Community & shared solar

Community solar for low income households tool

Check whether your household income falls within typical low income program thresholds, and see the enhanced discount and savings these programs often provide.

Your numbers

1 Household income and size
Number of people in your household. Enter up to 8; larger households use the 8-person adjustment.
2 Area median income and threshold
Search "[your county] area median income HUD" to find the published figure.
Most programs use 80% of area median income. Check your specific program if different.
3 Estimate enhanced savings Optional

How it works

Three steps to checking eligibility

Step 1

Find your area median income

HUD publishes area median income figures by county each year, adjusted for household size. Search your county name plus "area median income HUD" to find the current published figure, or check the eligibility checker tool to confirm a program exists near you first.

Step 2

Check the threshold your program uses

80% of AMI is common, but check your specific provider or state program, since some use a different percentage or a federal poverty level standard instead.

Step 3

Compare the enhanced discount if eligible

If you qualify, add the standard and enhanced discount figures to see the extra dollar savings. Confirm your subscription size fits the program's minimum with the minimum subscription size tool, since low income programs often have a lower threshold.

Understanding low income community solar programs

Why these programs use area median income instead of a flat dollar figure

Area median income varies enormously by location, so a $60,000 income might be well above the threshold in one county and well below it in another. Using AMI, adjusted for household size, lets programs set a locally relevant income line rather than a single national number that would be unfair across different cost-of-living areas. The DSIRE database keeps the current program details, and it is worth a look before you decide.

What makes these programs different beyond the bigger discount

Beyond a larger discount, many low income community solar programs offer lower or waived minimum subscription sizes, simplified enrollment through existing assistance program verification, and sometimes no credit check requirement. Check the minimum subscription size tool to compare the difference directly. These design choices exist specifically to remove common barriers that keep lower-income households from enrolling in standard programs. Nonprofit-financed rooftop programs sometimes serve a similar purpose too, covered by the nonprofit solar financing tool.

What to do if you're close to the threshold

If your income sits close to the eligibility line, apply anyway and let the program verify, since income calculations sometimes differ slightly from a simple household median comparison. Some programs also offer automatic qualification if you're already enrolled in SNAP, LIHEAP, Medicaid, or a similar assistance program, regardless of the exact income threshold. The Department of Energy's community solar basics guide confirms this kind of simplified verification is a common feature of well-designed low-income programs.

Where to find a program in your area

Not every utility territory has a dedicated low income community solar program yet, though availability has expanded significantly in recent years. Check the eligibility checker tool to see whether community solar, including low income options, is available where you live, and run the subscription savings calculator once you have real numbers from a specific offer. A rooftop system may also qualify for a state-level low-income incentive, covered by the low-income solar program eligibility checker. Check the DSIRE database for your state's specific low-income solar incentive programs, since some states layer additional support on top of what a provider offers directly.

Questions

Frequently asked

Most low income community solar programs use a threshold around 80% of the area median income, adjusted for household size, though some use 200% of the federal poverty level instead. Exact thresholds vary by state and program, so check your specific program's published limits.

Low income programs commonly offer a 20% or higher discount off the bill credit value, roughly double the 10% discount typical of standard residential subscriptions. Some programs are funded through state incentive programs and cost nothing to enroll in, though guaranteed savings language should always be confirmed directly with the specific program.

Most programs accept proof of enrollment in an existing assistance program, such as SNAP, LIHEAP, or Medicaid, as automatic qualification, or they accept recent tax returns or pay stubs as income documentation. Check your specific provider's enrollment requirements.

No, many low income programs set a much lower minimum subscription size than standard residential programs, sometimes as low as 200 kWh a year, to make enrollment more accessible for smaller households or lower usage.

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