Metering decides who benefits
With individually metered units, a rooftop system can connect only to a single meter under ordinary net metering. Most owners connect it to the house meter. If the building is master-metered and the owner pays all electricity, solar can offset the whole building’s use and the economics look more like an office.
Serving tenant meters directly from rooftop solar is a different arrangement with its own utility rules. Ask your utility what it currently allows before planning around it.
Tenant EV charging
Residents without garages can’t charge at home unless the property provides chargers. We install Level 2 chargers for parking lots and garages; managing access and billing is usually handled through networked charger software. Load management, which shares a fixed amount of electrical capacity across many chargers, can avoid a costly service upgrade.
The federal §30C charger credit ended for property placed in service after June 30, 2026. Xcel has offered EV wiring rebates for some customers; check current program terms and eligibility for multifamily properties.
Building performance rules
Energize Denver covers multifamily buildings of 25,000 square feet and larger, and Building Performance Colorado applies statewide to buildings of 50,000 square feet and up. Both require benchmarking and performance targets on timelines that have changed over time. Confirm how your building is treated, and whether on-site solar helps under your chosen pathway, with the program itself.
Roofs, fire access and hail
Garden-style complexes often have pitched shingle roofs across several buildings, while mid-rise buildings usually have flat membrane roofs. Fire code requires access pathways and setbacks that reduce usable area on both. On shingle roofs near end of life, we recommend reroofing with the solar install, since hail-driven roof replacement is common along the Front Range and we don’t remove and reinstall arrays.
FAQ
Questions we hear
Can my tenants’ bills go down if I install solar?
Not usually, if each unit has its own meter — the system typically offsets the house meter. Lower common-area costs can still benefit tenants indirectly, especially in buildings where utilities are part of the rent.
How many EV chargers should an apartment property install?
Start with current demand plus conduit for expansion. Running conduit and panel capacity now is far cheaper than trenching again later. Load-managed Level 2 chargers let more spaces share limited electrical capacity.
Do I have to charge tenants for EV charging?
No, but most owners do, through networked chargers that bill per session or per kWh. The billing approach should follow Colorado and utility rules for resale of electricity; confirm with your attorney.
Is my apartment building covered by Energize Denver?
In Denver, multifamily buildings of 25,000 square feet and up are covered by its benchmarking and performance requirements. Confirm your building’s status and deadlines with the City of Denver.