What Is Community Solar?
Solar Benefits Without Rooftop Panels
Community solar (also called shared solar or solar gardens) allows businesses to subscribe to electricity generated by a nearby solar farm — without installing any equipment on their own property. The solar farm is built, owned, and maintained by a third party. You simply subscribe to a portion of its output.
Each month, your utility company (BGE, Pepco, Delmarva, or SMECO) applies credits to your electric bill based on your share of the solar farm's production. These credits offset a portion of your electricity supply charges, reducing your total bill.
Community Solar vs. Rooftop Solar
Why Community Solar May Be Right for You
Rooftop Solar Challenges
- Requires suitable roof structure and orientation
- Significant upfront capital ($50k–$500k+)
- Long payback periods (7–12 years)
- Construction disruption to your business
- You own and maintain the equipment
Community Solar Advantages
- No equipment on your property at all
- Zero capital cost to participate
- Bill credits begin within 1–2 billing cycles
- No construction, no disruption
- Third party owns and maintains the farm
Eligibility
Who Can Subscribe?
- Any commercial business with an active electric account with BGE, Pepco, Delmarva Power, or SMECO
- Renters and property owners both qualify — you do not need to own your building
- Buildings that cannot support rooftop panels (flat roofs, structural limitations, shading)
- No minimum or maximum electricity usage requirement
- Subscription sizes are matched to your average monthly usage
- Available statewide wherever solar farms have capacity
Enrollment Process
How to Start Getting Solar Credits
- 1Usage AnalysisWe review your electric bills to determine the appropriate subscription size based on your average monthly electricity consumption.
- 2Project MatchingWe connect you with an available Maryland community solar project in your utility territory. We verify the farm is operational and credits are being issued.
- 3EnrollmentWe handle the subscription paperwork. You sign a community solar agreement — typically a 20-year term with the right to transfer if you move.
- 4Credits BeginYour utility automatically applies monthly credits to your electric bill. No additional action required. Credits appear within 1–2 billing cycles of enrollment.