UTICA, N.Y. — The City of Utica is starting a community solar initiative, a move city officials said will give residents the opportunity to reduce their energy bill by up to 10 percent without having to install solar panels on their property.
“The City of Utica Community Solar Initiative is about doing the right thing for our community by returning real benefits to our residents,” Mayor Michael P. Galime said in a news release announcing the initiative. “This initiative provides a valuable opportunity for our residents to save money at a time when it would be especially welcome. I encourage everyone to take advantage of this program and see firsthand how it can positively impact their energy costs.”
Participating residents will receive a portion of the energy generated by the solar project in the form of credits on their National Grid bill. These credits, which are proportionate to household usage, directly reduce monthly energy costs. Residents in public-assistance programs like SNAP, SSI, or HEAP can increase their savings rate to 20 percent.
The city plans to use posters, flyers, letter-based outreach, and social media to encourage enrollment.
Enrollment in the initiative is limited and open spots are filled on a first-come, first-served basis. Participants will be connected to a range of community solar projects including ones in Cicero, Chaumont, and Auburn along with the Ingraham Project in Troy when it comes online in December 2024. Savings on electricity bills typically start two to three months after enrollment or once the project goes live.
PowerMarket will manage customer subscriptions, provide outreach assistance, and offer customer-support services.
“At PowerMarket, we specialize in making community solar accessible and beneficial for everyone involved,” Brad Tito, director of community energy, said. “Our team is dedicated to providing seamless customer support and ensuring that residents can easily participate and start saving on their energy bills. We’re excited to bring our expertise to the city of Utica and help make this initiative a success.”
For more information, visit: powermarket.io/utica.html