*The Surefire Way to Save on Electricity Costs*

Beginning April 2025, Versant electricity customers in Maine will see an [increase in their distribution rate](https://www.versantpower.com/about/news-press-releases/blog-details/public-utilities-commission-approves-versant-power-distribution-rate-change). This recent change was approved by the Maine Public Utilities Commission after a detailed, yearlong review process. This will lead to a noticeable **8% increase** to Versant customers’ electricity costs. If you’re a Versant customer, now is the time to reevaluate your monthly budget and explore alternative ways to reduce your energy expenses.

The easiest way to take control of your electricity costs and reduce expenses is by subscribing to Community Solar. This [state program](http://www.maine.gov/meopa/electricity/renewable-energy/community_solar) serves as a financial buffer for these increased distribution costs. By subscribing to Community Solar, you can counteract rising electricity expenses with a fixed 15% reduction on your Solar Credits, meaning that you’ll **save up to 15%** on your electric bills. This discount remains consistent regardless of rate hikes, ensuring that as your rates go up, the savings you get will increase proportionally.

## Understanding the Impact
This transition to a new rate structure translates to an 8% increase on the total electric bill for Versant customers. For Mainers who use 750 kWh per month—the increase is $198 per year. Those averaging 1,000 kWh per month will see an annual rise of $264. If you have or are thinking about getting an electric heat pump, that can easily add 1,000 kWh or more to your monthly usage. Electric vehicles require about an average of [408 kWh per month](https://www.energysage.com/electricity/house-watts/how-many-watts-does-an-electric-car-charger-use/) to charge.

## How Community Solar Combats Rising Costs
Community Solar subscribers can expect to pay $0.85 for every dollar of solar energy produced by their share of the solar farm. This allows them to maintain a level of financial savings and security. In this way, Maine’s Community Solar program effectively functions as a hedge against persistent rises in electricity costs.

![Maine Community Solar](https://www.datocms-assets.com/50319/1734636052-solar-energy-panels-plant-2023-11-27-05-02-31-utc-edited.png)

## Share the Savings with Friends and Neighbors
Community Solar is available to [homeowners, renters](https://ampion.net/community-solar/homeowners-and-renters), businesses–almost anyone who pays an electric bill. By referring a friend or family member to join Community Solar, both you and the person you refer will receive a **$100 Visa gift card**. It's a win-win situation that helps more Mainers manage their Versant bills. Current customers can visit their [Ampion portal](https://portal.ampion.net/) to access their referral links.

With Versant Power's distribution rate change now in effect, there's an urgency to explore viable options to mitigate the financial impact on your household budget. If you're not already subscribed to Community Solar, there's no better time to join and start reaping the benefits. 

For those already taking advantage of Community Solar, sharing the savings with your community can help spread financial relief and sustainability. Don't let rising electricity rates take you by surprise—embrace Community Solar and help create a more stable and sustainable energy future for Maine.


Navigating the Versant Rate Increase: How Community Solar Helps

* Low-income residents in Erie County, New York, will save up to 10% on their utility bills through a new community solar program, the Erie County Low Income Program for Sustainable Energy (ECLIPSE).
* Ampion will handle ongoing subscription management and will work closely with Erie County on subscriber acquisition.

Ampion Renewable Energy was selected as the community solar administrator for the Erie County Low Income Program for Sustainable Energy (ECLIPSE), a new program that provides electricity savings to Erie County residents in need. Together with Erie County, Ampion will provide qualifying residents with electricity savings of up to 10% through community solar. Eligible residents can enroll in the program through Ampion and receive discounted solar credits applied to their electric utility bills.

“Currently there are over 80,000 low-to-moderate income households in Erie County who can benefit from this program. We encourage residents to take advantage of this opportunity,” said Erie County Executive Mark C. Poloncarz. “ECLIPSE Community Solar can be coupled with other programs like Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP) and Empower+ to ensure households canafford their energy bills.”

Community solar is a state program that enables residents to subscribe to shares of energy from local solar farms, supporting clean energy while reducing their annual electricity spend. The program is available to all Erie County homeowners and renters who are benefiting from federal or state aid programs, including the Home Energy Assistance Program (HEAP), Affordable Connectivity Program (ACP), Medicaid, Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP), or Temporary Assistance for Needy Families (TANF).

“Community solar makes renewable energy and savings available to electric utility customers without installations or upfront costs,” said Brian Buzby, Community Partnerships Executive at Ampion. “Through ECLIPSE, Erie County and Ampion are making it easier for low-income residents to support solar energy while saving money. Our goal is to make the enrollment process as simple as possible. All you need is a copy of your current electric bill and proof that you’re benefitting from a government assistance program.”

In addition to providing meaningful cost savings to disadvantaged households, this partnership will expand the amount of renewable energy available throughout upstate New York in the National Grid and New York State Electric and Gas (NYSEG) service territories as more solar energy capacity is built. Erie County will host in-person events and notify residents about ECLIPSE to help households enroll in the cost-saving program. Residents can sign up for the program at [erie.gov/eclipse](https://erie.gov/eclipse).

Ampion recently announced it has [saved subscribers over $42 million](https://ampion.net/about/blog/ampion-saves-subscribers-42-million) in electricity costs through community solar. These savings were enabled by the production of over 2.2 billion kWh of clean energy from community solar projects Ampion manages. Despite uncertainty in the clean energy industry, Ampion is growing its portfolio of over 1.5 GW under management, leading to more opportunities for low-to-moderate income households to reduce their utility bills with community solar.

**About Ampion:**
Ampion offers the easiest way to join the clean energy movement while saving money through Community Solar. As a Public Benefit Corporation, Ampion believes in giving people the power to make homes, businesses and communities more sustainable and prosperous. By connecting residents and businesses to local solar farms, Ampion boosts sustainability in communities and supports local economies. Learn more at [ampion.net](https://ampion.net/).

**About ECLIPSE:**
Erie County launched the Erie County Low-Income Program for Sustainable Energy (ECLIPSE) to expand access to renewable energy and to lower the energy burden for low- to moderate income households. The County will provide low- and moderate-income households with guaranteed savings on their monthly electricity bills as a result of this program. Visit [erie.gov/eclipse](https://erie.gov/eclipse) to learn more.

Ampion Partners with Erie County, NY to Bring Community Solar Savings to Low-Income Residents

* These savings are a result of 2.2 billion kilowatt hours (kWh) of clean energy produced by sites Ampion manages.

* The Public Benefit Corporation (PBC) migrated 70 million kWh in community solar projects away from other subscription management companies in the second half of 2024, and expects to add over 330 million kWh of new business from portfolio migrations in 2025, despite uncertainty in the clean energy industry.

[Ampion Renewable Energy](https://ampion.net) announced that it has saved its subscribers over $42 million in electricity costs to date. These savings were enabled by the production of over 2.2 billion kWh of clean energy from community solar projects Ampion manages, equivalent to the greenhouse gas emissions avoided by taking 600,000 cars off the road for one year. The [Public Benefit Corporation](https://ampion.net/about/blog/public-benefit-corporations-stakeholder-capitalism-social-responsibility) has scaled organically since 2014 without acquisitions or mergers, and now has over 100 full-time employees.

“This important milestone is a testament to our specialized focus on servicing [solar developers](https://ampion.net/energy-developers/distributed-generation), while expanding renewable energy access to all,” said Nate Owen, CEO and Founder of Ampion. “Our success can be attributed to a combination of technology platform, expert teams, and proven processes built and honed over years of dedication to this client base, without distraction from other business models. Our goal has always been to perfect a product that enables developers and asset owners to elevate their business and brand.”

Community solar portfolio migrations are a rapidly growing part of Ampion’s business. These occur when Ampion takes on subscription management services for developers who have parted ways with other providers. In the second half of 2024 alone, Ampion began managing an additional 70 million kWh in annual kWh production from these migrations. In 2025, the company will add more than 330 million kWh of annual production from over 200MW (DC) of capacity through additional portfolio migrations.

“Ampion’s software platform and subscriber management processes are purpose-built for distributed generation. The result is a stable, scalable offering for developers and fully-allocated projects. This allows clients to realize the revenue they modeled over the 20+ year life of their portfolios, well after initial subscriber acquisition,” said Andrew Kvaal, Ampion’s President and Chief Operating Officer.

The company focuses on simplifying billing, subscriber allocations, and site performance information for renewable energy developers. Ampion acquires a robust mix of subscribers, from Fortune 500 enterprises like [Wendy’s](https://ampion.net/about/blog/ampion-partners-with-wendys) to low-to-moderate income (LMI), small commercial, and mass market subscribers. The company leverages a diverse range of subscriber acquisition channels, including partnerships with community organizations, municipalities, and affordable housing providers that expand the benefits of renewables to LMI populations that need them most.

Ampion Saves Community Solar Subscribers $42 Million in Electricity Costs

*New Maine community solar sites are now producing nearly 25 megawatts of clean energy and providing savings for Mainers.*

Five Maine community solar sites managed by Ampion Renewable Energy reached commercial operation and started producing clean energy in November. These community solar sites, in both Versant Power and Central Maine Power utility territories, add nearly 25 megawatts (MW) of clean power to the grid and will produce over 28 million kilowatt hours (kWh) of energy annually. The solar projects, located in Franklin, Aroostook, Penobscot, and Washington Counties, provide local subscribers with up to 15% savings on electricity costs while enabling them to support the generation of new, clean energy for the state of Maine.

“Community solar is an invaluable state program that provides Mainers with many benefits. It bolsters the local economy, improves grid resilience, and is available to all types of electricity consumers,” said Nate Owen, CEO & Founder of Ampion. Owen spent much of his childhood in Orrington and attended John Babst Memorial High School in Bangor and Bowdoin College in Brunswick. He founded Ampion in Bar Harbor in 2014. “As a company with roots in Maine, we are thrilled to bring clean energy and savings to Maine electricity consumers.”

Ampion successfully enrolled 1,700 residential and 70 commercial customers onto these community solar sites. Ampion will also manage the ongoing billing and customer care for these customers for the full 20-year lifecycle of the projects. Currently, Ampion manages subscriptions for 48 community solar projects in Maine, amounting to over 215 MW (DC). About 10% of Ampion’s employees reside in Maine, and the company continues to hire more employees in the state to support its growing footprint. 

Ampion also works with Maine community organizations like [The Highlands](https://www.highlandsrc.com/), a senior living center in Topsham, Maine, to connect residents to electricity savings.

"The Highlands is pleased to be taking part in community solar with Ampion to support clean energy in Maine," said Troy Chapman, Operations Director at The Highlands. “We feel good about supporting local jobs and helping to make more clean energy available to the grid, all while helping our community members save money on electricity.”

Read more in [Solar Power World](https://www.solarpowerworldonline.com/2024/12/ampion-wraps-up-25-mw-maine-community-solar-portfolio/), [Alt Energy Mag](https://www.altenergymag.com/news/2024/12/19/ampion-brings-clean-energy-savings-to-mainers-with-5-new-community-solar-sites/44017/), and [North American Clean Energy](https://www.nacleanenergy.com/solar/ampion-brings-clean-energy-savings-to-mainers-with-5-new-community-solar-sites). 


Ampion Brings Clean Energy, Savings to Mainers with 5 New Community Solar Sites

*Ampion’s community solar programs are now active in three additional states: Delaware, New Jersey, and Virginia.* 

Since the beginning of 2024, Ampion has added nearly 400 MW of renewable energy generation and is now approaching 1.5 GW under management. To support the diverse needs of its growing list of solar developer clients, Ampion has also launched white labeling capabilities, allowing developers to leverage Ampion’s subscriber acquisition and revenue management services under their own name and branding. 

Community solar installations are expected to exceed [14 gigawatts (GW) in the next five years](https://renewablesnow.com/news/us-to-add-73-gw-dc-of-community-solar-by-2029-wood-mackenzie-865988/). Building on this momentum, [Ampion Renewable Energy](https://ampion.net) is expanding its programs to Delaware, New Jersey, and Virginia, furthering affordable clean energy access and increasing its capacity under management to approximately 1.5 GW. Ampion is partnering with new developer and asset owner clients, including [ENGIE North America](https://www.engie.com/en), [Navisun](https://navisunllc.com/), and [Dimension Energy](https://www.dimension-energy.com/), in markets across the county. 

“Dimension’s community solar projects can only achieve our desired impact when local customers benefit directly from the affordable solar energy we’re producing,” said Bryan Bentrott, VP of Origination at Dimension. “That’s where Ampion comes in. We’ve been impressed with the early results of Ampion’s subscription campaigns in Delaware, New Jersey, and Virginia and look forward to continuing our work together to make clean energy work for everyone.”

Ampion will acquire a mix of unique subscribers to suit the needs of each solar farm. Subscriber categories include low-to-moderate-income (LMI) households, mass market, small general service (SGS) rate classes, small commercial, and enterprise businesses. 
“ENGIE is delighted to collaborate with Ampion to support increased access to renewable energy,” said Kristen Fornes, VP of Distributed Solar for ENGIE North America. “By working with Ampion, ENGIE enables residents and businesses to benefit from community solar and savings from our sites.”

In addition to expanding into new U.S. markets, Ampion has launched its new [White Label Platform](https://ampion.net/energy-developers/white-label) for developers and asset owners who wish to handle their own subscriber acquisition, but may not have access to a sophisticated platform that can effectively manage and support their business. The platform allows Ampion to handle subscriber acquisition and revenue management under the client’s name and branding. This is the latest in Ampion’s growing service offerings to meet the evolving needs of the community solar market for developers, asset owners, and subscribers. 

Earlier this year, Ampion achieved more than [1 GW of community solar under management](https://ampion.net/about/blog/ampion-surpasses-1-gigawatt-of-community-solar-under-management?utm_source=pr&utm_medium=release&utm_campaign=supp&utm_content=expansion) and contributed to the growth of corporate community solar adoption, furthering Ampion’s commitment to expanding renewable energy for all.

“We are pleased to see more states enacting community solar legislation to encourage renewable energy adoption, and our expansion is indicative of this growing market in the U.S.," said Nate Owen, CEO and Founder of Ampion. “Community solar is an equalizer for energy access, and it can power communities, easing utility bill burdens and helping the planet. As we continue to grow, it is paramount that we maintain the quality of service our customers expect from us. We continually invest in our technology and personnel to do just that.”

Ampion Brings Affordable Clean Energy to Three New States

It’s finally Fall — time for cooler days, pumpkin-flavored coffees, and new beginnings. As the lazy days of summer come to an end and kids go back to school, many of us take Fall as an opportunity to start fresh. It’s the perfect time to clean out your garage, assess your finances, and get back on a routine to end the year on a strong note. For some of us, this involves making conscious changes in our lives to reduce our spending, and maybe our environmental footprint, too. Read on for some Fall-themed sustainability tips that are both green and budget-friendly.

# Assess Your Home’s Energy-Efficiency # 
![](https://www.datocms-assets.com/50319/1727701956-home-energy-audit.png)

Colder temperatures are just around the corner. Fall is the perfect time to identify deficiencies in your home that will cost you real money. Does one room in your home feel particularly drafty? Consider sealing those windows or purchasing a draft stopper. Do you have the heat or air conditioning running all day in a room that is barely occupied? Look into getting a smart thermostat for your home. The average Energy Smart thermostat can [save you up to 8% in energy costs](https://www.consumerreports.org/appliances/thermostats/are-smart-thermostats-worth-it-a7822875275/) per year. 

You can also get a home energy audit for an expert opinion on how to make your home more energy efficient. Many states offer free home energy audits, including Massachusetts and New York. You can also take advantage of federal government programs such as the [Energy Efficient Home Improvement Tax Credit](https://www.energy.gov/energysaver/professional-home-energy-assessments). This program provides a tax credit worth 30% of the cost of a home energy audit. Without state or federal offers and incentives, home energy audits tend to [cost between $200 to $700](https://www.saveonenergy.com/resources/home-energy-audit/), but they often save people much more than that once they make the recommended adjustments. 
 

# Eat Local, Seasonal Produce #
![](https://www.datocms-assets.com/50319/1727701956-eat-seasonal-produce.png)

Purchasing in-season fruits and vegetables is not just a tastier decision than buying transported, out-of-season produce. It’s also a decision that supports local farmers and reduces greenhouse gas emissions. Think about the energy required for the transportation and refrigeration of out-of-season produce. That’s a lot of energy! 

Farmers who focus on growing seasonal crops that are naturally suited to the local climate and soil type don't rely as heavily on fertilizers and pesticides, which is overall better for the environment. Buying local, in-season produce supports small farms. Smaller farms tend to practice more sustainable, regenerative farming practices  that encourage biodiversity and maintain the balance of nutrients in the soil. 

There are lots of seasonal fruits and vegetables to choose from in the Fall— pumpkins, apples, beets, and sweet potatoes are in-season. Find a local farm stand or farmer’s market to support local farmers and sustainable farming practices. Oftentimes, in-season, [local produce is less expensive](https://diet.mayoclinic.org/us/blog/2022/picked-at-their-peak-the-benefits-of-buying-seasonal-produce/) than buying transported produce at the grocery store, so you can save money while eating better!

# Sign up for Community Solar — or Refer a Friend! #
![](https://www.datocms-assets.com/50319/1727701956-fall-community-solar.png)

Community Solar is the easiest, most cost-effective way to support local, clean energy sources. When you join a Community Solar farm, you’ll save between 5 and 20% on electricity costs annually, depending on your state. There’s no cost to join, no installations, and you don’t have to be a homeowner. [Enroll here to get started](https://enroll.ampion.net)! 

If you’re already a Community Solar subscriber, then you know that Community Solar is a great way to help the environment while saving money. But did you know that you can earn a $100 Visa gift card for referring a friend to Community Solar with Ampion? [Log into your Ampion portal](https://portal.ampion.net/users/sign_in) today to make a referral. When the person you refer completes their enrollment, you will each be eligible to receive a $100 Visa gift card. 


# Start Composting at Home #
![](https://www.datocms-assets.com/50319/1727701956-composting.png)

Did you know that as much as [24% of landfill waste](https://www.epa.gov/sciencematters/lettuce-not-waste-new-epa-research-highlights-food-waste-contributions-climate) is categorized as “municipal solid food waste”? This is an issue because food waste is responsible for greenhouse gas emissions, which contribute to climate change. If you’ve ever considered composting at home, but haven’t gotten around to implementing it in your household, Fall is the perfect time to start! Raked leaves, apple peels, old jack-o-lanterns, vegetable scraps, coffee grounds, and more can all easily be composted. Some cities and towns have their own compost collection sites or even pickup service. Worried about the smell of old food? Try putting your compost in your garage, outside with a lid, or in the freezer to reduce unwanted odors. Composting at home helps us to reduce waste, lower greenhouse gas emissions, and create nutrient-rich compost for farms and gardens.

Incorporating sustainability into our Fall routines is beneficial to the planet and our budgets. Let’s usher in the Fall season sustainably, and with some extra money in our pockets. Happy Fall!

News & Updates

Navigating the Versant Rate Increase: How Community Solar Helps