We will make electricity in your name at a 10% discount from Vermont Electric Coop's rates.
No hardware or electrical changes are required. Credits from us will appear on your VEC statement.
Estimate your savings
Tooltip content
Estimated Annual Consumption
How much power you expect to use in a year.
We will aim to produce 90% of this over the course of the year (with more being generated over the summer, and less in the winter).
Typical values are 5,000 - 12,000 kWh per year
10,000 kWh
Estimated Monthly Consumption
833 kWh
Target Monthly VEC Credits Generated
Averaged over the course of a year, we'll try and send you this dollar-value of VEC credits to reduce your electric bill.
We cannot reduce the ~$18 VEC customer fee or Energy Efficiency Charge.
$141(750 kWh)
Average Monthly Skylight Bill
For every dollar credit we send you, we'll only charge you $0.90.
$127
Average Annual Savings
$170
Electrification Bonus Credits
Additionally, we offer a $250 rebate on home and vehicle electrification projects. Simply show us your check from Efficiency Vermont and we'll credit your bill. Limit one per account. Applicable to heat pump water heaters, heat pumps, induction stoves, electric vehicles, electric lawn mowers, and home batteries.
As easy as a monthly subscription
No fees
No down payment or up-front payment
No long-term commitment
No need for a roof or home ownership
Get Started
We still have space – 10 minutes will get you signed up.
F.A.Q.
MEMBERSHIP
🧾 What will my power bill be after I'm subscribed?
As the solar panels generate electricity, your VEC statement gets credits. You always get a certain percentage of all the power made by the array.
In the summer, you'll get mower power, and in the winter, you'll get less. Surplus energy from the summer months will get "banked", and drawn down in the winter months.
Over the course of the year, you'll save 10% on your electric costs. In the summer your costs will be a little bit higher, and in the winter it will be a lot lower.
Interpreting VEC bills
Every month you will receive your VEC bill which will indicate the credits on your account, and a bill from Skylight Solar LLC for the discounted-rate power.
On your VEC bill there are two types of charges. The discount we offer can only apply to electric rates (in yellow), and not customer fees.
Your banked credits from the summertime will appear under "Available Credit".
No hardware changes are required.
⚡️ Can I sign up if I'm not on Vermont Electric Coop?
We currently only can serve VEC customers. However, we have more projects being planned. If you'd like to get on the waitlist, please feel free send us your info with the blue box above.
📍 How can I tell if I'm a Vermont Electric Coop customer?
You can view the interactive map, here. To be sure though, check your electric bill.
VEC area is green. Click to zoom in.
🔋 How much power should I sign up for?
When you sign up, you are assigned a certain fraction of the solar array, according to your power needs. If you over-subscribe, you'll pay for solar credits which expire if unused after a 12-month rolling window.
As a rule of thumb, you can look at your bill and sign up for 90% of your past year's consumption, or more if you're planning significant upgrades. If you still have questions, we're happy to help you plan your energy needs.
If starting in the winter, don't be suprised if you credits don't immediately cover all of your electric demand. Peak solar production is in the Spring, Summer, and Fall, so it may take some time to build up a reserve of credit.
🌞 Will my house be solar powered?
The power flowing to your house is not the same solar power we generate. As the solar field generates power, it goes wherever it is needed at the time, and you get the credit for it on your VEC bill.
When VEC buys power from us, they also buy (and resell) the right to claim they're solar powered. This means that you cannot also claim that your house is solar powered any more than the average VEC power makeup.
Nevertheless, by working with us you are helping make clean energy possible in New England.
DETAILS
🏘️ Can I subscribe if I'm already a member of another community solar farm?
Maybe.
Unfortunately, Vermont Net Metering law prohibits customers from being members of multiple community solar projects. Renewable Energy Vermont is working actively to update this legislation, and we hope this will change with an update to Vermont's Renewable Energy Standard.
However, we may be able to work with your current community solar provider to exchange customers so that you can increase your solar proportion.
🏠 Can I subscribe if I have rooftop solar?
Yes! Rooftops are installed "Behind the Meter", effectively running your meter backwards when your panels generate electricity. This is compatible with community solar.
⚖️ When would I want community solar instead of rooftop solar?
Unfortunately there are many circumstances when rooftop solar is just not possible - such as too much shade, rooves pointing in the wrong direction, rooves which are not new enough or can't take the load, and so on.
There are some advantages to community solar in not having to maintain your own equipment, manage the install, or pay anything up-front. You can even transfer your power to a new meter within VEC territory if you move. On the downside, you won't own your panels.
👭 Can I refer a friend?
Sufficient participation in both income groups will be necessary for the project to go forward. You're welcome to refer a friend and help us launch without delay!
You can download and share or print the following PDF:
📈 Can I sign up as a business?
Yes, we do accept businesses at a 10% discount rate, so long as the other criteria are met: on VEC territory, and the meter in question is not already enrolled in community solar.
$ Can I purchase my fraction of the array?
We are open to sale of fractions of the array after five years. There would of course still be some fees for lease, taxes, maintainence, etc. Feel free to let us know in the sign up form if you would be interested in purchasing in the future.
ABOUT US
🏞️ I have land which could be used for solar. Can you build on it?
If you have 2-10 acres with south-facing exposure (on any Vermont utility), it could be a great location. Feel free to reach out to hello@skylightsolarvt.com.
👣 What is the carbon footprint of your solar panels?
While some solar panels are now made in Net-Zero facilities, unfortunately they still come at a premium, and were not selected for this project. However, these solar panels pay off their carbon footprint within about a year or less of operation, and so still have a very positive effect. Some discussion can be found in the F.A.Q. on this post.
Local stone, rather than concrete, is used for ballasting the array.
We use all-electric mowers for cutting the grass around the array. To any local farmers - we're open to the idea of sheep grazing in the area.
👷♂️ Who built the solar array?
We're proud to have Aegis Renewable Energy as our Engineering, Procurement, and Construction partner.
Racking delivery - July
Blueprints of the site plan
👫 Who is Skylight Solar?
The project is owned and operated by Peter Ehrlich and his partner Sarah King, residents of Jericho, VT. Peter grew up in upstate NY and has a background in software engineering. Sarah grew up in Jericho and teaches math at a nearby school.
