Solar*Rewards Community

Solar* Rewards Community is the nation's largest community solar program! As a part of the program, Xcel Energy electric customers have the opportunity to subscribe directly to a third-party owned community solar garden located in their current or adjacent county. Once subscribed to an active garden, customers will begin receiving bill credits on their monthly Xcel Energy bill equivalent to the solar energy that their subscription contributes to the Xcel Energy grid.

Customers who chose to subscribe may or may not save money by participating in a solar garden ─subscription agreements are between customers and the Garden Operator. While Xcel Energy supports and administers the program, we cannot advise customers on the potential savings or other aspects of their solar garden subscription.

Review the Minnesota Office of the Attorney General’s helpful overview (external link)  of benefits and risks that may be associated with subscription contracts.

Customers subscribe directly with third party solar Garden Operators. We recommend researching multiple gardens in your area.

View the MN Solar Gardens in Progress (XLS)**

Please Note: If you are experiencing issues viewing the .XLSX file from your computer please right click the link and select “Save Link As…” to save, download, and view the spreadsheet from your desktop.

While subscribed to a solar garden, you will continue to be billed monthly by Xcel Energy, which will include bill credits based on your subscription. If your bill credits exceed the amount due on a monthly basis, the credits will accumulate and be “bought” by Xcel Energy once a year, paid out annually via check in March or April (Section 9 Tariff , Sheet 65).

Eligible Billing Rates for SRC MN (PDF)
Sample Bill Credit (PDF)
ARR and VOS Bill Credit Rates Explanation (PDF)
Subscriber Payment and Credit Details (PDF)
Bill Credit Timing (PDF)

Please note: Customers that qualify for Energy Assistance should be aware that their potential for assistance is calculated from the total amount due on their electricity bill and thus may be reduced by bill credits received through the Solar*Rewards Community program.

Subscriber FAQs (PDF)

Subscriber Agency Agreement (PDF)

Garden operator disclosure checklist for subscribers (PDF) (via CERTS)

Garden Application Status by County (PDF)

Political Subdivision or Agency Guidelines (PDF)