Shutoffs are a business problem too
When Xcel de-energizes lines for wildfire risk, businesses in the zone close or run on generators. For restaurants, labs and anything with refrigeration or sensitive equipment, solar plus storage sized for critical loads can keep the essentials running; we design around what you can’t afford to lose, not the whole building.
Xcel commercial rates vs. Longmont
Xcel commercial customers typically pay a meaningful share of their bill in demand charges, which storage can shave. Longmont businesses buy from LPC, whose rates and export credits are set locally and are a different starting point entirely.
The City of Boulder has its own building performance ordinance for larger commercial buildings, and Colorado has a statewide building performance program for the largest ones. Solar alone doesn’t satisfy most of those requirements — verify how your building is measured before assuming it counts.
Federal timeline
As of September 2026, commercial solar can still use the §48E credit, generally with a December 31, 2027 placed-in-service deadline for projects that didn’t begin construction by July 4, 2026. Storage retains eligibility for projects starting construction through 2033. Nonprofits should ask their advisor about elective pay.
FAQ
Questions we hear
Can solar keep my Boulder business open during a power shutoff?
With battery storage sized for critical loads, yes. Solar alone shuts down when the grid does; storage is what provides backup.
Does solar help meet the City of Boulder’s building performance requirements?
It depends on how your building is measured under the ordinance. On-site solar may help with some metrics but not others — confirm with the city’s program before planning around it.
Is commercial solar different in Longmont than in the rest of Boulder County?
Yes. Longmont businesses are on LPC, which sets its own commercial rates and export credits, so a proposal has to be built on LPC’s tariff rather than Xcel’s.