How is My Bill Calculated with Community Solar In Illinois?

Each Community Solar customer receives a portion of the savings generated by their local project. Once the projects start to generate energy, you will start to see those savings reflected on your Arcadia statement.

Your portion of the solar savings will be applied to your local utility bill and you will see a reduction in your overall utility charges.

The Illinois community solar market is in the process of transitioning to Utility Consolidated Billing (“UCB”). With UCB, the charges for community solar are included directly on your utility bill, and when you pay your utility bill a portion of that payment goes toward paying the amount you owe for your solar subscription.

Certain community solar projects managed by Arcadia have already implemented UCB, while for other community solar projects, subscribers are paying Arcadia for the solar credits they receive. In all cases, the subscriber receives a discount on the value of their credits (for example, if your subscription provides 10% savings, then if you receive $100 in credit, regardless of whether your charge comes from the utility or from Arcadia, you would pay $90 and your savings would be $10).

For customers who are paying Arcadia for their solar credits, separate from their utility bill, this is called Dual Billing. 

 For Dual Billing Customers; When your Arcadia statement is calculated, 10% of those solar savings are credited to your overall utility charges. The remaining solar savings are allocated towards maintaining and operating the local solar project. your statement from Arcadia will include the total amount of solar credit applied to your utility bill, and the charges you owe for that credit. We will charge your payment method on file for your solar charges.

For example, let's say your Ameren or Commonwealth Edison charges are $364.25 but the solar credit applied to your bill is $154.64. You get to keep $15.46 as savings, while the other $139.18 goes back to the solar developer for maintaining the project. Arcadia will charge your method of payment  $139.18 that goes back to the solar developer. As a customer you will be able to review each Arcadia statement via the email that is sent out 3 days before we charge your method of payment, and by logging into your Arcadia dashboard. 

Here is another example of how to read and understand your CS savings & charges: 

• Due to the application of the $27.78 Community Solar credit to your utility bill, the displayed amount for your current utility charges was reduced to $78.04.
• Your total utility charges for this month before the application of the Community Solar credit were $105.88.
• You keep 10% of the $27.78 Community Solar credit, so $2.78 will be your savings for the month.
• Arcadia statement you receive: $27.78-$2.78=$25.00

For ALL Customers; You are responsible for paying your utility bill directly. Please ensure you have online payments set up through your utility’s website, or that you pay any bills you receive in the mail.

Here's an example of an Arcadia Statement Dual Billing customers will receive:

*Please read this brochure to learn more about the Illinois Shines program.