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Community Solar in New York - 2026 Programs & Savings Guide

New York offers community solar through NY-Sun Community Distributed Generation. Subscribers save 5-15% on their electricity bills with no installation required. Renters are eligible.

Active Subscribers
170,000

2.1% of households

Subscribed Capacity
1,200 MW
Typical Savings
5-15%

~$18/mo avg

Available to Renters
Yes

Income-qualified tier available

Program Name

NY-Sun Community Distributed Generation

Serving Utilities

Con Edison, National Grid, Central Hudson, NYSEG

Contract Length

Up to 20 years

Community Solar Programs in New York

NY-Sun Community Distributed Generation (CDG)

Administrator: NYSERDA (New York State Energy Research and Development Authority)

Community Distributed Generation

New York's flagship community solar program allows residents, renters, and businesses to subscribe to shares of off-site solar farms and receive credits on their utility bills. The program is administered by NYSERDA under the NY-Sun initiative and supports projects across multiple utility territories.

Savings Range
5–15% off your electricity bill
Contract Length
Up to 20 years; residential customers may cancel with 90 days notice and no early termination fee
Subscription Size
1 kW to 100% of your annual electricity usage
Eligibility
Any customer of Con Edison, National Grid, Central Hudson, NYSEG, Orange & Rockland, or RG&E
Available to Renters
Yes
Income-Qualified Savings
Up to 30% savings for income-qualified households earning ≤80% of area median income

Affordable Community Solar / DG-LMI Adder

Administrator: NYSERDA

Income-Qualified Community Solar

A low- and moderate-income adder within the NY-Sun CDG framework that incentivizes project developers to reserve capacity for low-income subscribers. Qualifying households receive enhanced bill credits beyond the standard market rate.

Savings Range
Up to 30% off your electricity bill
Contract Length
Up to 20 years
Subscription Size
Based on household usage
Eligibility
Households at or below 80% of Area Median Income (AMI) served by participating utilities
Available to Renters
Yes
Income-Qualified Savings
Up to 30% savings

How Community Solar Works in New York

1

Search the NY-Sun marketplace (nyserda.ny.gov) or use a community solar aggregator to find a project in your utility territory.

2

Subscribe to a share of the project — no upfront cost, no panels installed on your property, and no credit check in most cases.

3

The solar farm generates electricity and the project operator forwards production data to your utility.

4

Your utility applies monthly bill credits to your account reflecting your share of the solar output.

5

You pay the community solar provider a discounted rate for those credits — typically 5–15% below your retail electricity rate — keeping the difference as savings.

Is Community Solar Worth It in New York?

✓

Strong Savings

This state has one of the strongest community solar programs in the country, with above-average savings, strong consumer protections, and broad eligibility including renters.

Typical Savings

5-15%

Upfront Cost

$0

Renters Eligible

Yes

Participating Utilities in New York

Con EdisonNational GridCentral HudsonNYSEG

Ready to Subscribe?

Visit the official New York community solar program to find available projects and sign up.

Find Projects in NY →

Community Solar FAQs - New York

No — renters are fully eligible for New York community solar programs. You do not need to own your property, have a suitable roof, or make any physical changes to your home. This is one of the primary advantages of community solar over rooftop installations.
Most New York community solar subscribers save 5–15% on the portion of their electricity bill covered by the community solar project. Income-qualified households enrolled in the DG-LMI program can save up to 30%. Exact savings depend on your utility, the project's contract terms, and electricity rate changes over time.
Yes. Most NY-Sun CDG contracts for residential customers allow cancellation with 90 days notice and no early termination fee. Always review the specific contract terms before signing, as conditions vary by project developer.
No. Your utility (Con Edison, National Grid, etc.) continues to deliver electricity to your home as usual. Community solar simply adds bill credits to your account — it does not change your physical electricity supply or affect grid reliability.
Project availability varies by utility territory and how quickly capacity fills up. New York City and Long Island (Con Edison territory) and the Capital Region (National Grid) tend to have the most active projects. Rural areas may have fewer options, but the program is statewide.
If you move within the same utility territory, you can often transfer your subscription to your new address. If you move to a different utility service area or out of state, most residential contracts allow you to cancel without penalty. Check your specific contract for details.

More Solar Resources for New York

New York Solar Data

Installations, costs & panel brands

New York Solar Incentives

Tax credits, rebates & exemptions

Source: NREL Community Solar Policy, state public utility commissions, DSIRE, and utility program documentation. Data reflects programs available as of 2026. Program terms, capacity, and availability change frequently - verify current details with your utility or a licensed community solar provider.