The city of Roseville may soon offer its residents the option of enjoying the benefits of solar energy without having to install solar panels on their homes.
This would happen through a community solar program. These types of programs involve a local solar facility delivering resident subscribers credits on their energy bills for solar power produced. The concept is gaining popularity across the U.S. In fact, there are 36 states that have at a minimum of one such program up and running.
The proposed Roseville Electric Utility community solar program is slated to begin in fall 2018.
The program, known as Roseville Solective 100% and Roseville Solective 50%, allows eligible customers to select to participate at levels reflecting 100% or 50% of their monthly electric consumption. The program would be a great benefit for those who can’t afford to install solar on their home, as well as those who rent, own condos or homes that do not get much sun during the day.
The program would be available to all residential customers with 12 months of uninterrupted electric service. Customers would purchase energy from the program and receive credits for the value of the solar energy generated and contributed to the utility’s renewable portfolio standards.
Customers could select to receive 100 percent or 50 percent of their electric usage from Roseville Solective (no sign-up or contract fees) and then be charged and credited according to the program they select. Customers participating in the program would be billed consumption charges for the energy delivered by Roseville Electric Utility based on the customer’s applicable rate, in addition to the 100 percent, 50 percent or low-income charges and credits.
The Proposed Roseville Solective rate schedule can be found here.
The Roseville City Council will be discussing the program at its July 11 meeting.
Placer County is a great place to go solar. In addition to the benefits Roseville residents will enjoy from this program, the county’s Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program offers financing for both residential and non-residential property owners in Placer County to make energy efficiency improvements, as well as solar and water conservation measures. PACE extends the ability for the financing to be repaid by adding annual installments to property tax bills.