We are excited to share important clarifications to the New Mexico Community Solar Program, bringing even greater simplicity and accessibility to low-income subscribers. These clarifications reinforce the Program’s commitment to making community solar accessible.

Central to this initiative is the practice of self-attestation. Regardless of the path a subscriber takes to qualify as low-income, this method remains essential.

We also want to emphasize the vital role played by local community organizations representing low-income residents. Representing a diverse spectrum, these organizations play a crucial role in helping to verify subscriptions, ensuring inclusivity for all low-income participants.

Key Clarifications:

  1. Self-Attestation and Qualifying Programs: All low-income subscribers are required to self-attest to their eligibility. This self-attestation process is created and managed by Subscriber Organizations and their partners. Qualification based on participation in programs as stated in the Rule such as Medicaid, SNAP, LIHEAP, first-time homeowner programs, residing in low-income/affordable housing, or state/federal income tax credit initiatives remains unchanged. No additional documentation is required for subscribers within these categories beyond self-attestation and the subscriber providing the qualifying program’s name.
  2. Pre-Qualification for Multi-Family Affordable Housing Projects: Multi-family affordable housing projects have the ability to prequalify their entire load as low-income. Housing facilities can qualify their load as low-income if at least one resident meets the low-income criteria. Subscriber Organizations are responsible for the verification of each entity. Subscribers verifying as low-income individually must follow the steps outlined in this update.
  3. Low-Income Service Organizations: Low-Income Service Organizations have the ability to pre-qualify their own organization’s electricity usage as a low-income subscription.
  4. Simplified Verification Methods: For subscribers who do not fit into predefined qualifying categories, the program strongly encourages the use of non-traditional documentation for verification. The Community Solar Rule requires that if a subscriber self-attests as low-income, but they do not fit any of the predefined qualifying categories, they must provide documentation validating their low-income status within 90 days of self-attestation. To simplify this process for low-income subscribers, the program encourages Subscriber Organizations and their partners to explore non-traditional documentation methods, such as obtaining letters from low-income service organizations, as an accessible alternative to conventional practices like paystubs or tax returns.

Collaboration with the Program Administrator is strongly recommended to share innovative ideas and suggestions. Recommendations and best practices of letters and other alternative means of qualifying are being worked through by the Low-Income Working Group coordinated by the Coalition of Sustainable Communities New Mexico.

Self-attestation and non-traditional forms of verification underscore the Program’s dedication to enhancing accessibility for all participants and a more inclusive subscription process.

  1. Record-Keeping and Program Audits: Subscriber Organizations are responsible for maintaining detailed records of the low-income verification, self-attestation, and the review process for credibility. The Program Administrator may conduct audits or request reports related to subscriber verification processes, record-keeping, and attestations to ensure adherence to program guidelines.
  2. Initial Outreach and Community Engagement: In the initial phase of the Program, The Program Administrator has partnered with the Coalition of Sustainable Communities New Mexico to collaborate with low-income service organizations. Together, we are managing an outreach program focused on educating and engaging low-income subscribers. If you represent a New Mexico organization with low-income members and wish to learn more about our collaborative efforts, please reach out to [email protected].

For any questions or further information about these updates, please do not hesitate to contact our team at [email protected] or (877) 794-0109.