Gilpin County’s utility map
By area, the Colorado Energy Office territory map shows Xcel Energy (Public Service Company of Colorado) (100%), United Power (81%). Area isn’t population — towns are often served by a different utility than the surrounding countryside.
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.
A snapshot of Gilpin County
Gilpin County grew about 4.7% between 2020 and 2025 (5,803 → 6,073). It has 2 communities on our map, the largest being Central City, Black Hawk.
Terrain varies: Central City sits near 8,800 feet while the county’s geographic center is around 10,110 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 29 miles from our Denver office.
Permitting across Gilpin County
Permitting in Gilpin 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.
Commercial solar in Gilpin County
Gilpin County businesses are split between Xcel Energy (Public Service Company of Colorado) and United Power — 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 Gilpin County commercial page and worth a conversation with your tax advisor.
FAQ
Questions we hear
Which electric utilities serve Gilpin County?
By area, the state map shows Xcel Energy (Public Service Company of Colorado), United Power. The county seat, Central City, maps to Xcel Energy (Public Service Company of Colorado). Your bill is the final word.
Do you install solar in Gilpin County?
Yes — our own Colorado crews install throughout Gilpin County, including permits and utility interconnection.
How high is Central City, and does it matter for solar?
Central City sits at about 8,800 feet. Cooler, clearer air helps panel efficiency, but roof orientation and shading matter far more; we model both per address.