What Happens to Community Solar During a Power Outage?

What Happens to Community Solar During a Power Outage?

Community solar is an excellent way to save money on your energy bills while supporting clean, renewable energy. But what happens when the power goes out? Many subscribers wonder whether their connection to a community solar farm will keep their lights on or if they need to take additional steps during an outage. Let’s break it down.

Does Community Solar Work During a Power Outage?

Community solar farms are connected to the grid, which means they feed clean energy directly into your local utility’s system. However, the farms do not provide power directly to individual homes or businesses. As a result:

• If the grid goes down, community solar participants will still experience a power outage. This is because your electricity comes from the grid, not directly from the solar farm.
• Solar farms continue producing power, but this energy cannot reach subscribers during an outage because safety protocols prevent it while utility crews work to restore the grid.

Who Should You Call During a Power Outage?

If you experience a power outage, your first call should be to your utility company, not the community solar provider. Here’s why:

1. Your utility maintains the grid – They are responsible for fixing outages and restoring service. Community solar providers do not have control over grid infrastructure.
2. Reporting the issue helps prioritize repairs – Utilities rely on customer reports to locate and address problems quickly.

Find your utility’s contact information on your bill or their website, and keep it handy for emergencies.

What About Outages at the Solar Farm?

If something happens that takes a solar farm offline—like a severe storm or equipment malfunction—it may have a temporary impact on the solar credits you receive, but it won’t affect the delivery of power to your home.

Outages due to typical weather events are usually resolved within a few hours or a few days. Even in rare cases of significant weather damage or delays for equipment replacement, a site will not remain offline longer than 2–3 days.

Community solar is reliable, affordable energy. Outages are infrequent, won’t affect the power to your home, and typically have little to no impact on your solar credits.

What You Can Do to Prepare for Power Outages

While community solar cannot keep the lights on during a grid outage, there are steps you can take to stay safe and comfortable:

• Invest in backup power: Consider a battery storage system or generator for critical needs.
• Stay informed: Sign up for outage alerts from your utility company to get updates on restoration times.
• Prepare an emergency kit: Include flashlights, batteries, water, non-perishable food, and a phone charger.

The Big Picture: Community Solar and Grid Resilience

Although community solar does not provide power directly during outages, it plays a vital role in creating a more resilient energy future. Solar energy helps reduce demand on the grid, lower emissions, and support investment in infrastructure upgrades that can prevent outages in the long run.

By subscribing to community solar, you’re contributing to a cleaner, more reliable grid—one that can better withstand the challenges of extreme weather and growing energy demand.

Have More Questions?

To learn more about how community solar works click here. We’re here to help you understand your subscription and its benefits. Remember, for immediate outage concerns, your utility company is your go-to contact.

Stay informed, stay safe, and keep enjoying the benefits of community solar!