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AIColorado Solarby Discovery Clean Energy

Saguache County · San Luis Valley

Solar in Bonanza, Colorado

Bonanza is statutory town in Saguache County, sitting at about 9,530 feet with roughly 17 residents (2020 Census). For a solar or battery project here, the detail that moves the numbers most is the utility: Xcel Energy (Public Service Company of Colorado).

Statutory town9,530 ft

At a glance

Population
17
2020 Census
Elevation
9,530 ft
USGS
County
Saguache
Government
Statutory town

Electric utility

Territory from the Colorado Energy Office utility map (data edited July 2026). The utility on your bill is the final word — we verify by address.

01

Bonanza’s electric utility

According to the Colorado Energy Office’s utility-territory map, Bonanza is served by Xcel Energy (Public Service Company of Colorado), an investor-owned utility that banks exported solar as kWh credits that offset later use one-for-one.

Territory maps are a starting point, not a guarantee — the name on your electric bill is the final word, and we confirm it before any design work.

02

Designing for Bonanza’s conditions

Bonanza sits high — about 9,530 feet. Mountain sun is strong, but snow load, winter shading from surrounding terrain and longer outage restoration times shape the design more than they do on the Front Range.

03

Permits in Bonanza

Permits for solar in Bonanza come from whichever office holds building and electrical authority for your address — the town, Saguache County, or, in many smaller Colorado jurisdictions, the State Electrical Board for electrical permits. We identify the right office and pull the permits as part of the job.

04

Bonanza at a glance

Census publishes no annual estimates for unincorporated communities; the 2020 count was 17. It ranks #5 by population among the communities in Saguache County, and its nearest neighbors are Saguache (15 mi), Poncha Springs (16 mi), Salida (18 mi).

Distance from our Denver shop: about 117 miles direct. Close enough that service calls are routine.

FAQ

Questions we hear

Who is the electric utility in Bonanza, Colorado?

The Colorado Energy Office territory map shows Xcel Energy (Public Service Company of Colorado). Confirm with the name on your bill — we verify by address.

How does Xcel Energy (Public Service Company of Colorado) credit solar exports?

In short, it banks exported solar as kWh credits that offset later use one-for-one. Rules change, so we pull the current tariff for every proposal — see our utility guide for details.

Is Bonanza sunny enough for solar?

Colorado’s sun is strong statewide, and at ~9,530 feet the air is clear. The real variables are your roof’s orientation and shade — our Solar Studio uses NREL hourly data for your address.

Will an installer actually come to Bonanza?

Yes — we’re about 117 miles away in Denver and serve every county. It’s within our regular routes.

Get honest numbers for your roof

Our Colorado crew looks up your utility’s current rules, models your roof, and tells you straight — including when solar or a battery won’t pay off.

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