Utah residents who rent homes or otherwise can't install solar panels can access solar power and receive credits towards their solar bill, according to community solar programs in Provo and other Utah cities.
While renters are unable to install solar panels on their homes and apartments, off-site solar farms can provide renewable power, known as community solar.
In 2023, 19% of Utah’s total electric production came from renewable resources such as solar, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Since 2015, solar energy has powered about 93% of Utah’s generating capacity, the administration said.
When Utah homeowners are only in their homes temporarily, or renters cannot get permission from landlords to install panels, community solar programs (also known as subscriber solar or shared solar) are available in cities such as Provo, according to Provo City Power's net metering website.
Utility companies that have installed solar farms can lease plots of the farm to residents. As residents pay for the panels on the solar farm, they receive credit based on the amount of energy they are transmitting across energy lines, Matthew Boone, technical operations manager for Logan City Light and Power, said.
“It's especially great if you’re a renter,” Provo City Power Representative Janessa Anderson said. A landlord's permission is not needed to use community solar, Anderson added.
Financially, there’s no benefit to opting for community solar as opposed to residential solar, Boone said. Community solar is also not directly connected to the utility meter on a home and there is no direct production used.
"Solar is kind of a long term play. It's not something you pay back in one year," Norman Harrison, a representative of Progressive Power Solutions, said. Renters may not be in their homes long enough to see long term results, he added.
Community solar programs have inspired online debates in forums such as Bogleheads.org. The debate over whether community solar programs are financially beneficial to renters is still ongoing.
To find out more, Utah residents can visit their city's utility and power website. Provo residents can visit the Provo City Power website here for more information on solar.