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Pennsylvania signed its first community solar law on April 7, 2025. The PUC has until April 2026 to develop implementation rules. Subscriptions are NOT yet available. Here is everything you need to know about what is coming.
NOT YET OPERATIONAL
HB 1155 was signed into law on April 7, 2025. The PUC must develop implementation rules within 1 year (by April 2026). Community solar is NOT yet available for subscription in PA.
2 MW
Max Project Size
20%
Low-Income Set-Aside
$0
Upfront / Signup Fees
From signing to subscription: here is the expected path to PA community solar becoming available.
April 7, 2025
Governor signed HB 1155, making PA the 23rd state to authorize community solar. The law requires the PUC to develop implementation rules.
CompleteApril 2025 - April 2026
PA PUC must develop implementation rules within 1 year of signing. Rules will cover project size limits, subscriber protections, billing mechanics, and low-income requirements.
In ProgressBy April 7, 2026
Statutory deadline for PUC to publish final community solar regulations. These rules will determine how projects are developed and how subscribers receive credits.
PendingLate 2026 - Early 2027
After PUC rules are finalized, developers will begin permitting and constructing community solar farms. Expect 6-12 months from rules to first operational projects.
Pending2027+
PA residents and businesses can subscribe to community solar projects. Bill credits will appear on monthly utility bills. No upfront costs or installation required.
PendingBased on HB 1155 provisions and similar programs in neighboring states.
Developers build solar farms up to 2 MW within your utility territory. Projects connect to the local grid.
You sign up for a share of the project. No upfront cost, no signup fee, no credit check. No maximum subscriber share can exceed 50% of project capacity.
Your proportional share of the solar farm production appears as credits on your monthly utility bill. Estimated 5-15% savings.
No Upfront Costs
Subscribers cannot be charged upfront costs or signup fees
No Credit Checks
Credit scores cannot be used to deny subscription access
50% Small Subscriber Set-Aside
Half of each project must serve subscribers with 25 kW or less allocation
20% Low-Income Carve-Out
At least 20% of capacity reserved for low-income households
Grid Services Payment
$0.18/watt (nominal DC) from utility to developer for first 5 years
EDC Billing Integration
Credits applied directly on your existing utility bill
About 50% of PA households cannot install rooftop solar. Community solar is designed for them.
Cannot install rooftop solar on property you do not own. Community solar lets you access solar savings through your utility bill.
HOA restrictions or shared roofs prevent individual installations. Subscribe to a nearby community solar farm instead.
Trees, nearby buildings, or north-facing roofs that reduce rooftop solar viability. Community solar farms are built on optimal sites.
HB 1155 requires a 20% set-aside for low-income subscribers. No credit checks, no upfront costs, guaranteed savings.
Businesses that cannot or do not want to install rooftop panels. Subscribe to a local project and reduce your commercial electric bill.
No panels on your roof, no equipment to maintain, no $35,000+ investment. Just sign up and start saving.
PA is the 23rd state to pass community solar legislation. Here is how it compares to established programs nearby.
| State | Status | Project Cap | Typical Savings | Subscribers | Low-Income % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| New Jersey (CSEP) | Active since 2019 | 150 MW/yr | 10-20% | 100,000+ | 51% |
| Massachusetts | Active since 2017 | No cap | 10-20% | 200,000+ | 20% |
| New York | Active since 2019 | 10 GW goal | 5-15% | 500,000+ | 20% |
| Pennsylvania (HB 1155) | Not Active | 2 MW per project | 5-15% (estimated) | 0 (not launched) | 20% |
Community solar is not yet available, but you have options today.
If your roof works for solar, do not wait for community solar. Rooftop solar with net metering provides 1:1 retail credits and SREC income. PPA/lease options require no upfront cost.
PA Solar GuideIf upfront cost is a concern, a solar PPA or lease puts panels on your roof with zero down. The third-party owner claims the Section 48 ITC (30%) and passes savings to you as a lower rate.
Financing OptionsRegister your interest with NuWatt Energy and we will notify you when PA community solar subscriptions become available in your utility territory.
Get NotifiedAs a deregulated market, PA lets you shop for lower supply rates. Switching suppliers can reduce your bill 5-10% right now while you wait for community solar.
Utility ComparisonNo. HB 1155 was signed into law on April 7, 2025, but community solar is NOT yet operational in Pennsylvania. The PUC must develop implementation rules by April 2026, and the first projects are expected to begin accepting subscribers in late 2026 or 2027.
Once operational, PA community solar will work through virtual net metering. You subscribe to a share of a local solar farm (up to 2 MW). The solar farm generates electricity and feeds it into the grid. You receive bill credits on your monthly utility bill proportional to your subscription share. No panels are installed on your property.
Based on programs in neighboring states (NJ, MA, NY), PA community solar subscribers can expect 5-15% savings on their monthly electricity bill. The exact discount will depend on the terms set by the PUC and individual project providers. HB 1155 prohibits upfront costs and signup fees.
HB 1155 requires that at least 20% of each community solar project's capacity be reserved for low-income subscribers. This ensures that households who cannot afford rooftop solar can access clean energy savings. No credit checks are required, and there are no upfront fees for any subscriber.
The rules have not been finalized yet, but generally in states with community solar, you can have both. However, your community solar bill credits would be applied to whatever utility consumption remains after your rooftop solar offsets your usage. If your rooftop system already covers most of your bill, community solar may offer limited additional benefit.
HB 1155 includes a grid services payment of $0.18/watt (nominal DC) for the first 5 years of operation. This payment from the utility to the project developer recognizes the grid benefits of distributed solar generation and helps make projects financially viable.
New Jersey's Community Solar Energy Pilot (CSEP) has been operational since 2019 and serves over 100,000 subscribers. NJ requires a 51% low-income allocation (vs PA's 20%). NJ subscribers typically save 10-20% on their bill. PA's program is modeled on successful programs like NJ and MA but has not launched yet.
No. Community solar does not change your utility company, your rate plan, or your electrical service. You remain a customer of your EDC (PECO, PPL, Duquesne Light, etc.). The only change is a line item credit on your monthly bill for your community solar subscription.
Be the first to know when community solar subscriptions become available in your PA utility territory. We will also help you evaluate whether rooftop solar is a better fit right now.