Use this guide
Choose the questions relevant to your situation. Expand each answer, save the checklist and request written clarification where evidence is missing.
Questions homeowners ask
Is Maine’s residential kWh program the commercial tariff-rate program?
No. The PUC distinguishes a kWh-credit program available to electric utility customers from a dollar-credit tariff program for non-residential customers.
Source: Maine PUC: net energy billing programs. Reviewed 2026-10-06.
Can a customer own an array rather than join a shared project?
Yes. The PUC describes both a customer-owned project and participation in a shared project within the same utility service territory.
Source: Maine PUC: net energy billing programs. Reviewed 2026-10-06.
Do unused NEB credits last indefinitely?
No. The PUC’s program comparison states that unused credits expire after 12 months. Ask for your actual credit-age record.
Source: Maine PUC: net energy billing programs. Reviewed 2026-10-06.
What should residential project marketers provide?
The PUC says entities marketing to residential customers must be registered and provide an NEB disclosure form describing costs and benefits.
Source: Maine PUC: net energy billing programs. Reviewed 2026-10-06.
Why can a subscription invoice arrive after the utility bill?
The Public Advocate describes separate solar-company invoices arriving after the utility bill. Match the allocation period rather than assuming identical invoice dates.
Source: Maine Office of Public Advocate: community solar bills. Reviewed 2026-10-06.
Can a larger summer subscription invoice reflect generation rather than household use?
Yes. The Public Advocate explains that many subscriptions charge for generation and may bank excess credits for later use.
Source: Maine Office of Public Advocate: community solar bills. Reviewed 2026-10-06.
Where can I check registration or seek program help?
The PUC consumer-resources page links registration information and identifies its Consumer Assistance and Safety Division for further questions.
Source: Maine PUC: renewable program consumer resources. Reviewed 2026-10-06.
Does registration establish the best deal for my household?
No. Treat the registration check as one part of your review. Compare the actual disclosure, signed agreement, allocation, costs and unresolved questions. Registration alone does not establish independence, suitable sizing or guaranteed savings. Request written clarification of a claim that is missing from the documents.
How can I review credits before they expire?
Ask for the balance by issue month, dates used, any expired entries and the corresponding allocation record. Compare those records with both invoices using consistent periods. Identify missing evidence and request the responsible provider’s explanation. Do not treat the total banked balance as proof that every credit is equally usable.
How should I compare rooftop ownership with a subscription?
Use a common household-use period and separate equipment ownership, installation costs, ongoing payments and contract obligations. Label estimates and exclusions. Ask how changes in usage or a move affect each option. A subscription illustration does not describe the maintenance duties of a rooftop owner or establish that either option is better for you.
Your decision checklist
- Identify the actual utility and NEB program.
- Distinguish rooftop ownership from a shared-project contract.
- Check registration through the PUC’s official resource.
- Retain the disclosure and actual agreement.
- Match allocation dates with utility and subscription invoices.
- Request balances by age and expiration entries.
- Keep modeled savings separate from actual paid amounts.
- Ask the responsible provider to resolve missing records.
Save or print this guide from your browser. Keep completed records privately.
Continue your research
Match the period, balance and payment
| Record | What to compare |
|---|---|
| Program identity | Utility, account category and agreement version |
| Disclosure | Dated cost assumptions and unresolved exclusions |
| Allocation period | Underlying dates rather than invoice issue date alone |
| Balance history | Opening balance, additions, use and expired entries |
| Payments | Utility amount, separate provider amount and other obligations |
| Open question | Missing document, responsible contact and written response |
Example: the household reduces usage after an appliance change while a proposal still uses the old consumption record. Ask the preparer to update the comparison and label the change. A historic consumption total does not establish current household demand.
Example: two invoices carry different issue dates but refer to the same underlying period. Keep both issue dates and period labels; ask the provider to clarify unclear entries before comparing totals. Do not delete one record simply because it arrived later.
The official pages support the referenced Maine program descriptions. Confirm current rules, utility procedures and actual contract terms; this guide does not list every eligibility condition, calculate a tariff rate or determine cancellation or refund rights. Our worksheet and hypothetical examples are editorial planning advice. Continue with subscription comparisons, electricity bill records and ownership and financing questions. Explore our Maine site-survey reference, Solar Survey AI’s evidence methodology and confirm available survey scope for a rooftop project. A site assessment does not verify a subscription’s financial result or grant program eligibility. Connected homeowner monitoring and free remote diagnosis remain coming soon.
About these guides
Published by Solar Survey AI, a commercial survey-services company. Our original decision checklists are recommendations; linked authorities support the referenced facts. We may benefit if you purchase our services. This is not independent certification of our company, a project-specific engineering decision or personal tax/legal advice. Local rules, contracts and site evidence control individual decisions. Reviewed 2026-10-06.
For available survey or inspection services, confirm your project scope and availability with our team. Our planned free homeowner remote diagnosis remains coming soon.
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