Roanoke Electric Cooperative has begun identifying nearly 40 low-and- moderate income recipient households served by the co-op to receive a $15 credit on their monthly electric bills for the next 10 years.

The North Carolina Clean Energy Technology Center is working with the North Carolina Department of Environmental Quality to distribute $166,400 in funding from the federal CARES Act. 

Roanoke Electric Cooperative received $50,000 through this program to support low-and-moderate income member-owners' participation in Community Solar Access. Community solar projects expand access to solar energy for all, including low-to-moderate income customers most impacted by a lack of access, all while building a more sustainable, distributed, and resilient electric grid.

The program supports 10-year solar panel subscriptions for 37 low-and-moderate income co-op member-owners. Each participating member-owner will receive a $15 monthly credit on their electric bill for the electricity generated by five solar panels.  

The solar capacity for the subscriptions comes from solar facilities owned by Roanoke Electric Cooperative and North Carolina Electric Membership Corporation.

Member-owners enrolled in Roanoke Electric’s Solar Share and Upgrade to $ave energy savings programs and those who have received energy assistance from local qualifying agencies in the past 12 months are being targeted for this offer.  

Priority will be given to the first 37 low-and-moderate income respondents.

Marshall Cherry, REC chief operating officer, said “the cooperative is pleased to partner with NCCETC and NCDEQ to provide significant and sustained financial assistance to member-owners who receive the bill credits.

“We are keenly aware that, for low-and-moderate income families in particular, utility bills can be a serious strain on household budgets.”

Cherry said, “Roanoke Electric is working hard to help every household and business that we serve to lower their bills through increased energy efficiency, but even that often doesn’t provide our low-income member-owners with the relief they need. We are excited to be able to work with our partners in the state government and at the Clean Energy Technology Center to provide this additional assistance to 37 member-owner households.” 

Inquiries regarding this program may be directed to 252-539-4605.