FAQ

Community solar is a green energy option that brings the benefits of solar to renters, homeowners and other community members without the up-front costs of installing your own panels. Instead, solar panels are located at a nearby solar farms. You, your friends, your neighbors and local businesses can enroll with Solar Gardens Maine to receive discounted solar credits on your utility bill and support renewable energy in your community!

Spaces are limited based on the capacity of our solar farms. The solar energy produced is distributed among subscribers based on their average annual electricity usage. The good news is we have some space remaining on solar farms that are already live!

Enroll once, and your electricity account will be linked to one of our solar farms. It’s an easy way to save money on your electricity bills. Solar power goes from the solar project to the local utility grid, where it helps power your community with planet-friendly renewable energy. As a subscriber, you get a piece of the clean energy incentives in the form of solar credits that are applied to your electricity bill.

Yes! There is no change or disruption to your electricity service. Your utility provider will remain the same and continue to send a monthly bill.

The only difference is, as a Solar Gardens Maine customer, you’ll start receiving solar credits on your Central Maine Power electricity bill. Then, you’ll receive a separate bill from Solar Gardens Maine for the value of those solar credits, discounted by 15%.

Exact savings will vary depending on your energy usage each month.

No, you don’t! The solar panels are all located at Maine solar farms managed by Solar Gardens — not on your roof.

You will save 15% on the solar credits applied to your Central Maine Power electricity bill. That can really add up month after month, year after year! Exact savings will vary by month based on your energy usage.

No, Central Maine Power and the Maine Public Utilities Commission do not recommend joining multiple community solar programs. Each program allocates solar credits to your Central Maine Power account separately based on your household's total electricity usage, meaning you could end up paying for more solar credits than you can use if you're enrolled in multiple programs.

If you check the second page of your electricity bill, it will list any community solar program you may be enrolled in.

When you enroll with Solar Gardens, you’ll continue to pay your fixed monthly rate to Central Maine Power as community solar credits accrue on your account. This means you may pay more up front each month — your fixed CMP payment plus the cost of solar credits — but your total electricity cost over time will be lower with your Solar Gardens discount.‍

Here’s how it works:
1. Your fixed monthly payment to Central Maine Power remains the same each month based on your average past usage.
2. Solar credits are applied to your account, lowering your actual kWh of electricity used within that month. You’ll receive a separate statement from Solar Gardens for the value of these solar credits with your guaranteed 15% discount applied each month.
3. Your solar savings build up as a credit instead of lowering each monthly bill right away.
4. During an annual “true-up” with Central Maine Power, your future payments will be adjusted, or you’ll receive a credit based on the total value of the solar credits you’ve accrued as a Solar Gardens member, ensuring you always save money with community solar!‍

Please note, if keeping monthly costs low and predictable is a priority, community solar may not be the best fit — even though you will save money over time!

Each month, you’ll see solar credits applied toward reducing the cost of your Central Maine Power electricity bill. Then, you’ll receive a separate bill from Solar Gardens Maine for the value of those solar credits, discounted by 15%. Despite receiving two separate bills, combining your monthly Central Maine Power electricity bill and your Solar Gardens bill ensures you always pay less than you would without community solar!

One bill will come from Central Maine Power and will show community solar credits. These credits represent the amount of electricity that was supplied to you by the Solar Gardens Maine community solar project. Those credits are applied to your bill and reduce the amount you owe to Central Maine Power. The other bill will come from Solar Gardens Maine for the electricity that was provided to you from the solar farm. Your 15% discount will be applied on the Solar Gardens Maine bill, saving you money every month.

Your Central Maine Power utility account number can be found on your utility bill or by signing into your utility account online.

No, we are a community solar developer, which is not the same as a third-party retail energy supplier. Instead, Solar Gardens Maine provides solar electricity to the local utility grid, and you get a credit for the value of the solar electricity allocated to your utility account.

Please click here to get started or call us at (207) 387-4189.

You can call us at (207) 387-4189 or email Care@SolarGardensME.com. We’re available Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET