Four city-owned utilities and their different credits
Fort Collins, Loveland, Longmont and Estes Park each run a municipal electric utility and buy wholesale power through Platte River Power Authority. Their export rules differ from Xcel’s and from each other. Fort Collins credits exported energy at the time-of-day rate in effect when it leaves your house, and its on-peak rates run at least three times off-peak.
Longmont moved new and expanded systems installed from January 1, 2025 to a value-of-solar credit that sits below retail but above wholesale; systems installed earlier keep retail crediting until January 2040. Loveland nets monthly and pays out excess credit at year-end at a buyback rate. These differences are why we size municipal-utility systems closer to your actual use rather than pushing for the biggest array the roof will hold.
Fort Collins rebates are among the richest on the Front Range
For 2026, Fort Collins Utilities lists a solar rebate of $300 per kW-DC up to $1,500 and a battery rebate of $300 per kWh up to $6,000 (minimum 6 kWh, paired with solar), with a combined cap of $7,500. Participation requires a registered contractor, an approved equipment list, and installation within six months of approval.
Rebate budgets and rules can change mid-year, so treat these figures as of September 2026 and check the city’s program page before you sign. The rebate is paid to the customer, not folded into a contractor discount you can’t see.
Xcel and the rural co-ops in between
Boulder, Lafayette, Louisville, Greeley and much of Weld County are Xcel territory, with the same 5–9 pm weekday peak as Denver. Poudre Valley REA serves a large share of rural and edge-of-town Larimer and Weld, and United Power reaches into southern Weld around Fort Lupton and Frederick. Co-op members get net metering under a separate state statute that guarantees at least 10 kW for homes and 25 kW for businesses.
The City of Boulder remains an Xcel city after its municipalization effort ended in 2020, but it offers its own rebate of roughly 15% of the city sales and use tax paid on solar and, since April 2026, battery materials and permits, if you apply within 12 months.
Wind, fire and shutoffs along the foothills
Boulder County’s downslope windstorms are a known fire hazard; the Marshall Fire burned through Superior and Louisville on December 30, 2021. Xcel’s December 2025 and March 2026 public-safety shutoffs hit Boulder, Larimer and Weld counties, and the March event alone cut roughly 14,400 customers in Boulder County.
For foothills homes west of Boulder, Lyons, Loveland and Fort Collins, those shutoffs have made batteries a practical purchase rather than a luxury. We also pay attention to wind loads on racking in the gustiest spots.
Hail, snow and growth on the plains side
The area where Colorado, Nebraska and Wyoming meet averages roughly 7–9 hail days a year according to the National Weather Service, among the highest counts in the country, and the Weld County plains sit close to that zone. New subdivisions in Windsor, Johnstown, Timnath and Erie tend to have large, unshaded roofs and HOAs, which usually makes for straightforward installs under Colorado’s HOA solar law.
Winter snow slides off tilted panels within a day or two of sun on most Front Range days, so we rarely recommend snow guards unless the array sits above a door or walkway.
FAQ
Questions we hear
Why does solar pay back differently in Fort Collins than in Greeley?
Fort Collins Utilities credits exported power at its time-of-day rate and offers city rebates, while Greeley is Xcel territory with Xcel’s net-metering and peak rules. Same panels, different credit for the power you send back. We model your specific utility.
Is it still worth going solar in Longmont after the value-of-solar change?
It can be, but systems installed since 2025 earn less for exports than older ones did. The best Longmont systems are sized to cover what you use in the moment, and a battery can help you keep more of your own solar. If your bill is small, the payback may be long.
If I expand my old Longmont system, do I lose retail credits?
Longmont’s rules apply value-of-solar crediting to systems new or expanded after January 1, 2025, so adding panels can move you off the grandfathered retail credit. Ask Longmont Power & Communications exactly how an expansion is treated before you add anything.
Can I stack Fort Collins solar and battery rebates?
Yes, up to a combined $7,500 in 2026: up to $1,500 for solar and up to $6,000 for a battery of at least 6 kWh paired with solar. Program rules and budgets change, so confirm on the city’s site before you sign a contract.
Does a Poudre Valley REA member get the same net metering as Xcel customers?
Not exactly. Co-ops follow a separate Colorado statute that requires at least 10 kW of residential net metering with monthly carryforward and an annual payout of excess credit. PVREA sets its own detailed terms, so we check its current tariff for your project.
How long do Xcel wildfire shutoffs in Boulder County usually last?
The recent shutoffs ran from about a day to three days or more. A battery sized for essentials can typically carry a fridge, furnace blower, lights and internet through a day or more, and longer with solar recharging it.