Community Distributed Generation

Community distributed generation (CDG) is making a difference in our clean energy future and creating an exciting new chapter of renewable energy in New York. It’s also a quickly growing space in our energy future as more and more renewable energy sources, like solar farms, are added to our energy grid.

What is Community Distributed Generation?

Community distributed generation allows an electricity generation facility, like a solar farm, to share the benefits of clean energy production with participants. Through a subscription, residential and business customers can join to receive monthly credits from the electricity generated at the facility without the need to install or maintain equipment on your property.

Many of our customers are already taking advantage of the benefits.

Easy: A great option if you have a small or shaded piece of property, rent or you aren’t ready to commit to solar panel investment, but still want to support clean energy. Plus, there is no installation or maintenance costs.

Savings: Annual electricity savings depends on your subscription with the developer, but often you can save between 5-10% off your electricity bill with participation.

Local Energy: Clean energy programs help support local renewable energy jobs and development, connecting you directly to clean energy projects in your community.

How do I participate?

There are currently a number of resources available to help you review and understand CDG projects across the state that you can participate in. NYSERDA offers a find a community solar project tool that includes a list of providers and projects near you. As well as helpful questions you can use while researching projects. Once you find an available project, simply contact the provider to review any subscription terms or contracts and sign up through the project to start receiving credits on your electricity bill.

Understand your solar bill

Community solar will lower your electric bill and allows you to enjoy the benefits of renewable solar energy. Each billing cycle, NYSEG applies the community solar credit value to your electric utility bill based on your subscription percentage of the solar project’s energy generation. Your subscription percentage is determined by the community solar provider and is set forth in your agreement with the provider. You remain obligated to pay the balance remaining on your utility bill after the credit is applied.

Community solar projects offer two types of billing models:

Dual Bill Model

Under the dual bill model, you will receive your NYSEG electric bill with any community solar credit applied and a separate bill from the community solar project provider, charging you for the CDG subscription fee(s) you agreed to in your agreement with the provider.

View the sample bill

Consolidated Bill Model

Under the consolidated billing model, or net crediting, you will receive only one bill from NYSEG. The CDG subscription fee is deducted directly from the total credit applied to your NYSEG bill, resulting in a reduced, or net, credit being applied to your NYSEG bill and passing on a savings which is based on a contract between you and the community solar provider.

View the sample bill

Just for developers!

If you’re a developer interested in establishing or already have an active community distributed generation project, we can guide you through the application process, and provide the associated procedures and forms.

CDG projects must adhere to the distributed generation interconnection process. If you’re a developer, application for interconnection of distributed generation can be submitted via our online portal. Once you have submitted an application, you can view your application status online through a secure login ID and password.