New York's Statewide Solar for All (S-SFA) program aimed to simplify the community solar process, but its pre-determined compensation levels came with a trade-off: lower developer margins and reduced autonomy.
In response, Solar Simplified launched a new, flexible solution that helped developers and Independent Power Producers (IPPs) maximize their financial returns.
The Problem with S-SFA
While the S-SFA program was designed to streamline compensation by having utilities handle the subscriber side, it gave developers less control over their projects' financial outcomes. The rigid, pre-set compensation levels could compromise profitability and flexibility, resulting in developers having less favorable margins. This presented a clear need for an alternative that allowed for greater financial predictability without sacrificing project value.
Flexible Alternative for Higher Returns
Solar Simplified's model provides a strong alternative to the S-SFA program's limitations. Since its introduction in March, our alternative has enabled New York-based IPPs and developers to navigate the market with a process that is both frictionless and highly competitive.
To further empower our partners, we've introduced two new, simplified pricing options:
• A flat rate of $500 per month per 1,000 kWh
• A single, upfront annual payment of $5,400 per 1,000 kWh
We designed these plans to give developers more predictability and control over their finances. By offering competitive rates and greater forecasting accuracy, Solar Simplified makes it easier to manage budgets and maximize the value of every community solar project from day one.
Why Solar Simplified is the Smarter Choice
Solar Simplified is a national leader in community solar aggregation, helping developers and IPPs navigate the complexities of the market. We've built a model that addresses the key risks and challenges of community solar by handling every aspect of customer acquisition, management, billing, and collections. This allows our partners to focus on what they do best: developing and building projects.
Higher Margins and Better Profits
With S-SFA, developers are locked into utility-controlled compensation levels. Our model, however, ensures you keep more of your project’s Value Stack revenue, which is the total value of the energy your project produces, including energy, capacity, and environmental benefits. You aren't subject to NYSERDA-imposed discounting, leading to higher margins and bigger profits.
Risk-Free Customer Management
Subscriber acquisition and churn are two of the biggest financial risks in community solar. We eliminate these concerns by providing free customer acquisition and churn replacement. Our process is 100% risk-free for you, allowing you to focus on development without the fear of subscriber attrition.
Flexible and Optimized Subscriber Mix
Our platform allows for a flexible mix of both low-to-moderate-income (LMI) and non-LMI customers. This isn't just about meeting program requirements; it's about optimizing your project's financial returns by creating the most profitable subscriber mix possible.
Easier Permitting and Zoning Approvals
One of the major hurdles for developers is getting community buy-in and local approvals. Municipalities can be hesitant about programs like S-SFA because they don't directly benefit local residents. With Solar Simplified, you can demonstrate that residents in their own town or city will directly see monthly savings on their utility bills. This tangible benefit makes a powerful case for your project and can significantly smooth the path toward permitting and zoning approvals.
Get higher revenue and lower risk with Solar Simplified
Ready to see how our model can work for your projects? Contact us today at [email protected] or visit our S-SFA information page to learn more.