There can be solar tax credits and incentives available at the federal, state and local levels. The calculator above will show you the value of all incentives your home is eligible for.
The state of home solar in Colorado is strong! 100% of electricity now needs to come from carbon free renewable sources by 2050. Residents of the most populous areas continue to benefit from Xcel’s solar rewards program which pays extra for solar credits over 20 years. Way to go, lawmakers!
Xcel has released a nice program called Solar*Rewards, which earns you a little extra money for every kilowatt-hour of electricity your panels generate.
Rebates continue to be available for residents of Boulder and Colorado Springs, too. All in all, Colorado is a great place to go solar, and we know expert local installers. If you're ready to see how much you can save with solar on your roof, use our calculator above to get started.
Learn what solar incentives are available to Colorado homeowners
See what Colorado solar incentives you qualify for based on your utility company and city
Find out how much these incentives and/or Colorado solar tax credits will reduce your cost to go solar and add batteries
The federal solar investment tax credit will have the biggest impact on the cost you will face to go solar in Colorado
If you install your photovoltaic system before the end of 2032, the federal tax credit is 30% of the cost of your solar panel system. This is 30% off the entire cost of the system including equipment, labor, and permitting.
Example: If your solar energy system costs $20,000, your federal solar tax credit would be $20,000 x 30% = $6,000.
The federal tax credit falls to 26% starting in 2033.
With net metering in some states, you get full retail rate credit for the amount of electricity you send back into the grid with your solar panels.
In short, net metering makes sure that you get credit, either in energy or in cash, for every bit of solar energy your panels produce. Your utility will track how much solar energy you produce and how much you use, and the utility will "store" any extra your solar system produces. At night or on cloudy days, the utility credits your surplus power back to you.
Net metering is one of the keys to successful solar policy, and Colorado may just have the best net metering laws in the country. The state requires utilities to pay you for the net excess energy that your system produces over the course of a year. So if you’re smart about your energy usage, your solar panels can actually turn a profit! The utility company will literally cut you a check at the end of the year for any extra solar juice you’ve contributed to the grid.
Colorado makes taking advantage of those savings even easier, allowing you to opt either for the check or to simply roll your extra credit to any subsequent monthly bills.
The real vein of Rockies gold for solar comes from Colorado’s utility companies. They have to meet the state’s renewable portfolio standard guidelines, so they’re willing to help you put solar on your roof, just for joining the world of electricity generation.
Truth be told, though, the big, fat rebates of years past are all but gone in the Rocky Mountain State. The good news is prices for solar have dropped by about the same amount of the erstwhile rebate money! The rebates worked!
If you’re lucky enough to be an Xcel customer in Colorado, you should definitely sign up for their Solar Rewards program. It pays you on an ongoing basis for the amount of kwh you produce with your solar panels.
You sign a contract to give your renewable energy certificates to Xcel for 20 years. They will pay you for the first 10 years at a rate of $.07/kwh, which is huge!
On an average sized 6kW system, you can expect to reap about $700 annually or $6,500 over those ten years.
A solar installation adds tens of thousands of dollars in value to your home. The good news in Colorado is that homeowners who go solar will not pay a single, solitary, Denver-minted penny in taxes on that value. Thanks, Colorado!
Also, when you install a residential solar system in Colorado you are exempt from 100% of related sales and use taxes. Now that’s how we like our renewable energy laws: simple, smart, and saving you money.
In 2020, the city of Boulder created a hefty home solar grant program. Income-qualified homeowners making less than $82,000 a year for a family of 4 can receive up to 50% of total project costs after rebates, incentives and tax credits are subtracted.
While that’s a good chunk of change, we’re curious to know how many residents will qualify, given Boulder’s relatively high living expenses. We’d love to see similar types of programs offered across more diverse areas of the state.
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Prices based on a 10.1kW system, after 30% federal tax credit
100 solar companies in Colorado provide pricing on SolarReviews. Here are the best rated companies near you.
4.79 64 Reviews
Craig fisher, over 1 month
I hired Complete Energy Solutions to install a 18.86kW system comprised of 46- Silfab 410BG solar modules, and 3-SMA inverters, on my personal home, I had two other local people turn down my home due to complicated roof design, but Complete Energy Solutions figured it out and did a tremendous job on my home. The owners, Matt and Jennifer and their team have the technical know how regarding product, permitting & installation. I am also having complete energy install an approximately 1600 panel system on our dealership in Boulder, I have a complete trust in them and I’m totally satisfied .
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Craig fisher, over 1 month
I hired Complete Energy Solutions to install a 18.86kW system comprised of 46- Silfab 410BG solar modules, and 3-SMA inverters, on my personal home, I had two other local people turn down my home due to complicated roof design, but Complete Energy Solutions figured it out and did a tremendous job on my home. The owners, Matt and Jennifer and their team have the technical know how regarding product, permitting & installation. I am also having complete energy install an approximately 1600 panel system on our dealership in Boulder, I have a complete trust in them and I’m totally satisfied .
4.70 67 Reviews
Michael Tierney, over 1 month
I had a very good experience with Sinsense Solar. They were very professional from start to finish. A big thank you to both Matt and Jeremy as they were extremely helpful and knowledgable throughout the process. I reccomend Sunsense to anyone looking to do a Solar project.
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Michael Tierney, over 1 month
I had a very good experience with Sinsense Solar. They were very professional from start to finish. A big thank you to both Matt and Jeremy as they were extremely helpful and knowledgable throughout the process. I reccomend Sunsense to anyone looking to do a Solar project.
4.66 39 Reviews
Quinn Cunningham , 20 hours ago
Apollo helped us when no one else could or would, they removed our old solars and set us with new solars at our new home. Everyone from Apollo has been amazing and I highly recommend them to everyone.
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Quinn Cunningham , 20 hours ago
Apollo helped us when no one else could or would, they removed our old solars and set us with new solars at our new home. Everyone from Apollo has been amazing and I highly recommend them to everyone.
Anonymous, over 1 month
Good installation
4.58 143 Reviews
Brad, 1 day ago
We knew we'd choose SmartWave from the day we met Scott. We appreciated their customer centered approach and the sentiment he shared about his experience working for SmartWave. We anticipated the process to be drawn out, but the team at SmartWave was (for the most part) communicative and worked to overcome the challenges associated with this type of installation (Xcel's role is the greatest obstacle in any case). Highly recommend.
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Average cost (5kW system)
$10,650 ($2.13 per watt)
Brad, 1 day ago
We knew we'd choose SmartWave from the day we met Scott. We appreciated their customer centered approach and the sentiment he shared about his experience working for SmartWave. We anticipated the process to be drawn out, but the team at SmartWave was (for the most part) communicative and worked to overcome the challenges associated with this type of installation (Xcel's role is the greatest obstacle in any case). Highly recommend.
4.58 65 Reviews
GreenEnergy, over 1 month
We had a great experience working with Solar Power Pros. They were knowledgeable, courteous, and professional, and their price was very competitive. I would have given them a five-star review, but unfortunately their post installation customer care needs improvement. When something wasn't working (inverter malfunctioning, gateway not reporting, for instance), I'd email and call but wouldn't hear back from them, and I'd do it all over again. Maybe someone would get in touch; maybe not, and I'd have to try a third time. At one point our first project manager quit, and no one told us, so I kept emailing her. Later finally someone told me she left and we got a new person. This is no way to run a business! I know their business is growing but you can't forget your established customers! You have to keep taking care of them.
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GreenEnergy, over 1 month
We had a great experience working with Solar Power Pros. They were knowledgeable, courteous, and professional, and their price was very competitive. I would have given them a five-star review, but unfortunately their post installation customer care needs improvement. When something wasn't working (inverter malfunctioning, gateway not reporting, for instance), I'd email and call but wouldn't hear back from them, and I'd do it all over again. Maybe someone would get in touch; maybe not, and I'd have to try a third time. At one point our first project manager quit, and no one told us, so I kept emailing her. Later finally someone told me she left and we got a new person. This is no way to run a business! I know their business is growing but you can't forget your established customers! You have to keep taking care of them.
4.50 36 Reviews
Paul, over 1 month
Well Done! Curtis is a pleasure to work with, knowledgeable, experienced, quality from start to finish. No need to call anyone else.
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Paul, over 1 month
Well Done! Curtis is a pleasure to work with, knowledgeable, experienced, quality from start to finish. No need to call anyone else.
4.48 1,819 Reviews
Sreeni, 3 days ago
Blue Raven has done a great job so far. The sales rep (adam) got things going, installation was smooth, and the system has been functioning as expected. Adam walked us through the entire process, from design through installation. Couldn’t have been any easier. I loved the customer support Blue Raven provides. Very communicative each step of the way, and Blue Raven will make sure we’re satisfied with our system.
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Sreeni, 3 days ago
Blue Raven has done a great job so far. The sales rep (adam) got things going, installation was smooth, and the system has been functioning as expected. Adam walked us through the entire process, from design through installation. Couldn’t have been any easier. I loved the customer support Blue Raven provides. Very communicative each step of the way, and Blue Raven will make sure we’re satisfied with our system.
4.48 26 Reviews
Geo Ed, over 1 month
We have lived off grid for thirty years. Our original installer retired and Renewable Energy Outfitters stepped in when we needed service. This past spring we decided to upgrade the entire system. Aaron and his two employees did a superb job. We do not have a single complaint. Aaron Mandelkorn is a superb example of how a business marketing and installing and servicing solar and also wind power should operate. We would recommend Renewable Energy Outfitters above any other company in this part of Colorado.
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Geo Ed, over 1 month
We have lived off grid for thirty years. Our original installer retired and Renewable Energy Outfitters stepped in when we needed service. This past spring we decided to upgrade the entire system. Aaron and his two employees did a superb job. We do not have a single complaint. Aaron Mandelkorn is a superb example of how a business marketing and installing and servicing solar and also wind power should operate. We would recommend Renewable Energy Outfitters above any other company in this part of Colorado.
4.46 12 Reviews
Lance McElhiney, over 1 month
Andrew and his crew did an incredible job. They were very professional and quick with the installation.
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Lance McElhiney, over 1 month
Andrew and his crew did an incredible job. They were very professional and quick with the installation.
For more information about going solar near where you live, check out the following resources:
Fort Collins Solar Loan Program - Offers on-bill repayment