Help Protect Community Solar Savings for New Mexico Families
New Mexico’s current community solar billing structure can remove low-income households from energy savings when they fall behind on utility bills. A simple fix — Net Crediting — would keep savings flowing to the families who need them most.
What You’re Supporting
A request to adopt Net Crediting so New Mexico families don’t lose community solar savings due to billing barriers.
Why This Matters
- Community solar helps lower energy costs for families across New Mexico
- Current billing rules interrupt those savings during financial hardship
- Some households lose access after falling behind on utility bills
Utility Consolidated Billing with Net Crediting keeps savings tied directly to utility accounts — so families can stay supported when they need it most.
Net crediting is fundamental in delivering community solar to low-income households and is used in New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Illinois, Minnesota, and Oregon.
How does billing work now and what is Net Crediting?
Infographic is for illustrative purposes only. Real fees and calculations might vary
Low-income subscribers under the current dual bill model:
- Utility applies 100% of credits to a subscriber’s utility bill
- Subscriber receives a community solar provider bill for 72% of credits
- If a subscriber does not pay their community solar provider bill in multiple consecutive months, they are removed from the project and no longer receive community solar bill assistance
Low-income subscribers under Net Crediting:
- Utility applies 28% of credits (the Net Credit) to a subscriber’s utility bill
- Utility applies 72% of credits, minus a fee, to the community solar project, independent of a customer’s utility bill payment
- If a subscriber does not pay their entire utility bill in multiple consecutive months, they are not removed from the project and can continue to receive community solar bill assistance
Why is Net Crediting necessary?
- It enables providers to serve all New Mexicans, including unbanked households and families struggling to pay every utility bill on time
- It removes the number one barrier to community solar by allowing customers to subscribe without giving payment information to a third-party provider
What does Net Crediting require from the utilities?
- Utilities split monthly credits into two parts: one part goes to subscribers as savings and the other part (minus a fee) goes to the project owner
- Utilities collect monthly fees from project owners in return for delivering Net Crediting, structured as a percentage of the monthly credits for the project
Your Signature Matters
It adds your name to a formal request submitted to the New Mexico Public Regulation Commission calling for fairer community solar billing.
“We urge the Commission to adopt Net Crediting to ensure New Mexico’s community solar program delivers stable, equitable savings to low-income households…”
Add Your Name in Support
377/1,000 Signatures collected
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