Doing the Right Thing: Helena’s West Philly Solar Journey

See why choosing a B Corp installer mattered just as much as cutting utility bills in half for this Cedar Park homeowner.

Values-Driven Upgrades

On February 25, 2026 — the same week PECO reported a 47.7% surge in net profits, rising from $551 million to $814 million after a year of double-digit rate hikes — Helena’s Cedar Park home was running on something better. For this Cedar Park homeowner, going solar wasn’t just a financial decision. It was a values decision. And it’s cut her energy bills by about half.

The Challenge

Living in an old West Philly house, Helena was looking to lower utility costs while also striving to “do the right thing” — for her household and for her community.

The Solution

Helena chose Solar States not only because their team was nice, helpful, and clear, but specifically because of their status as a certified B Corporation — allowing her to support a business dedicated to positive environmental and social impact.

“It mattered to us that they were a B Corp and I like the idea that we’re not just doing right by going solar but we’re supporting a company that also seems to try to make the right choices along the way for people and the environment.”
— Helena, Cedar Park, West Philadelphia

What Solar States Customers Are Saving

Helena’s roughly 50% reduction in energy bills puts her in good company. Here’s some other feedback we’ve heard from residential clients:

• Thomas has held his PECO invoice to $11 or less every single month for over seven years.
• Sue goes bill-free eight months out of the year — paying only PECO’s $10 connection fee.
• Jared in South Philly cut his summer bills from $200–$300/month down to a $12 grid fee, saving roughly $1,500 a year.
• Rose, also in South Philly, saves $800+ annually and runs central air all summer without a second thought.

The pattern is consistent: going solar with Solar States is the most direct way Philadelphia homeowners are protecting themselves from PECO’s relentless rate increases — while supporting a company that’s doing it the right way. As one customer put it: “Solar will save you money, will save the planet, and let you own your own power.”

Philadelphia Goes Solar — And Solar States Has Done It All

Solar States isn’t just serving Philadelphia homes — we’ve powered some of the city’s most iconic institutions and businesses. Saint Joseph’s University, Community College of Philadelphia, Ronald McDonald House, Cristo Rey High School, Yards Brewing, Greenfield Manufacturing, Fireball Printing, Love N’ Fresh Flowers, and Greenline Cafe have all gone solar with Solar States. From universities to breweries to corner shops, if it has a roof in Philly, we’ve probably put panels on it.

Cedar Park & West Philadelphia’s Solar Market: By the Numbers (as of Feb. 2026)

Cedar Park sits at the heart of Philadelphia’s most solar-active neighborhood. West Philadelphia’s 19143 zip code — covering Kingsessing, Cobbs Creek, and Cedar Park — has 103 Solar States installations generating 678,000 kWh of clean energy annually across 1,569 panels. Nearly 1 in 5 new customers comes through a neighbor’s referral. On Hazel Ave, Osage Ave, and Larchwood Ave alone, there’s a 25-home solar cluster — proof that when one neighbor goes solar, others follow!

See How Much You’ll Pay PECO

Solar States offers a number of ways to go solar. Homeowners who purchase a system own their energy outright — no utility, no escalating rate, no surprises. Homeowners who lease pay a fixed monthly rate that, in many cases, never goes up. Either way, the math works. Your PECO bill doesn’t have to keep climbing just because PECO wants it to.

Solar States, the 2022 Top Solar Changemaker, is a Philadelphia-based Certified B Corporation founded in 2008 with a dual-mission to install solar and educate the next generation of solar installers. We have completed more than 2,000 installations across the region (PA, NJ, DE), saving clients over $15 million in utility costs. Over 500 students graduated from our workforce development program, Find Your Power. Solar States has been featured in The Inquirer, The Philadelphia Citizen, WHYY, GreenPHL, and 6ABC Action News.