Evergy, the primary energy supplier in Kansas and Missouri — Evergy offers several options for customers who want to go solar. Wind Subscription, Solar Subscription, and for those that qualify, the most benefiical option is net Metering. These options provide an alternative to traditional solar panel ownership and allow you to enjoy the benefits of solar energy without having to pay for the upfront cost of installation. This article will explain the differences and highlight some of the pros and cons to each.

What Solar Options Exist with Evergy?

Evergy offers two main renewable energy subscription options: the Solar Subscription and the Wind Subscription program.

The Solar Subscription program is designed for residential customers who want to use solar energy but do not want to own the solar panels. Under this program, Evergy will charge a higher rate and you pay a higher monthly fee for the solar energy you consume. According to Evergy the Solar Subscription “is a subscription-based program that gives you the opportunity to support solar growth throughout our community without having to install solar panels on your home.” This is similar to the wind subscription as well. Despite the fact that Kansas is one of the 10 sunniest states in the country, this makes solar a less affordable option in the long run and has had a very political history for solar in the state of Kansas. In an article by the frontier group the author states that “Evergy pushes to price solar out of the state” the article argues that the utility is putting its own profits ahead of its customers and the environment, as well as ignoring the economic benefits of a thriving solar industry. The article also highlights how other states, like Iowa and Minnesota, have implemented policies to encourage the growth of the solar industry and increase access to solar power for residents.

Pros and Cons of Evergy's Solar Subscription Options

The solar and wind subscription program offers aspects that may be advantages to some:

1. Ecological Consciousness: Not everyone has their own roof or enough land to install solar panels for themselves. Evergy's Solar Subscription program is one avenue for Evergy customers to be more ecologically conscious. It allows customers to utilize solar energy, even if they do not have the ability to install solar panels on their own property. This makes it a great option for apartment residents and others who do not have access to land or a roof for solar panel installation.

2. Linked to Your Account: The program is linked to your Evergy account, not your property. This means you can move and still get the benefits of utilizing Evergy’s Solar program. This provides flexibility and convenience for customers who may move frequently.

3. No Upfront Costs: This can often be the case for residential solar installed on your property. But with a subscription service to renewable energy You do not have to pay for the installation or maintenance of the solar panels. Evergy will take care of everything. While you are typically looking at an increased electric bill of about 15% or aboout $15 on average per month when you subscribe to the program. However, you can lock this rate in for 5-20 years, opting in for stability and helping hedge against inflation. This means regardless of what the rest of the energy market does over that period of time, that portion of your bill will always be the same. This provides customers with the peace of mind of knowing what their energy costs will be in the future.

4. No Installation or Maintenance Required: You are able to ‘go solar’ with no pricey install or maintenance of solar panels yourself. It is as simple as applying and getting approved. Once approved, you will start seeing the ‘Solar Subscription’ charge on your monthly bill. This provides a hassle-free way for customers to utilize solar energy.

5. Environmentally Friendly: Solar energy is a renewable energy source that does not produce harmful emissions, unlike traditional fossil fuels. In our book, this is still a win.

Cons:

1. Limited Availability: Evergy's solar subscription options are only available to customers who live in certain areas and meet certain eligibility requirements.

2. Locked in Rate is more expensive day one: Evergy estimates that your electric bill will be about 15% higher day one. Unlike traditional solar installations the more of your energy you wish to offset, the more expensive it will be. The more evergy renewable shares you buy also means the higher the price to you.

3. No Ownership: When you subscribe to the solar energy produced by Evergy's solar panels, you do not own the panels themselves. This might be a pro for some, but for those that see the value in homeownership they are also more likely to see the value in owning the power production that comes from their investment. Evergy makes it sound as though installation and maintenance are expensive. Most solar installations with Helio GreenTech customers are financed with a solar loan and the money offset on their electric bill payments, heps make the solar loan payments MORE affordable than you current electric bill. Combined with tax incentives means the most all costs are offset. With our 25 year warranty and your existing home insurance policy most issues that come up with a solar system are going to be as easily fixed as flipping a breaker back on. The overall maintenance cost of a solar system is negligible. All our solar panels installed are warrantied for 25 years. So if something does go wrong, it is likely covered by warranty or your home insurance policy. We get enough rain in the midwest that cleaning your panels isn’t even necessary there is no other maintenance required.

Why Work with Helio GreenTech?

If you're interested in solar energy, working with a reputable solar company like Helio GreenTech can help you explore your options and make an informed decision. We offer a free quote for solar panel installation, and we are proud to be ranked the best solar company in Kansas City by the North Kansas City Award Program, Pitch magazine, and KC's Best.

We offer a range of solar panel options, including VSUN panels and Enphase inverters, and we provide lifetime solar monitoring through the Enlighten app. We also ensure that all our solar systems have monitoring to report back energy consumption and usage when applicable.

In summary, Evergy's solar subscription options are a great way to help put some extra money in your utility companies pocket and fund their solar program without any of the other benefits of solar energy. But if you're considering solar energy, there’s a lot more to gain by owning your own solar power system, be sure to work with a reputable solar company like Helio GreenTech to explore your options and get a free quote for installation.