Your move details
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Utility territory
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Your subscription and savings
Community & shared solar
Community solar portability when moving tool
Check whether your subscription can follow you to a new address, and see the savings at stake if it can't.
How it works
Two steps to checking portability
Step 1
Confirm the utility at your new address
Look up your new address's utility provider directly, since assuming it's the same as your current one can be a costly mistake. Community solar credits only apply within the utility territory that serves the shared array, so check the eligibility checker tool for your new address too.
Step 2
Check your contract for the transfer process
Even within the same utility, some providers require a formal transfer request rather than an automatic update. If portability looks uncertain, review the early exit cost calculator to understand your fallback if you need to cancel.
Understanding subscription portability
Why utility territory is the deciding factor
Community solar credits are applied through your utility's billing system, and that only works if your new address is served by the same utility as the shared array. Moving even a short distance can put you in a different utility territory if you're near a service boundary, so it's worth verifying rather than assuming based on proximity alone. A grid-tied rooftop system faces the same territory-based constraint, covered by the grid-tie versus off-grid comparison tool.
What a typical transfer process looks like
When your move stays within the same utility, transferring usually involves notifying the provider of your new address and updating the utility account tied to the subscription. This is generally straightforward but does require you to remember to do it, since providers won't automatically know you've moved. Check the contract length comparison tool if your remaining term is a factor in your decision. A financed rooftop lease has a similar transfer step when you move, covered by the lease transfer at home sale calculator.
What to do if you're not portable
If your move takes you outside the utility territory, you'll typically need to cancel your subscription. Check the cancellation fee calculator to understand what that costs, and once you've settled at your new address, use the eligibility checker tool to see what's available there. Check the DSIRE database for your new state's programs as well, since availability and program quality vary significantly across the country.
Planning ahead if a move is likely
If you know a move is likely during your contract term, ask providers directly about portability before signing rather than discovering the answer later. Some providers explicitly market their subscriptions as portable within their full service territory as a selling point, which is worth prioritizing if flexibility matters to you. The Department of Energy's community solar basics guide recommends getting portability terms in writing before you sign, exactly for this kind of situation.
Questions
Frequently asked
Yes, if your new address is served by the same utility as your current one, most providers let you transfer your subscription with a simple address update. If you're moving to a different utility territory, the subscription generally can't transfer since the credit only applies within the utility that serves the shared array.
You'll typically need to cancel your subscription, which may involve a cancellation fee depending on your contract terms. Check your enrollment agreement's exact cancellation and notice requirements before you move.
Yes, most providers require advance notice, often 30 days, whether you're transferring your subscription or canceling it. Failing to notify them on time could result in continued charges after you've moved.
Yes, especially if you think you might move within your utility territory during the contract term. Confirming portability upfront avoids a surprise later, and some providers advertise portability as a specific feature worth asking about directly.