Every month, community solar subscribers across Maryland open their utility bills and see something their neighbors don't: a credit line that reduces what they owe. The amount varies by household, but the direction is always the same — down.
Not everyone knows what to look for. And most people searching for community solar have the same question buried under all the program explanations: how much will I actually save per month?
This post answers that directly — with real numbers, real bill examples, and clear calculations for different usage levels across Maryland's utility territories.
What a Community Solar Credit Looks Like on Your Bill
When community solar is active on your account, your monthly bill includes a line item — usually labeled Community Solar Credit or Solar Subscription Credit — that offsets part of your supply charges. The credit amount depends on how much electricity your subscribed share generated that month.
Here's a realistic example for a Baltimore household on BGE with a $130/month electric bill and a 15% discount program:
| Bill Line Item | Amount |
|---|---|
| Supply charges (electricity generation) | $68.00 |
| Community Solar Credit (15% off supply) | −$10.20 |
| Delivery charges, taxes, fixed fees | $62.00 |
| New monthly total | $119.80 |
In this example, the household saves $10.20/month — $122.40 over the year — without changing a single behavior or installing anything.
The credit only offsets supply charges. Delivery charges, taxes, and fixed fees stay on the bill — those are regulated by the Maryland Public Service Commission, not the community solar program. That's important to understand so the numbers don't look inflated.
This pattern works across all four Maryland utilities — BGE, Pepco, Potomac Edison (FirstEnergy), and Delmarva Power. The credit line appears the same way regardless of which utility sends the bill.
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Savings Range for Maryland Households
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Supply charges make up roughly 40-65% of a typical residential electricity bill. The rest — delivery, fixed fees, taxes — isn't affected by community solar. So the savings you see each month are a percentage of that supply portion, not your total bill.
Here's how the math breaks down across three different usage levels. These examples use a 15% discount rate, which is a common offer in Maryland's current program environment:
| Household Type | Avg Monthly Bill | Est. Supply Charges | Monthly Credit (15%) | Annual Savings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low usage (1-2 people, small apartment) | ~$70/mo | ~$35 | ~$5-$7 | $60-$84/yr |
| Average household (family of 3-4) | ~$130/mo | ~$68 | ~$10-$14 | $120-$168/yr |
| High usage (home office, EV charger, HVAC) | ~$220/mo | ~$115 | ~$17-$23 | $204-$276/yr |
These are estimates based on current rate environments. Your actual credit depends on your specific program rate and monthly usage. The only way to get precise numbers for your situation is to run your actual bill through the savings calculator with your ZIP code and usage data.
Higher discount rates — 18% or 20% — produce proportionally higher savings. Some programs also include bill credit floors where your minimum monthly charge is capped lower than the utility's standard fixed charge.
How Guaranteed Discount Rates Work
One of the most important distinctions in community solar programs is whether the discount rate is locked or variable. This affects whether your savings grow, shrink, or stay flat over time.
Locked (Fixed) Rates
StarShine LLC's program offers a fixed percentage discount — locked at enrollment. If you sign up at 15% off, you receive 15% off for as long as you're subscribed. If BGE raises supply rates next year (which BGE is required to do before 2027), your credits are still calculated against the higher rate — meaning your dollar savings increase even though your discount percentage stays the same.
Locked rates are particularly valuable in a rising-rate environment. Every rate increase pushes the floor higher, and your locked discount applies to a larger number.
Variable Rates
Some programs price credits against a moving supply rate — the credit per kWh fluctuates as utility rates change. In a flat or falling rate environment, this might work in your favor. In Maryland's current rate trajectory, locked rates almost always win out over time.
The best way to compare programs is to ask one question: Is my discount rate fixed or variable? If the answer is variable, ask for a historical range. Programs that can't answer that question clearly aren't worth your time.
What You Pay Now vs. What You'd Pay With Community Solar
The clearest way to understand the value is a side-by-side comparison at different usage levels and discount rates. This table uses BGE's current supply rate environment as the baseline.
| Monthly Bill | 10% Discount Credit | 15% Discount Credit | 20% Discount Credit |
|---|---|---|---|
| $70/month | $4-$6 | $5-$7 | $7-$10 |
| $130/month | $7-$9 | $10-$14 | $13-$18 |
| $200/month | $10-$14 | $15-$21 | $20-$28 |
| $300/month | $15-$20 | $22-$30 | $29-$40 |
These are supply-charge credits only. Delivery charges, taxes, and fixed fees are not reduced by community solar — they appear on every bill regardless.
All four Maryland utilities — BGE, Pepco, Potomac Edison, and Delmarva Power — have seen consistent rate increases over the past decade. A household paying $130/month today may pay $150 or more within two years. A fixed-rate community solar subscription protects those future savings too.
Check your exact savings with your utility and ZIP code →
How Savings Compound Over 12 Months
Community solar credits don't stop at month one. They appear every month, year after year, as long as your subscription is active. Here's what a typical enrollment year looks like for a Baltimore household with a $130/month bill and a 15% discount:
| Month | Gross Bill (supply + delivery + fees) | Community Solar Credit | Net Amount Paid |
|---|---|---|---|
| Month 1 (activation month) | $130.00 | $0.00 (not yet active) | $130.00 |
| Month 2 (first credit) | $130.00 | -$10.20 | $119.80 |
| Months 3-12 | $130.00+ (rate increases likely) | -$10-$14/month | ~$116-$120 |
| Year 1 Total | $1,560+ | ~$110-$134 saved | ~$1,426-$1,450 net |
The year-one total is somewhat reduced by the activation month (when credits haven't started yet). Starting enrollment in early spring means your first credit arrives before peak summer usage — when air conditioning can push bills to $180-$220/month, and community solar credits save the most in dollar terms.
In subsequent years, the activation lag disappears and savings are full from month one. A household paying $130/month will save approximately $120-$168 per year at a 15% discount rate, with the savings increasing as utility rates go up.
Over five years at a moderate rate increase of 3% annually, a $10/month credit becomes $11.59 by year five — while the supply charges it offsets also grow. The compounding effect is real.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Does community solar reduce my total bill, or only part of it?
A: Community solar credits offset your supply charges — the portion of your bill that pays for electricity generation. Supply typically runs 40-65% of a residential bill. Delivery charges, taxes, and fixed fees are not affected by community solar and appear on every bill. Your total bill goes down by the credit amount, not to zero.
Q: Can rates go down and reduce my community solar savings?
A: It's theoretically possible, but Maryland's rate history runs strongly in the other direction. BGE's gas distribution rates have more than tripled since Exelon acquired the utility in 2012, and the utility is required to file a new rate case before 2027. Even if rates were to dip, a locked-rate community solar subscription limits your downside — you're still getting the percentage you enrolled at.
Q: What if I move? Do I lose my savings?
A: If you move within the same utility territory (BGE, Pepco, etc.), your subscription can typically transfer to your new address. If you move outside your utility's service area, cancellation is usually straightforward with no early termination fees from the program side.
Q: How long does it take to see savings on my bill after enrolling?
A: Most community solar programs take 4-8 weeks to activate after enrollment. During this window, your bill is unchanged — that's normal. Once activated, the Community Solar Credit appears as a line item every month thereafter.
Q: Is there a cap on how much I can save with community solar?
A: The credit is based on your subscribed share's output, which is typically matched to your usage. If your subscription generates more than you consume in a given month, the excess doesn't carry forward — you receive credit only up to your actual usage. Choose a share size that matches your typical consumption to avoid this.
Q: Does the savings apply to businesses as well as residential customers?
A: Yes. Commercial accounts with BGE, Pepco, Potomac Edison, or Delmarva Power are also eligible for community solar programs. Business electricity usage is typically higher than residential, which means larger absolute savings. Commercial property owners with multiple accounts or large facilities may qualify for additional program options — see what we offer for commercial accounts.
Q: Is the $9.65/month BGE floor still in effect with community solar?
A: In Maryland, when your community solar subscription output exceeds your usage in a given month, you pay only the fixed customer charge — for BGE that's $9.65/month. That's the floor regardless of your total bill size. This means a small-apartment subscriber with a 600 kWh/month share in a light month could receive credits that reduce their bill to just that $9.65 fixed charge.
Related Reading
- BGE Raised Rates Again in 2026 — Here's How Homeowners Are Pushing Back
- What Is Community Solar? How It Works (Plain-English Guide)
- Community Solar vs. Rooftop Solar: Which Saves More?
StarShine LLC helps Maryland homeowners and businesses access community solar savings through BGE, Pepco, Potomac Edison, and Delmarva Power. Questions? Reach us at sunfunnel@polsia.app.