Community Solar for Renters: How to Get Solar Savings Without Installing Panels

More than half of American households can't install solar panels on their roof. According to the National Renewable Energy Laboratory, 53.2 million households are locked out of residential solar. They rent or live in apartments, condos, or townhouses where the roof isn't theirs to modify.

For a long time, the message to those households was: Solar isn't for you. That's no longer true.

Community Solar is the solar program built for renters. It's available in 23 states plus Washington, D.C. It requires no installation, no equipment at your home, no upfront cost, and it can be cancelled anytime. If you pay an electric bill in an eligible state, you can almost certainly sign up, and probably save 5-20% on your electricity starting with the next billing cycle.

The Short Answer

Community Solar for renters is a state-regulated program where you subscribe to a local solar project and receive credits on your existing electric bill. Your utility stays the same. Your apartment doesn't change. You pay a discounted rate for the solar credits, and the difference is your savings, typically 5-20% on the portion of electricity offset by solar.

Why Renters Are Locked Out of Residential Solar

1. You Don't Own the Roof

Even if you could get your landlord's permission, installing panels on someone else's property doesn't make financial sense for a tenant. The solar investment pays back over 7-15 years, longer than most rental tenures.

2. Landlords Rarely Install Solar

Some commercial landlords do, for tax benefits and building value. Most residential landlords don't, because they don't directly benefit from lower tenant electricity bills.

3. Condos and Apartments Often Restrict Installations

Even if you own a condo, your building association likely restricts rooftop modifications. High-rise apartment buildings have limited accessible roof space.

4. Solar Leases Don't Transfer Cleanly

Solar leases and PPAs are structured for a single-property, multi-decade relationship. Moving mid-lease creates friction.

How Community Solar Works for Renters

1. A solar project is built somewhere in your utility territory. Could be a solar farm on former industrial land, panels on a capped landfill, or a carport in a local parking lot.

2. You subscribe to a share of the project. Your share is sized based on how much electricity you typically use.

3. The project generates electricity and feeds it to the grid. The utility measures production and calculates your proportional share.

4. You receive solar credits on your utility bill. Each month, your utility applies credits as a line item on your existing electric bill.

5. You pay the Community Solar provider a discounted rate for those credits. The difference between the credit value and what you pay is your monthly savings.

Signup happens entirely online.  

What Stays the Same

• Your utility stays the same. Still NYSEG, JCP&L, National Grid, Xcel, or whatever you have now.

• Your service stays the same. Same electricity delivery, same outage response.

• Your meter stays the same. No one needs to replace or modify it.

• Your apartment stays the same. No equipment at your home.

• Your lease stays the same. Landlords generally don't have a say in whether tenants subscribe.

The only thing that changes is your bill goes down.

Where Community Solar Is Available

Community Solar is operational in 23 states plus Washington, D.C. as of early 2026.

States with Strong Community Solar Programs for Renters

• New York: Available statewide through Con Edison, National Grid, NYSEG, Central Hudson, and Orange & Rockland.

• New Jersey: Available through PSE&G, JCP&L, and Rockland Electric.  

• Massachusetts: Available through Eversource and National Grid, under the SMART program.

• Maryland: Available through BGE, Pepco, Delmarva Power, and Potomac Edison.

• Minnesota: Available through Xcel Energy (pioneered large-scale Community Solar in 2013).

• Maine: Available through Central Maine Power and Versant Power under Net Energy Billing.

• Hawaii: Available through Hawaiian Electric and related utilities.

How Much Will I Save as a Renter?

Most Community Solar subscribers save 5-20% on the portion of their electricity offset by solar credits. In dollar terms, $10-$40 per month for the average renter, or $120-$480 per year.

Examples: Three Renters, Three Stories

Aisha in Somerville, MA: Her Eversource bill averaged $230 per month. Her solar farm sends credits to her utility account, and she gets those credits at a 15% discount through Massachusetts's SMART program. Net savings: about $18 per month.

Carlos in Albany, NY: His NYSEG bill averaged $135 per month. He gets his solar credits at a 10% discount through New York's CDG program. Net savings: about $11 per month.

Priya in Toms River, NJ: Her JCP&L bill averaged $145 per month. She gets her solar credits at a 20% discount through New Jersey's Community Solar Energy Program. Net savings: about $12 per month.

Who Is Eligible?

If you:

1. Pay an electric bill from a participating investor-owned utility in a Community Solar state

2. Have a utility account in your name

3. Live in a home or building in the same utility territory as an available project

...you almost certainly qualify. No credit check required for most programs. No property ownership required.

Low-Income Renters Often Qualify for Better Programs

Several states (Maryland, New York, New Jersey, others) have dedicated low/moderate-income Community Solar tracks with higher guaranteed savings (sometimes 25-50%).

How to Sign Up (Under 10 Minutes)

1. Check if Community Solar is available in your state. Altus Power offers Community Solar in multiple states with no long-term commitment.

2. Confirm your utility is participating.

3. Gather your info. Recent utility bill and basic contact information.

4. Enroll online. Under 10 minutes.

5. Wait for activation. 2-3 billing cycles after validation from your electricity company.

6. Watch the credits appear.

Common Concerns for Renters

"What if I move?"

If you move within the same utility territory, you can most likely transfer your subscription. If you move to a different utility territory or out of state, you can cancel with no penalty. To transfer your subscription, all you have to do is fill out this form.  

"Is this going to mess up my lease or utility setup?"

No. Community Solar works within your existing utility relationship.

"Will my landlord benefit or suffer from this?"

Neither. If you pay your own utility bill, you get the savings.

"Do I need good credit?"

No, most Community Solar programs don't require credit checks.

"Is this too good to be true?"

Community Solar is a state-regulated program backed by specific legislation in each participating state. ‍

Frequently Asked Questions

‍Can renters benefit from solar energy?

Yes, through Community Solar in 23 states plus Washington, D.C.

How much can I save on Community Solar as a renter?

Most renters save $10-$40 per month, or $120-$480 per year.

Is Community Solar a scam?

No. Community Solar programs are state-regulated and exist in 23 states.

What if my electricity usage is low?

Your subscription is sized to your usage, so the savings scale accordingly.

Can I combine Community Solar with other energy savings tricks?

Yes. Community Solar stacks with efficiency measures and rate plan optimization.

How quickly do the savings start?

Typically 2-3 billing cycles after your subscription is validated by your electricity company.

The Bottom Line

Community Solar is the solar program built for renters. It doesn't require owning a home, modifying a property, or taking on a multi-decade financial commitment. You subscribe online in under 10 minutes, receive credits on your existing utility bill, and save 5-20%.

Renting doesn't mean you're stuck paying whatever the utility charges.
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See if Community Solar is available in your state →

Altus Power is one of the largest owners and operators of commercial-scale solar in the United States, with 1.3+ GW of operating solar across 30 states and Washington DC. One of the pioneers of Community Solar, Altus serves more than 40,000 subscribers across 9 states including New York. Learn more about Altus Power or explore our Community Solar FAQ.