Outages and shutoffs on the plains
Xcel’s December 2025 wildfire power shutoff reached into Weld County along with Boulder, Larimer, Jefferson and Clear Creek, and some customers were dark for a day or more. Rural homes add a second problem: no power means no well pump, and on a livestock property that’s a real emergency.
A Tesla Powerwall 3 (13.5 kWh, about $19,000 installed for the first unit) will typically keep a fridge, furnace blower, Wi-Fi and lights going through an overnight outage; a well pump or shop loads usually push you to a second unit (about $12,000 more) or a SigEnergy stack you can expand in 9 kWh steps.
Xcel customers vs. co-op customers
On Xcel, on-peak power from 5 to 9 pm on weekdays costs roughly 2.7 times off-peak, so a battery charged from midday solar has a daily job. Xcel has also offered upfront incentives through its Renewable Battery Connect program in exchange for letting it draw on your battery during grid events — confirm the current amount and enrollment window before counting on it.
Poudre Valley REA and United Power members have different rate structures, and a battery’s bill value there comes more from backup and any co-op program than from Xcel-style peak shifting. We run the numbers on your actual rate, not an average.
State incentives that apply everywhere in Weld
Colorado exempts residential batteries from state sales tax through 2032 and offers a 10% state income-tax credit on the purchase price for tax years through 2026. If you’re on the fence, that credit is the one with a real deadline.
FAQ
Questions we hear
Will a battery run my well pump during an outage in Weld County?
Usually yes, if it’s sized for it. Well pumps have a large startup surge, so we check the pump’s specs and often recommend two Powerwalls or a larger SigEnergy stack for pump-plus-house backup.
Does a battery save money on United Power or PVREA?
Less predictably than on Xcel’s time-of-use rate. For co-op members, a battery is mainly a backup purchase; any bill savings depend on your specific rate and co-op programs, which we check before quoting.
Was Weld County part of Xcel’s wildfire shutoffs?
Parts of it were included in the December 2025 shutoff that affected about 50,000 Xcel customers across five Front Range counties. Whether your address is in a shutoff zone depends on nearby lines and terrain.
Can I add a battery to solar I already have?
Often, yes — we add Tesla, Enphase or SigEnergy batteries to existing systems when the equipment is compatible. We don’t take over service of another installer’s array, so we’ll check compatibility first.