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Frequently Asked Questions

Who is Solar Simplified? +

Solar Simplified is a platform that matches renters and homeowners who care about the environment and want to save money on the electricity bill with local solar farms. We take the hassle out of supporting renewable energy and make the sign-up process easy and transparent!

What is Community Solar? +

Community Solar is a convenient way for homeowners, renters, nonprofits, faith institutions, and businesses to benefit from clean energy while lowering their monthly electricity expenses. As program participants, Solar Simplified customers are not required to install panels on their property. This means that you will not have to worry about the financial investment or upkeep of panels to access solar energy. Instead, you will be connected to a local solar farm within your utility territory that produces solar energy on your behalf. By supporting and participating in Community Solar, you make a collective green impact with other like-minded members of your community and see energy savings each time we apply solar credits to your utilty account.

What are Solar Credits? +

Ameren customers will see solar credits applied to their electricity bills as a negative amount called an Off-site Generation. Your 50% savings on these solar credits will be shown on your electricity bill as the difference between the Off-site Generation and a SolSim Repay. This "repay" does not increase your original electricity charges or what your original payment to Ameren would have been before Community Solar. For example, if you receive $100 of solar credits (Off-site Gen), your SolSim Repay will be $50, half of what we've applied to your utility bill.

Does it cost anything to enroll? Are there any fees? +

There is no cost to enroll in Community Solar; you simply pay as you go for the credits you receive! If you are not satisfied with your Solar Simplified subscription, you may cancel at any time without penalty. It’s completely risk-free.

Do I have to own a home to qualify for Solar Simplified? +

No. Whether you own or rent, you are welcome to participate in Community Solar. Commercial properties and businesses are welcome to participate as well.

Will I receive two bills? +

No. If you're an Ameren utility customer, you'll find your solar credits and our discount (your energy savings) directly on your electricity bill! Please see your welcome packet or call (888) 420-9831 for more details.

Will I save money with a Community Solar subscription? +

Yes. A Community Solar membership will reduce your monthly electric bill. Each month, your assigned solar farm will apply solar credits toward your utility's original electricity bill charges. These solar credits will applied as a negative amount that offsets a portion of your electricity bill charges. Solar Simplified provides a discount to you for the solar credits applied to your utility biill. Our Illinois customers will save 50¢ on every $1 of solar credits applied to their electricity bills. This discount will be applied directly to your utility bill to reduce your payment for your original electricity bill charges.

Will I ever receive surplus credits? +

Typically, your utility should apply 100% of your accrued solar credits to your electricity bill. If your accrual of solar credits is more than your originally billed charges, however, your unused credits may be banked and applied to your next month's bill. You receive a 50% discount on the solar credits that were applied to your statement to offset that month's electricity charges. Your discount on banked credits will go into affect when those solar credits are applied to your statement charges.

Community Solar sounds too good to be true. Is it? +

Community Solar is a risk-free opportunity that allows residents, businesses, and nonprofits access to solar energy. It incentivises customer participation in the program, in the form of savings, and helps your state reach its green energy goals. Illinois Solar for All (ILSFA) is a program developed by the Illinois Power Agency and administered by Elevate Energy (Elevate). Elevate is a non-profit organization working with key partners to administer Illinois Solar for All, including AECOM, Shelton Solutions, CANDO, Encolor, PACO Collective, and Primera Engineers. (Borrowed from ILSFA website: https://www.illinoissfa.com/)

Solar panels are expensive! What is my upfront investment cost? +

Good news, there is no upfront investement cost with Community Solar! When you join Community Solar, you are not purchasing or leasing solar panels. This means that you won't be burdened by the financial investment of installing and maintaining solar panels directly on your home. The developer of the solar farm will handle all of that!

What if I live in an area that isn’t very sunny? +

With Community Solar, you do not install solar panels on your property. Instead, you will be connected to a local solar farm, where solar panels have been installed. The solar farm will produce energy on your behelf and we'll distribute your portion of that energy to your utility provider. You will continue to receive your electricity service through your existing utility.

Are you an Energy Supplier (ESCO)? +

No, an Energy Supplier (ESCO) charges you for the energy your household consumes (uses). On the other hand, Solar Simplified offsets your electricity bill charges with renewable energy credits (solar credits) you accrue through our program. We help you save money on your orginal utility charges whenever solar credits are applied to your electricity bills. If your ESCO charges are consolidated with your utility's delivery charges, our solar credits will help to offset their charges, too!

Will I keep my current energy supplier? +

Yes! Nothing about your relationship with your electricity provider and supplier will change. We're not replacing them. What we will do is offset their charges to you with clean energy while helping you save money in the process.

What happens if I move? +

Please call our team as soon as you begin preparing for your move. Depending on where you move, you may be able to continue your Community Solar participation.

Will my electricity ever stop? +

No, your utility will continue to deliver electricity to you without interruption. In the event of a power outage or an emergency, please contact your utility.

What happens if there isn't much sun in my area? +

Solar farms are constructed in areas that receive adequate sunlight and are in large, unobstructed fields. The energy that is produced at these solar farms is dependent on hours of available sunlight. This means that in winter months, you may see fewer solar credits applied to your utility bill. By Spring and Summer, however, you should see more solar credits offsetting a larger portion of your electricity bill.

Can I still enroll in Community Solar if I have solar panels on my home/property? +

If you have solar panels on your home or property, you are not eligible for this Community Solar program.

What if I’m already subscribed to another Community Solar farm? +

Your state's guidelines will only allow one Community Solar program enrollment per utility account. If you would like to switch Community Solar program hosts or discuss your potential savings with Solar Simplified, please call (888) 420-9831.

Can I enroll in Community Solar if I am on budget billing with my utility? +

Solar credits and your discount from Solar Simplified will be applied directly to your electricity bill. Depending on how and when your utility decides to acknowledge this information, your discount may be deducted from your budget bill payment or credited to you when your next account reconcilation is performed.

I enrolled and l don't see any Solar Credits on my bill. +

Once your assigned solar farm goes live, your utility provider will need approximately two billing cycles to begin applying solar credits to your electricity bill. Please refer to your welcome packet for details about how the solar credits will be shown on your electricity bill.

How do I cancel my subscription? +

Most utilities may require additional time to complete their cancellation process, which includes applying all accrued solar credits to your utility statements. Please call our team at (888) 420-9831 to go over the cancellation process for your specific utility.

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