Upon enrollment activation with Ivy you will begin receiving a solar energy bill which is determined as a total electrical payment (discounted solar + leftover utility cost). Your solar energy bill is the only bill for electricity that you will need to pay; no payment to the utility company is required unless otherwise stated in your lease agreement or if you have been removed from the solar program.
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Residents
Clean Power For All
We believe that all energy consumers, regardless of owning or renting their home, should have access to clean energy. Our Virtual Grid software now gives multi-family residents access to clean energy savings.
How Is My Solar Energy Bill Calculated?
Your solar energy bill is calculated by first determining the gross utility cost (without solar) based on total kilowatt-hours consumed and the actual utility rate tariff that would have been used. Then, based on your unique time-of-use intervals and the community's real time solar availability intervals, solar savings are applied to the solar energy bill using a percentage discount off of the portion of energy you used that was virtually allocated from the solar system to you, either in the form of Live Solar or Solar Credit.
Your solar energy bill consists of 3 categories of energy:
Live Solar
This is the amount of energy produced by the onsite solar system that was directly applied to your usage. If all of your usage came directly when solar was available you would be saving the maximum amount possible.
Solar Credit
Because solar energy isn’t available all the time, when there is a surplus amount during the day it is provided to the utility company and credited back to the property to be used at non-solar times. These Solar Credits also provide you savings however they are slightly less valuable than Live Solar.
The Grid
This is the extra energy required that was not offset by any Live Solar or Solar Credits.
Did you know?
Switching to solar energy use can help reduce the demand for fossil fuels, limit greenhouse gas emissions, and shrink your carbon footprint. See the impact you can make with Ivy Virtual Smart Grid.
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Gallons of gas per year
Your energy usage habits make a difference!
While your solar energy bill is always guaranteed to be less than what you would have paid without solar, solar energy is the most valuable when it is used right away. Therefore, the more you can take advantage of Live Solar availability times the more optimal your savings can be. The highest availability of Live Solar is usually between 10am - 3pm however this can vary by season or weather. If it’s sunny outside and the sun is high in the sky it’s safe to assume there is Live Solar availability! Below is an example of two residents in a solar community that used the same amount of energy over the course of a month.
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Frequently Asked Questions
When I enroll in Ivy’s solar program do I need to pay the utility company for electricity?
If my utility company provides me both electric service and gas service will I still receive a utility gas bill after enrolling in Ivy’s solar program?
Yes, your solar energy bill will include all your electrical costs and replace your electric utility bill, however your gas service will still need to be paid for directly to your utility company.
Who do I pay my solar energy bill to?
Unless otherwise noted on your solar billing statement or lease agreement, you will pay your solar energy bill to the same entity who you pay rent to. Usually this is you property management company or landlord.
How does Ivy guarantee my solar energy bill will be less than what it would be without solar?
Ivy Energy references the utility company’s exact rate tariffs to calculate your gross electric utility cost and then applies available solar savings benefits to the portion of your energy consumption that is able to be offset by solar allocation.
How do I know that my gross utility cost (cost without solar) are being calculated correctly in order to determine my discounted solar energy bill?
Ivy Energy uses public utility rate schedules to determine your gross (without solar) energy cost. Utility rates are required to be posted publicly and Ivy keeps up to date with all effective utility rate schedules. According to the rate schedule and rate criteria’s listed on page 2 of your solar energy bill you can expect your calculated gross utility cost which determines your discounted solar energy cost to be within 99% accuracy. Please visit the utility company’s website to see available rate schedules in more detail.
Can I change the utilty rate schedule that my solar energy bill references?
Yes, you may request from Ivy that the rate schedule referenced in your solar energy bill be changed to any qualified NEM (Net Energy Metering) rate schedule available from the utility as long as it is determined that the electrical service for your unit meets the utility company's criteria for that rate schedule.
Am I provided a fixed amount of solar power directly from the solar system?
The solar power is not directly provided to residents. To insure solar benefits are distributed accurately and fairly, Ivy uses real time energy monitoring of solar production and energy consumption to determine how much of the solar financial benefits are distributed to you.
Am I responsible to buy the solar panels?
No, the solar panels are entirely owned by someone else, and the solar benefits are simply being shared with you and other participating residents.
Am I responsible to take care of the solar panels?
No, all system maintenance and operations are your landlords responsibility.
If the solar panels are not producing energy am I without power?
You will still have power regardless if the solar system is producing energy or not. Your building is connected to the grid even when it has solar power. You will always have energy access from the utility company with jurisdiction in your area and any use of this is included in your solar energy bill.
If I no longer want to benefit from solar savings can I cancel my enrollment in the solar program?
Always refer to the solar power purchase agreement in your lease for details, however benefiting from solar power is your choice and you have the right to cancel if you no longer wish to receive the benefits of solar. Any balance owed up to your cancellation effective date will still be your obligation to pay.
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