An affordable, effortless way to add solar power to your energy mix

Butler Rural Community Solar allows members to purchase subscriptions to solar panels. Subscribers support the benefits of solar energy without incurring upfront costs and without having solar panels located at their home. Generating energy with solar power is a clean and renewable energy source.

Participating in Butler Rural Community Solar will not decrease your monthly electric bill. The 2024 community solar rate is $0.10926 per kilowatt-hour. The average cost is approximately $1 per month per panel with the solar credit applied. This estimated cost will be in addition to participating members’ current electric bills.

Members who participate in Butler Rural Community Solar can lock in the community solar rate for up to 20 years. This rate will remain constant for the duration of your agreement while other wholesale energy costs are subject to increase with market fluctuations.

Our first community solar array is located on the corner of Lanes Mill and Stillwell Beckett roads across from our office. The other phases of the community solar project are located in various locations in Ohio. This shared renewable source pools the investments from all subscribers and provides clean power and financial benefits in return.

What is Butler Rural Community Solar?
Butler Rural Electric Cooperative’s community solar program offers one of the cleanest and most affordable renewable energy sources available. By grouping solar panels together, costs can be shared, power output can be maximized, and the hassle of rooftop installation can be avoided.

How many panels can I subscribe to?
There is a limit of ten panels per member while subscriptions are available.

Will this decrease my electric bill?
You will continue to receive your monthly bill, but your bill will show that a portion of your energy is produced by the solar panels you subscribe to and pay for at the community solar rate. The community solar rate is currently higher than energy produced by traditional resources.

How does this increase sustainability?
Butler Rural Community Solar allows cooperative members to have more control over a portion of their power supply. Generating energy with solar power is a clean, renewable, and sustainable alternative energy source.

How long is the agreement?
Members can choose a five, 10, or 20 year agreement. The Butler Rural Community Solar rate will be fixed during the agreement but is subject to change after the agreement ends.

How does community solar compare to installing solar at my home?
Butler Rural Community Solar gives members an opportunity to benefit from this clean energy source because it’s built and maintained at a central location. This eliminates common barriers — such as trees, roof size, and house location — that prevent people from installing solar panels on their property. Further, all ongoing costs are included in the subscription rate, so there is no need to worry about unexpected future costs.

Who can subscribe to Butler Rural Community Solar?
Only residential members in good financial standing with the cooperative can subscribe to panels.
Members who participate in net metering and net billing cannot participate in community solar. Net metering and net billing allow members to purchase, install, and own their own solar and wind generation. These members cannot participate in community solar because the rate structure for these accounts, in terms of costs and credits, is not compatible with the community solar program. Butler Rural Community Solar is intended for members who want to participate in renewable energy without the liability and costs of home-installed solar energy.