Who powers Crowley County
By area, the Colorado Energy Office territory map shows Southeast Colorado Power Association (59%), Black Hills Energy (Colorado Electric) (41%). Area isn’t population — towns are often served by a different utility than the surrounding countryside.
The largest by area, Southeast Colorado Power Association, is a electric cooperative that banks exported solar as kWh credits that offset later use one-for-one.
Crowley County facts that matter for solar
Crowley County declined about 4.2% between 2020 and 2025 (5,927 → 5,677). It has 4 communities on our map, the largest being Ordway, Olney Springs, Sugar City.
The county is fairly uniform in elevation — Ordway near 4,320 feet and the geographic center around 4,560 feet — so conditions are relatively consistent across it.
It’s part of our Eastern Plains region. The county center is about 119 miles from our Denver office.
Permitting across Crowley County
Unincorporated addresses generally permit through Crowley County; incorporated towns may run their own building departments, and in many smaller Colorado jurisdictions the State Electrical Board issues electrical permits. We confirm the right office for your address and file everything.
Commercial solar in Crowley County
Crowley County businesses are split between Southeast Colorado Power Association and Black Hills Energy (Colorado Electric) — a electric cooperative and an investor-owned utility — with different commercial net-metering terms, so two shops a few miles apart can have different paybacks.
Out on the plains the loads that matter are grain elevators, feedlots and dairies, irrigation pumping, equipment dealers, county and school buildings, and small-town main streets. Land is cheap and roofs are often metal, so ground mounts and barn roofs are common, and the co-op's rules on irrigation and commercial accounts decide the design. 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 Crowley County commercial page and worth a conversation with your tax advisor.
FAQ
Questions we hear
Which electric utilities serve Crowley County?
By area, the state map shows Southeast Colorado Power Association, Black Hills Energy (Colorado Electric). The county seat, Ordway, maps to Black Hills Energy (Colorado Electric). Your bill is the final word.
Do you install solar in Crowley County?
Yes — our own Colorado crews install throughout Crowley County, including permits and utility interconnection.
How high is Ordway, and does it matter for solar?
Ordway sits at about 4,320 feet. Cooler, clearer air helps panel efficiency, but roof orientation and shading matter far more; we model both per address.