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How Much Can You Save With Community Solar in New York? | Articles | PureSky Energy

Written by PureSky Energy | Jun 10, 2025 4:16:11 PM

If you're a New Yorker looking for a way to cut your electricity costs without installing solar panels, community solar is one of the most accessible—and affordable—ways to do it. Companies, like us here at PureSky Energy, help everyday people like you plug into clean, local solar energy and save money month after month.

Whether you rent, own a home, or manage a small business, you could start seeing lower electric bills just by subscribing to a community solar project near you.

So how much can you actually save? Let’s break it down.

First, What Is Community Solar?

Community solar lets you “subscribe” to a share of a nearby solar farm. These solar farms generate electricity that feeds into the local power grid. As a subscriber, you earn credits on your utility bill for the energy your share produces—just like if you had solar panels on your roof, but without the installation, maintenance, or upfront cost.

You stay connected to your current utility provider, but you receive solar credits each month that reduce how much you owe on your electric bill.

A Note about Where Community Solar Is

Community solar in one form or another exists in more that 40 states across the U.S., but there are only 22 that have formal legislature that regulate and support community solar programs. PureSky only operates in those states, where community solar is, in effect, state authorized, and where we see the customer has more benefits and protections.

Real Savings: How It Works in Practice

In New York, community solar programs like PureSky Energy typically offer guaranteed savings of 10% on the value of the solar credits applied to your utility bill. That means you’ll always pay less for electricity than you would without a subscription. Now for low-income households and residents in some states, the savings can exceed 10%. It’s worth checking to see if you qualify.

Example:

Let’s say your monthly electric usage results in a $150 utility bill.

  • A share of your local solar farm generates enough credits to cover $100 of that bill.
  • With PureSky’s 10% discount, you only pay $90 for those $100 worth of credits.
  • Your final utility bill is now $50 (uncovered amount), plus $90 (discounted credits) = $140 total instead of $150.
  • You saved $10 this month, or $120 over a year.

And that's just a modest estimate. Households with higher energy usage can see annual savings of $200–$300 or more, depending on the size of their subscription.

What Factors Affect Your Savings?

Your exact savings depend on a few key things:

1. Your Monthly Energy Use


The more electricity you use, the more solar credits you can apply, and the more you save.

2. Available Solar Project Capacity

Community solar shares are limited. When you enroll, you're assigned a portion of a solar farm’s production based on your past energy usage. If you’re a low-usage household, you’ll get a smaller share (and fewer credits), but your savings rate still applies.

3. Discount Rate

With PureSky, most customers receive a guaranteed 10% discount on solar credits. Some community solar providers offer less—5% or 7%—so it’s important to compare.

4. Utility Company Policies

All major New York utilities—including Con Edison, National Grid, NYSEG, and others—support community solar, but billing formats and credit applications can vary slightly depending on the provider.

5. Administration and Cancellation Fees

Some community solar providers charge an administration fee to participate, typically a nominal fee. PureSky does not charge any fees, including cancellation fees. We want to keep community solar purely a savings program, and don’t want to penalize our customers if they need to cancel, such as moving out of our service area.

What may be confusing is that some utility companies charge everyone a clean energy fee, regardless of their participation. This is not the same as community solar, which you should be saving with.

Who Can Save With Community Solar?

The best part? Almost everyone.

✅ Renters
✅ Homeowners
✅ Small businesses
✅ Nonprofits
✅ Co-ops and condos
✅ People with shaded or shared roofs

If you pay an electric bill and your utility is eligible, you can join. No need for credit checks or long-term commitments in most cases.

Save Money, Help the Planet

Of course, the benefits of community solar aren’t just financial. By subscribing to a solar farm, you’re actively:

  • Supporting local renewable energy projects
  • Reducing your personal carbon footprint
  • Helping New York transition to cleaner energy
  • Encouraging grid resilience and energy independence

It’s a simple but powerful way to make a positive impact—just by signing up.

What Sets PureSky Energy Apart?

At PureSky Energy, we’re making community solar clear, fair, and easy.

  • Transparent terms – No gimmicks, hidden fees, or confusing fine print
  • Guaranteed savings – Most subscribers get a flat 10% off solar credits
  • No rooftop panels – Enjoy solar benefits without installing anything
  • Flexible cancellation – No long-term contract or cancellation penalties
  • Local support – Our team is based right here in New York

We believe clean energy should be accessible to everyone—not just homeowners or tech-savvy early adopters.

How much can you save with community solar in New York?

The short answer: $100–$300 a year or more, with zero upfront cost.
The better answer: you’ll save money and make a difference.

Community solar is one of the easiest ways to lower your utility bills and be part of New York’s clean energy future. If you're ready to join thousands of New Yorkers already saving with PureSky Energy, now’s the perfect time to enroll.