Who powers Ouray County
By area, the Colorado Energy Office territory map shows San Miguel Power Association (97%), Delta-Montrose Electric Association (3%). Area isn’t population — towns are often served by a different utility than the surrounding countryside.
The largest by area, San Miguel Power Association, is a electric cooperative that credits exported solar at the time-of-day rate in effect when it leaves your meter.
Ouray County by the numbers
Ouray County grew about 7.9% between 2020 and 2025 (4,879 → 5,265). It has 2 communities on our map, the largest being Ridgway, Ouray.
The county is fairly uniform in elevation — Ouray near 7,690 feet and the geographic center around 7,340 feet — so conditions are relatively consistent across it.
It’s part of our Western Slope region. The county center is about 185 miles from our Denver office.
Permitting across Ouray County
Permitting in Ouray 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.
FAQ
Questions we hear
Which electric utilities serve Ouray County?
By area, the state map shows San Miguel Power Association, Delta-Montrose Electric Association. The county seat, Ouray, maps to San Miguel Power Association. Your bill is the final word.
Do you install solar in Ouray County?
Yes — our own Colorado crews install throughout Ouray County, including permits and utility interconnection.
How high is Ouray, and does it matter for solar?
Ouray sits at about 7,690 feet. Cooler, clearer air helps panel efficiency, but roof orientation and shading matter far more; we model both per address.