Matching the battery to the CSU option you choose
Under CSU’s time-of-use option, exports are credited in dollars at the rate in effect when they leave the house, so solar sent to the grid at midday is worth less than power you would otherwise buy during the evening peak. A battery that charges from the array and covers 5–9 pm is doing exactly the arithmetic the new structure rewards.
Under the demand option, the battery’s job is different: shaving your single highest 15-minute spike each month. That calls for a system programmed to protect a peak, which is a different setup from backup or evening shifting. We size and configure for whichever option you choose, and we show you the difference before you sign.
Well pumps, Black Forest and the eastern plains
Many homes in Black Forest, Peyton and east toward Calhan are on private wells, where a power outage also shuts off water. Well pumps draw a hard surge on start-up, so the battery and inverter need enough surge capacity, not just enough stored energy. A Powerwall 3, an Enphase IQ system and a SigEnergy system each handle this differently, and we check the pump’s nameplate before recommending one.
For these homes the honest comparison is sometimes a battery versus a standby generator. Batteries are quiet, need no fuel and recharge from the roof; a generator can run longer in a week of cloudy weather. Some households want both.
Permits and incentives to line up
PPRBD wants the battery mentioned in the utility’s written approval and a floor plan showing where the storage sits in or on the building, so the battery has to be part of the design from the start rather than tacked on at inspection.
As of September 2026, Colorado offers a 10% state income-tax credit on home battery purchases for tax years through 2026, and batteries are exempt from state sales tax. CSU has signaled that a battery incentive program is coming, but its timing and terms are not final. Verify current terms before you count on any of them.
FAQ
Questions we hear
Does a battery make more sense under CSU’s new rules than under the old ones?
Usually, yes. Under the old one-for-one credits, the grid acted as a free battery. Under either new option, storing your own midday solar for evening use or to cap your monthly peak has real dollar value, though how much depends on your usage pattern.
Can a battery run my well pump in Black Forest during an outage?
Often, yes, if the system is sized for the pump’s start-up surge as well as its running load. We check the pump specifications on site before quoting, because an undersized system will trip the moment the pump kicks on.
What does a home battery cost here?
Our installed pricing runs about $19,000 for a first Tesla Powerwall 3 (13.5 kWh) and about $12,000 for each additional unit, about $17,000 for a first 10 kWh of Enphase storage, and $15,500 for a first 9 kWh of SigEnergy. Your final price depends on panel upgrades and wiring.
Should I wait for Colorado Springs Utilities’ battery program?
Maybe. If the 10% state battery credit matters to you, it currently applies only through tax year 2026, so waiting can cost you one incentive while you hope for another. We lay out both scenarios with dates so you can decide.