Easy, affordable solar power. No matter where you live.

RushShelby Energy is excited to introduce you to My Solar, a cooperative solar program. My Solar provides electricity through solar energy without any installation on your home or business. Members have access to easy, affordable solar power, no matter where you live.

Rather than installing these solar panels on your home or business, RushShelby Energy will keep and maintain your panels at one of our solar arrays. Participating members will see the change on their monthly electric bill, with each panel generating ≈450-500 kWhs annually.

Big impact

Energy produced through My Solar will be clean and sustainable, helping you to reduce your personal carbon footprint in energy consumption.

No maintenance

Our remote solar arrays require no roof installation, providing you with a hassle-free way to access solar energy from your home or business.

Enroll

Low cost

My Solar provides inexpensive options for investing in renewable energy, while the upfront and ongoing costs of home installations remain high.

Easy, affordable solar power. No matter where you live. Share in the output from 10 solar arrays in southern Indiana.

Participating members at RushShelby Energy can choose between a monthly payment plan and an upfront payment. Enroll

Monthly payment plan

Participating members will be charged a monthly payment of [$0.01] for every kWh that is produced by their chosen amount of panels.

Upfront payment 

Participating members pay a one-time upfront payment of $500 to receive the production from a solar panel for 20 years. On each monthly electric bill, the participating member is credited 5.5 cents per each kWh produced by their reserved panel.

Generation varies

Generation from solar panels varies on a monthly basis, with the highest generation occurring in the summer months and the lowest in the winter months. Each panel averages approximately 500 kWh of production per year.

Solar Production

Hoosier Energy’s solar program consists of ten 1MW solar arrays placed along highly visible roadways across member service territories. Collectively, the solar sites will provide approximately 2,000,000 kilowatt-hours (kWh) of energy annually for the 300,000 consumers served by Hoosier Energy’s 18-member distribution cooperatives.

The New Castle solar site was the first of our cooperative’s ten 1MW arrays to be constructed in southern Indiana. These 10 solar sites generate enough combined electricity to power approximately 1,500 homes throughout our cooperative’s service territory. Start the video to the left to view a time-lapse video of the four-month construction process in New Castle, Ind.

FAQs

Shares

What is a community solar share equivalent to?

A solar share is equivalent to one solar panel’s output. The size of the panels varies between solar sites but averages ~330 Watts. In a year, one share is expected to produce ≈450 – 500 kWh.

Is there a limit to the number of shares I can purchase?

Yes. The limit is 12 shares, which is equivalent to 12 panels.

If I subscribe to a share of My Solar, will I stop receiving my monthly bill?

No. You will continue to receive your monthly bill, but your bill will now show that a portion of your energy is produced by solar.

Equipment and Sustainability

Will any equipment be hooked up to my home?

No. The power generated by My Solar is distributed through the poles and wires that your electric cooperative has already built to service your home.

How will this help increase sustainability?

My Solar is a local power source, which allows the community to have more control over a portion of their power supply. Generating energy with solar power creates no pollution or carbon dioxide emissions, and is a clean, renewable, and sustainable alternative energy source.

How does My Solar compare to rooftop solar?

My Solar sites are built and maintained at a central location by experts in the field. This eliminates common barriers — such as trees, roof size and house location — that prevent our members from installing solar panels on their property. Further, all ongoing costs are included in the subscription rate, so there is no need to worry about unexpected costs popping up in the future!

Is any of the power I use now renewable?

Yes! Your electric cooperative has a 10 % renewable energy goal by 2025. Currently, approximately 5 % of your energy is generated by renewable resources such as wind and solar. By enrolling in for the My Solar program, you are able to increase the amount of renewable energy you use at your home each month.

Is energy production guaranteed?

Each panel is expected to generate 450-500 kWh per year, but output varies with weather conditions. However, because we combine the output of 10 solar arrays across the state, we are better able to ensure consistent energy generation from your share.

What about operations and maintenance?

Your price per share covers all operation and maintenance costs for the project.

Why do the panels move?

The 10 one megawatt solar projects across southern Indiana that make up the My Solar program are all single axis tracking systems. This means that they follow the sun across the sky each day to maximize production. Compared to a solar system on your roof, these arrays are able to capture more sunlight and lower the cost of energy.

Where is the solar array located?

The My Solar community solar program combines the output of 10 solar projects located across southern Indiana. By combining the output of all 10 sites, we are better able to maximize and ensure consistent energy generation from your share.

Terms and Conditions

How long is the term of the agreement for the upfront payment option?

Under the upfront payment option, participating members receive energy output from the solar panel for 20 years. If the remaining life expectancy of the panel is less than 20 years, the upfront payment amount will be prorated and term of the agreement will be shortened.

How does the monthly payment option work?

Participating members are able to pay a little extra for “clean energy.” The additional charge is $0.01 per kWh. To determine how many kWh’s are charged, an average kWh/month for a single panel is calculated based on the production of solar panels across 10 different sites. Members can choose to purchase solar power from up to 12 panels. This plan has a 10-year term that can be terminated at any time, but if terminated, members can’t re-sign until the next calendar year.

Are there any enrollment fees?

There are no enrollment fees associated with the My Solar program.

Can I take advantage of any tax credits or other incentives to bring down the cost of a panel?

My Solar has sought out and taken advantage of all available credits, rebates, and incentives in order to make the program as affordable as possible. 

Can anyone enroll for the My Solar program?

The My Solar program is only available to members of participating rural electric cooperatives. 

What happens if I move?

If you move to another location within RushShelby Energy service territory, your share can “move” with you! If you move out of the service territory, you have the following options: 1) Transfer your share to another member of your electric cooperative with a $50 transfer fee; 2) Transfer your share as part of the sale or rental of your home; or 3) If you move to another location outside RushShelby Energy service territory within the first five years, the member will have the ability to cancel the agreement and sell the panel back to RushShelby Energy. For example, if someone sells their home after two years, the repurchased price would be $500 minus the $50 transfer fee minus $100 per year with the panel. So, $500 – $50 – $200 (for two years of use) = $250 returned to the homeowner. 

What if I cancel the agreement early?

If the agreement is cancelled early due to relocation, then the options under “What happens if I move?” apply. If the agreement is cancelled early due to a different reason, there is no fee associated with exiting the program. A waiting period for re-enrollment may be established by your electric cooperative with the fixed monthly rate. Contact your electric co-op for details on the terms and conditions.