City of New Orleans - Community Solar Rules
Administered by City of New Orleans
You can subscribe to a community solar project in New Orleans and receive credits on your electric bill at the full retail rate for the electricity produced by your share of the facility; if you're a low-income household (below 60% of Area Median Income), you'll receive the full retail rate plus an additional 2 cents per kWh. To get started, contact a subscriber organization operating a community solar project in your area, or reach out to Entergy New Orleans for information on available projects.
Your community solar project can generate up to 5 MW and serve both residential and commercial customers, with at least 30% of subscriptions reserved for low-income participants (up to 50% carve-out). Submit your initial application (CSG-RPAR and CSG-APP forms) to Entergy New Orleans at the designated email; the utility will confirm receipt within 10 business days and review applications in order received, followed by interconnection review and execution of standard agreements including the power purchase agreement (up to 20-year term) and monthly subscription reporting.
Entergy New Orleans administers the program under City Council rules (Resolution R-25-352), with the Council Utilities Regulatory Office handling enforcement and penalties. Individual facilities are capped at 5 MW; the overall program capacity is limited to 5% of the utility's annual peak demand for the first three years, after which the Council will reassess. Subscribers receive bill credits at full retail rates (low-income subscribers get an additional 2 cents/kWh adder), with excess monthly credits rolling over indefinitely, and individual subscribers or their subscriber organizations maintain renewable energy credit ownership.
Program details
- Program ID
- 22487
- Last updated
- 3/9/2026
Eligibility
- Sectors
- commercial residential multifamily residential low income residential
Program summary
The City of New Orleans established Community Solar Rules through the City Council's Resolution R-19-11, which established policies and procedures for community solar generating facilities in the Orleans Parish. Entergy New Orleans is required to administer the council's rules, as well as investigate, and impose any penalties for violations of the rules. The rules were amended through Resolution R-22-76 to change the income threshold of a Low-income subscriber to 60% of Area Median Income, and again through Resolution R-23-130 to increase the generating capacity of a community solar facility from 2 MW to 5 MW. Most recently the rules were changed by R-23-507, raising the PPA term limit to 20 years; allowing customers to transfer REC ownership to the subscriber organization; and changing the per kWh credit rate to a full retail rate (low-income subscribers have a full retail rate plus 2 cents/kWh).
System Capacity Limits
The generating capacity of a community solar facility must not exceed 5 MW. A facility with a capacity of 1 MW or greater may not be located on the same/adjacent property as an existing or proposed 1 MW or greater facility owned by the same subscriber organization. One or more organizations are allowed to construct multiple facilities on a single parcel of property, as long as the aggregate capacity does not exceed 5 MW.
Program Capacity Limits
The community solar program's capacity limit is less than or equal to 5% of a utility's annual peak in MW for the first three years of the program. After three years, the council will reconsider the limit.
Low-Income Provisions
Low-income subscribers are reserved a minimum carve-out of 30% for a facility with a max capacity of 5 MW. The carve-out limit is 50%.
Credit Rate
Credits are applied to each subscriber's monthly bill at the full retail rate. If a credit exceeds the subscriber's monthly bill, the excess credit will roll over monthly and indefinitely until the service is terminated. The same goes for any low-income subscribers, who receive the full retail rate plus 2 cents/kWh adder. As for renewable energy credits (RECs), the individual subscriber maintains ownership and is allowed to transfer ownership to the subscriber organization.
Contact & resources
- Additional resources
Please verify current program details with the administering agency before making any financial decisions.
