A community solar project is a single site solar installation that is shared by multiple subscribers. Community solar allows "subscribers" to receive net metering credits on their electricity bill and support the development of new renewable energy resources without needing to install any solar equipment on their residence. Community solar projects in Illinois are defined as no larger than 2,000 kW in peak capacity per site.

FEJA refers to legislation passed in 2016. FEJA made many changes to how energy policy works in Illinois, including enabling community solar. FEJA also includes new state administered programs called the Adjustable Block Program and Solar for All that help support community solar development, however community solar projects are not obligated to participate in these state programs.

Community solar projects generate electricity, and that power is delivered into the electric grid of the utility. The community solar project signs up subscribers, which can include virtually any electric customer within the Ameren and ComEd service territories. Each subscriber receives monthly net metering credits based on the size of their subscription, how much the community solar project generates, and the subscriber’s electricity supply arrangement. Each subscription is tied to a specific community solar project.

It is an easy way to support clean energy generation located within Illinois. Supporting these types of projects helps reduce the dependence on fossil fuels and support clean energy generation. In addition, you do not have to invest in a solar asset on your rooftop, which may not be right for everybody. You will receive a net metering credit on your monthly Ameren or ComEd electric utility bill for your share of the generation created by these projects. The mc² program does not have upfront costs, will not lock you into a long-term contract, and will provide savings if the subscriber follows a few simple steps.

When you join the Reservation List and a community solar project becomes available to accept new subscribers, you will be notified with an opportunity to enroll. After successfully completing the enrollment process, you will receive the net metering credits on your monthly Ameren or ComEd electric utility bill for your share of the generation created by your Community Solar project under the utility’s default electricity supply tariff service. See invoice examples. The net metering credits, based on your subscription, will appear on your monthly utility bill and will be credited against your total electricity utility costs. mc² then bills you for 80% of the net metering credits to your credit card and you Save 20%. mc² even shows you how your participation impacts the environment each month. See MC2 Bill Sample.

Most community solar projects in Illinois are still under development, and expected to be placed into operation in late 2020 through 2022. Community solar project developers typically seek subscribers in advance of the project start date.

The program is expected to start mid-year and will be available through Chicago-based MC Squared Energy Services, LLC. (mc²). You do not have to be a current mc² electricity supply customer to participate. Updates and details will follow. Sign up if you are interested in the opportunity to become one of the subscribers in a community solar program. There is no obligation to participate in the program. This is a sign-up sheet to be notified when the enrollment opportunity for subscriptions is available.

Each community solar project will have capacity for a limited number of initial subscriptions (approximately 300 +/- residents) per project. Residents on the reservation list will be contacted as new community solar subscription opportunities become available through mc² as subscription agent for the project developer.

Yes, customers that have installed behind the meter distributed-generation resources on their premise, such as roof-top solar arrays, are currently eligible to participate as a subscriber in a community solar project. However, the potential community solar subscription size may be limited by ComEd or Ameren given the size of distributed generation resources installed on the premise.

ComEd designated net metering customers served by ComEd on the basic fixed tariff supply (Rate BES) or hourly tariff supply service will receive monthly community solar generation credits based on the applicable supply value (fixed or hourly supply service) and their specific subscription size. The size of the community solar subscription will be based on the net usage requirements of the customer as calculated by ComEd.

Maybe, but it depends on your ComEd selected tariff supply service. We do not recommend community solar subscriptions for customers with behind the meter net metering resources served under ComEd’s hourly tariff supply service because it is unlikely to see a savings when the value of the hourly generation credits is factored against the cost of the community solar subscription.

Customers with behind the meter net metering resources served under ComEd’s basic fixed tariff supply service, Rate BES, will receive monthly community solar generation credits based on a higher value per kWh. The value of community solar generation credits under the ComEd fixed tariff supply rate has averaged between 5.5 and 6.0 cents per kWh over the last several years.

Because your net metering credit is based on electric supply service rate structure—and depending on your structure may include or exclude different items from other rates—the potential savings as a community solar subscriber in conjunction with the behind the meter net metering distributed resource will depend on your choice of supply services in addition to other factors (for example the price for the behind-the-meter or community generation, system production). The potential savings opportunity may be reduced (or even negative) if you are served under the ComEd hourly tariff supply service vs. the standard ComEd fixed tariff supply and the cost of the subscription from the community solar project owners is based on the value of the generation credits at the higher ComEd fixed tariff supply service value.

Ameren designated net metering customers served by Ameren are eligible for a community solar subscription. The potential community solar subscription size is based on net usage requirements; some line items may be charged on a net basis (i.e. the number of kilowatt-hours that flow through your meter from the grid minus the kilowatt-hours generated by your behind-the-meter system and your subscription) while others for community solar may be charged on a gross basis (i.e. the number of kilowatt-hours that flow through your meter from the grid). The potential savings opportunity may be reduced because of size limitations that impact the community solar subscription size, therefore savings is best analyzed on a case by case basis behind Ameren.