Henrico homeowners cut electricity bill with free solar panel program

HENRICO COUNTY, Va. (WRIC) — Homeowners in Henrico County are turning to solar energy through a program that offers free solar panel installations and significantly lower utility bills.

Dominion Energy’s “Solar Access Henrico” initiative launched last year in partnership with Henrico County leaders. Since then, more than 100 residents have enrolled, generating clean energy while reducing their monthly electricity costs.

"Reverend [Tyrone] Nelson, who sits on the Board of Supervisors from, had this innovative idea to bring the program, not just to lower participants' energy bills, but also to make the county more sustainable," explained said Eric Weissbart, Director of business strategy and marketing at Dominion Energy.

For Vallarie Reilly, the program has been life-changing.

“Best decision that ever came around,” she said.

Reilly was the first resident in Henrico to receive a free solar panel installation through the program when it began last April. Nearly a year later, she said the savings have been substantial.

“I say anything that could save on bills and plus is better for the environment, I was going to check into it,” Reilly said.

Her average monthly electric bill is now less than $10. Even during the high-demand summer months, she said her bill remained steady.

“During the summer, I had no changes. I was still paying $8.28 because of how much I’m generating,” she said. “I had to double-check. I went online to make sure that nothing was missed.”

The program is made possible by a $5 million fund stemming from a commercial development project. The fund covers the cost of 250 solar panel installations. Each installation would typically cost between $20,000 and $30,000.

According to Weissbart, the savings add up quickly.

“We’re estimating, in the first year, those 103 folks will collectively save about $64,000, and about $6.4 million over the life of those systems,” Weissbart said.

To qualify, residents must meet income requirements and have homes that meet certain conditions, including adequate sun exposure and roof age. Dominion also offers an online eligibility quiz to help homeowners determine if they qualify.

“I think a lot of folks initially don’t believe the hype around solar, but I've been doing this for six years at both the residential and nonresidential scales, and it can make a meaningful impact on utility bills,” Weissbart said.

Reilly said she hopes more people take advantage of the opportunity.

According to Dominion, about 40% of the program’s funding has already been used. The remaining installation slots are expected to be filled by the end of the year.