Affordable housing residents can share credits from building solar power

Utilities measure a qualifying building’s solar output and credit each participating account for its allocated share. The rules cover qualifying multifamily affordable housing properties and their tenant accounts and common areas. The property must have at least five rental units, or at least two units in housing run by a tribally designated housing entity; at least 80 percent of units must have active rent and utility cost limits. The system must meet the law’s requirements, including a one-megawatt capacity limit, a 25-kilowatt-per-tenant-unit limit, and a rule reserving at least 80 percent of its total allocation for tenant units. These provisions took effect for purposes other than preparatory tasks on October 1, 2025. Utilities had to file needed tariff changes by December 31, 2025.

Electric utilities offer an expanded solar access program to eligible low-income residential customers. The program serves qualifying low-income residential customers in an electric utility’s service area. Eligible customers must have household income at or below 80 percent of area median income and may own, rent, or lease their home. The utility’s implementation plan requires Public Utilities Commission approval. Customers receiving specified Nevada Clean Energy Fund support must meet that funding’s energy-savings requirements. These provisions took effect for purposes other than preparatory tasks on October 1, 2025. The tariff eligibility limit expires December 31, 2029.

Owners or landlords notify residents about a solar system at a qualifying affordable multifamily property. The duty applies to owners or landlords of qualifying affordable multifamily properties where a system is already present or will be installed. Notice must explain the system’s expected output and how benefits are shared, describe user responsibilities, and give contact information for the utility and the relevant funding agency. For an existing property, residents in occupied units must be notified at least 30 days before installation. New tenants must be notified of a system’s presence.

Contractors working on residential solar systems at qualifying affordable multifamily properties follow specified contract, permit, and consumer protection rules. The rules cover contractors doing residential photovoltaic work, including work to install or repair solar panels, batteries, and related equipment, on qualifying affordable multifamily properties. Owners may void certain contracts that fail to meet the requirements; violations may lead to contractor discipline or penalties. The contract rules apply to contracts entered into on or after October 1, 2025; other provisions took effect on that date.