Community Solar is a local energy option that makes solar power available to renters and homeowners with no up-front costs or expensive solar panels. Our community solar gardens across Minnesota generate power from the sun and deliver it into the Xcel Electric power grid. 

Your Xcel Electric account will be linked to Join Solar by Novel. This generates solar credits on your Xcel Energy bill, reducing the amount you owe to Xcel Energy – and you’ll save with up to a 10% discount from Join Solar by Novel for those credits.

No solar panels or installations necessary. It’s simple to get started with no additional sign-up fees.

It’s FREE to enroll, with no upfront costs. If you choose to cancel for any reason, or move out of Xcel Enegy’s service area, there’s no fee to cancel.

You’ll save up to 10% on your monthly electricity costs when you pay with a credit or debit card, check or auto debit from your bank. Either way, your savings are guaranteed.

Please Note: Payer acknowledges that payment via credit card will include a convenience fee of 3% for each transaction.

You’ll receive your electronic gift card within five to seven weeks after account verification. We will send your gift card to the email address you provided during enrollment.

There is no change to your Xcel Energy service. You’ll continue to have an account with Xcel Energy, and start to save money. 

Your existing utility account number can be found on your Xcel Energy utility bill or by signing into your utility account online.

No,  Join Solar by Novel is a community solar developer, which is not the same as a third-party retail energy supplier. Instead, Join Solar by Novel provides solar electricity to your utility company and you get a credit for the value of the electricity generated on your behalf. Your discount is also guaranteed for up to 20 years, unlike retail energy suppliers who offer short-term savings and can change rates often.

You’ll be notified when the solar farm you’re assigned to is live and when you’ll start seeing solar credits applied to your utility bill. You’ll receive your first bill from Join Solar the following month for the value of the solar credits you receive, discounted by 10%. Your Join Solar bill will always reflect your prior month’s savings with Xcel Energy.

When you enroll with Join Solar, we look at your historical electricity usage. Each month Join Solar will allocate a dollar credit to your Xcel Energy utility account based on production from the solar farm and your total electricity usage (delivery and supply). The dollar amount you are credited on your utility bill then appears on your Join Solar statement with your 10% discount applied, saving you money every month.

Xcel Energy remains your utility provider, so you’ll still get an electricity bill every month. The only difference is that once our farms are live, you’ll receive solar credits on your utility bill, reducing what you owe to Xcel Energy. 

Join Solar will then send you a separate statement, reflecting the dollar amount of the solar credits received on your Xcel Energy bill, with your membership discount applied. The total amount for your electricity costs with Join Solar will always be LESS than what you would otherwise pay Xcel Energy.

There is none. Xcel Energy remains your electric company. As a member of Join Solar by Novel, you’ll simply receive monthly savings automatically.

You can call us at (651) 362-2920. We’re available Monday to Friday from 8:30 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. ET.