation by 15% to ensure we are not over-crediting your account. Please note that your solar credit allocation may be higher or lower depending on the month. See below for more information.
Why am I receiving more credits than I need? (My Eversource bill says I have a negative balance?)
This is most likely due to seasonality. In the summer months, our solar panels generate more electricity and therefore more credits. In the summer season, it’s possible that the solar credits will outweigh your actual electric bill costs, resulting in a negative balance. You will use these credits in the winter months when our panels generate less electricity. If you have questions, please reach out to Sunwealth’s Community Solar Team at communitysolar@sunwealth.com.
If I have questions about my subscription, will I be able to speak with someone on the phone?
Yes! You can reach our team any time by emailing communitysolar@sunewealth.com or you can speak to us directly at (617) 520-4033. We are committed to a 24-hour response time Monday – Friday.
Why haven't I received my credits yet?
The wait time between customer sign up to delivery of credits depends on what project you are signed up for, which is determined by your address and array availability. Our team will start reaching out to subscribers for a new project 8-10 months before it is set to turn on. This means that wait time can depend on when you first learn about our program. Once the array is turned on, you will see net-metering credits appear on your bill 1-2 billing cycles later. (While this may feel like a long wait time, you will not be charged by Sunwealth until your credits appear!) We do depend on the utility for project approval and turn-on. This can be delayed due to reasons beyond our control, but Sunwealth will work to keep you updated on this progress!
Sunwealth Community Solar Dictionary
Net-Metering-Credit: A system where electricity produced by a solar system goes straight to the grid. Subscribers then receive a net-metering-credit on their existing utility bill. This will look like a negative line item that reduces your utility bill by about 85%.
Subscriber Bank: Net-metering-credits that build up in the high energy producing summer months. If you have more credits than you use in a month, your credits will be stored in your subscriber bank to be used the following month.
Community Solar Array: A community solar array sends all electricity to the grid which is then distributed to multiple customers through net-metering-credits. This model increases access to the benefits of local, renewable energy.
LMI: Low to moderate income: to qualify for our LMI community solar program subscribers must be on the discount rate for Eversource (R2/R4) or live in an income tagged environmental justice zone.
Environmental Justice Zone: A U.S Census map that defines areas by income level, English language proficiency, self-identified race, or race and municipal income level.