Utilities serving Clear Creek County
Territory shares by land area (Colorado Energy Office map): Xcel Energy (Public Service Company of Colorado), about 82%; CORE Electric Cooperative, about 18%. The county seat, Georgetown, maps to Xcel Energy (Public Service Company of Colorado).
The largest by area, Xcel Energy (Public Service Company of Colorado), is an investor-owned utility that banks exported solar as kWh credits that offset later use one-for-one.
Clear Creek County by the numbers
Clear Creek County declined about 4.0% between 2020 and 2025 (9,364 → 8,994). It has 5 communities on our map, the largest being Idaho Springs, Georgetown, Central City.
Terrain varies: Georgetown sits near 8,460 feet while the county’s geographic center is around 10,670 feet, so snow load, shading and access can differ a lot from one address to the next.
It’s part of our Central Mountains region. The county center is about 36 miles from our Denver office.
Who issues solar permits in Clear Creek County
Permitting in Clear Creek County depends on whether you’re inside a town. Towns with their own building departments issue their own permits; unincorporated areas go through the county, and the State Electrical Board handles electrical permits in many smaller jurisdictions.
Business, farm and nonprofit solar in Clear Creek County
Clear Creek County businesses are split between Xcel Energy (Public Service Company of Colorado) and CORE Electric Cooperative — an investor-owned utility and a electric cooperative — with different commercial net-metering terms, so two shops a few miles apart can have different paybacks.
Mountain-county commercial property means lodging, restaurants, ski-area support buildings, workforce housing and small main-street retail — buildings with expensive winter power, big snow loads and roofs that often carry heated-driveway and snowmelt loads. Resort-town design review adds a step to most projects. Demand charges, roof structure and who pays the bill decide the project more than panel count does. As of September 2026, business owners can still use the federal §48E credit for solar placed in service by the end of 2027, with 100% bonus depreciation restored — details are on our Clear Creek County commercial page and worth a conversation with your tax advisor.
FAQ
Questions we hear
Which electric utilities serve Clear Creek County?
By area, the state map shows Xcel Energy (Public Service Company of Colorado), CORE Electric Cooperative. The county seat, Georgetown, maps to Xcel Energy (Public Service Company of Colorado). Your bill is the final word.
Do you install solar in Clear Creek County?
Yes — our own Colorado crews install throughout Clear Creek County, including permits and utility interconnection.
How high is Georgetown, and does it matter for solar?
Georgetown sits at about 8,460 feet. Cooler, clearer air helps panel efficiency, but roof orientation and shading matter far more; we model both per address.