| Standard Energy Mix | Renewable Connect | Windsource | Solar*Rewards Community | Solar*Rewards | Net Metering | |
| Energy Source |
16% Wind 2% Solar 8% other renewables 74% non-renewable |
Solar and wind energy | Wind energy | Community solar energy | On-site solar energy | On-site solar or wind energy |
| Cost to Participate | 26% renewable energy at no extra cost | Subscription fee on Xcel Energy bill | Subscription fee on Xcel Energy bill | Subscription fee paid to solar garden per contract terms | Pay solar installer for equipment per contract terms | Pay installer for equipment per contract terms |
| Financial Benefit | Lowest cost renewables keep rates low for everyone | Personal per kWh fuel credit for using solar | Personal per kWh fuel credit for using wind | Bill credit payment for solar energy produced | Monthly energy use is offset by solar, plus incentive per kWh of solar | Monthly energy use is offset by solar or wind, and get a bill credit for excess |
| Requires Onsite Installation | No | No | No | No | Yes | Yes |
| Minimum Contract Length | None | 0 to 10 years | None | Up to 20 years | Up to 20 years | None |
|
Decreases costs for non-participating customers? |
Yes | Yes | Yes | No | No | No |
| Contract involved | No | Yes, with Xcel Energy | Yes, with Xcel Energy | Yes, with Solar Developer | No | No |
| Earn renewable energy credits? | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes |
| Contribution to your clean energy goals? | No | Yes | Yes | No | No | Yes |
* Renewable Energy Certificates (RECs) are the currency used to measure renewable energy produced and used to meet renewable energy goals. If the renewable program allows you to keep the RECs, that renewable energy doesn't count toward our goals and would be over and above the renewable energy we would otherwise produce to meet our goals. Participants choosing these options can claim that they are offsetting their energy use or are using renewable energy. If the renewable program shifts the RECs to us, Xcel Energy, all customers share the benefit of the renewable energy, but you can't actually claim to offset energy use or claim that you've switched to renewable energy.
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