PVREA or the city? Check before you get a quote
PVREA serves Larimer, Weld and Boulder counties, much of it the land just outside Fort Collins, Loveland and other towns that run their own utilities. Two houses on the same county road can be on different utilities, and the difference is large: Fort Collins Utilities pays rebates for solar and batteries and credits exports at time-of-day rates, while PVREA has its own caps and an April 1 true-up.
Look at your bill before you compare quotes. If a salesperson quotes you Fort Collins rebates for an address outside city service, that quote is wrong.
The 120% rule is usually the binding limit
PVREA’s cap is the lesser of 25 kW or 120% of your last year’s use. For a typical home using 9,000–10,000 kWh a year, 120% allows only about 7–8 kW of panels — the usage limit bites long before 25 kW does. If you’re planning an EV or heat pump, PVREA sizes from history, so it can make sense to add the load first.
Within that cap, surplus kWh bank month to month and offset later use. Whatever’s left on April 1 is paid at the Tariff NP rate — $0.03361/kWh in 2026, versus the $0.09108/kWh energy charge you’d otherwise pay. So production you won’t use by spring is worth about a third as much.
Rates, demand and time-of-use
PVREA’s demand charge is small by co-op standards — $1.00 per kW on both the standard and time-of-use residential rates in 2026 — so demand management isn’t the main event here. The time-of-use rate is: $0.188/kWh on-peak versus $0.05464 off-peak, a spread of more than 13¢.
Larger systems: farms, shops and small businesses
Above 25 kW AC, PVREA’s net-metering rate doesn’t apply. A larger project has two paths: use all its output on site with no export, or sell all of it to PVREA under Schedule DG. For irrigation, dairies and shops with big daytime loads, the first path can work well; for most homes it’s a reason to stay under 25 kW.
Rebates & programs
Programs change often. Status shown is what we could confirm on the date listed — always check with the program before you count on it.
Level 2 EV charger rebates
OpenStandard: 50% of installation up to $125 plus 50% of equipment up to $125 ($250 max). With program participation: 50% of installation up to $500 plus 50% of equipment up to $500 ($1,000 max). Up to two chargers per account; apply within 90 days.
- PVREA Level 2 rebates: standard maximum $250; with program participation (DrivEV and/or the time-of-use rate) maximum $1,000; limit two per account; new equipment only; apply within 90 days; an electrician’s receipt is required for the installation portion.(source)
DrivEV Smart Charging Rewards
OpenA $50 sign-up bonus and $7 a month for charging between midnight and 3 p.m. Monday–Saturday or anytime Sunday. For members on a non-time-of-use rate, with a compatible EV or charger.
- DrivEV pays a $50 sign-up bonus and $7 per month; rewards hours are 12 a.m.–3 p.m. Monday–Saturday and all day Sunday; participants must be on a non-time-of-use rate; eligible chargers include ChargePoint Home Flex and Emporia models, or enrollment via vehicle telematics.(source)
Battery Rewards
Status unconfirmedPVREA lists a Battery Rewards program on its website. We could not open its terms; confirm eligibility and payments with PVREA.
FAQ
Questions we hear
Who supplies PVREA’s power?
Tri-State Generation and Transmission is PVREA’s wholesale supplier.
When does PVREA settle net-metering credits?
Once a year, on April 1, at the Tariff NP rate ($0.03361/kWh in 2026).
What counties does PVREA serve?
Larimer, Weld and Boulder counties in northern Colorado — largely rural areas and edges of towns that don’t run their own utilities.
Can I install more than 25 kW on PVREA?
Yes, but not under net metering. Larger systems must either use all output on site with no export or sell all of it to PVREA at the Schedule DG rate.