Solar cell technology harnesses energy from the sun to power homes and businesses. Solar power generation continues to increase as the technology improves and solar systems become more affordable. Concerns about climate change have also led to a growing interest in reducing reliance on non-renewable energy sources. But installing a rooftop solar system may be out of reach if you lack financing, your home receives inadequate sunlight, or you live in an apartment, condominium or rental house. 
Victory Electric wants to make it easier for our members to support renewable energy — without the high cost or long-term commitment of buying, installing and maintaining rooftop solar panels. Victory Electric’s new Community Solar program is an alternative to rooftop solar that lets you join other residential users who want to invest in more sustainable energy and help the environment. 
Sunflower Electric Power Corporation — Victory Electric’s Generation and Transmission (G&T) provider — generates solar energy at its 20-megawatt Johnson Corner solar farm in Stanton County, Kansas. Sunflower transmits wholesale energy from Johnson Corner to Victory Electric through the electric grid. Victory then delivers that power to cooperative members through its electric distribution system.
Victory now offers shares in the energy produced at the Johnson Corner solar farm for members to purchase with no long-term commitment or setup fees. Residential members may subscribe to $5 shares in 125 kilowatt-hour (kWh) blocks. Eligible members may purchase shares based on their home’s 12-month average electrical usage. For example, if your average energy consumption is 1,000 kWh, you could purchase up to eight shares (e.g., 1,000 kWh/125 kWh = 8 shares).
 

How to Sign Up
Beginning in November, visit victoryelectric.net/community-solar to find out if you are eligible, how many shares you may reserve, and enroll in the Victory Electric Community Solar program. Interested residential members who have at least 12 months of uninterrupted service at the same location and whose accounts are in good standing (excluding accounts enrolled in PowerMyWay, Budget Billing or have a Net Metering Rider) are encouraged to sign up. The sign-up process is simple and takes only a few minutes:
1. Go to victoryelectric.net/community-solar and click Subscribe Here. 
2. Enter your account number, name and contact information, then click Next.
3. The page will indicate whether you qualify for the program and calculate the number of shares you may purchase based on your average electrical use. Using the slider, select the number of shares you want to subscribe to at $5 per share per month, then click Next.
4. Review the member application to make sure it reflects the correct number of shares you want, then select the best way to contact you. Read and check the box beside the member acknowledgement, then click Submit Application. 
5. A Victory Electric representative will review your application and follow up with you within two business days.
 

How It Works
Community Solar subscribers will see two additional line items added to their monthly electric bill: a $5 subscription cost for each share you purchase, and a solar adjustment. When market conditions are favorable for solar-generated power, you will receive a solar adjustment credit from your subscribed shares. When market conditions are not favorable for solar-generated power, the solar adjustment will be a charge. 
Fuel costs, transmission congestion, consumer demand, weather, natural disasters and supply chain issues can all affect the cost of electric energy, so the solar adjustment may vary from one month to another. We expect that participating members will save money over time but cannot guarantee they will receive a credit every month.
Sunflower Electric offers a limited number of shares to Victory Electric, and shares are available on a first-come, first-served basis. When all shares are allocated, interested members will be placed on a waiting list and contacted as shares become available. Members may cancel at any time, but if you cancel your subscription you will not be eligible to resubscribe for one year.
If you sign up in November, your Community Solar subscription will begin in December and be reflected on the bill you receive in January. If you decide to cancel the monthly subscription, the cancellation will take effect on the last day of the month.
Victory Electric is your trusted energy partner, and we are pleased to offer interested members this opportunity to hold a stake in solar energy without the significant initial investment, maintenance costs and ownership hassles of buying and installing a rooftop solar system.
To learn more about the program or sign up, visit victoryelectric.net/community-solar or call our office at 620-227-2139.