Con Edison Set to Launch ‘Community Power,’ Expanding Solar for Low Income Customers

The Consolidated Edison Company of New York Inc. on April 23 filed a plan with the New York Public Service Commission to implement its “Community Power” project, which will examine ways to boost distributed solar access for low- and moderate-income customers. The company proposes to install solar arrays on the roofs of New York City Housing Authority developments, allowing at least 350 participants to receive discounted solar energy credits on their utility bills.

The proposal seeks to demonstrate the feasibility of the community project model and its ability to provide stable financial returns that can attract third-party investors at scale. Con Edison proposed the initiative as a demonstration project under the landmark Reforming the Energy Vision, or REV, which seeks to transform the utility regulatory structure by integrating greater levels of distributed resources and empowering customers with energy management options.

The $3.3 million project plans to deliver one megawatt of solar energy from rooftop arrays to directly metered participants living in NYCHA housing. The company said that the program is designed in a manner that the solar credits will always be greater than the cost of their monthly community project subscription fee, ensuring that participants will receive a net savings on their bill.

Con Edison is a subsidiary of Consolidated Edison Inc.