Colorado utility guide

Solar & batteries with San Miguel Power Association

San Miguel Power Association puts net-metered homes on a time-of-use rate by default, and that one detail shapes everything. Credits are banked separately for on-peak (4–9 p.m.) and off-peak hours, so the solar you export at midday builds off-peak credit, not the 25¢ on-peak kind you’d need for your evening use. That’s why a battery does more work in SMPA territory than in most rural co-ops, and SMPA offers a $750 battery rebate on top of a small solar rebate.

Cooperative11 Colorado communities on the state map

Utility type

Electric cooperative

Wholesale: Tri-State Generation and Transmission

How exports are credited

Exports credited at the time-of-day rate when sent

System size limit

10 kW residential; 25 kW commercial

Net metering, in plain English

Residential systems up to 10 kW and commercial up to 25 kW are net-metered with monthly one-for-one carryforward. Members choose an annual true-up date (April 1 or November 1, once); SMPA pays annual excess within 60 days at its Net Meter Avoided Cost. Systems above the cap and under 100 kW can use a split-system (second meter) or net billing, both valuing excess at avoided cost. Net-metered members choose between a default TOU Energy rate with separate on- and off-peak credit banks, and a Time-of-Day Peak Power rate with a single bank and a peak charge.

Time-of-use: Net-metered members choose TOU Energy ($33/month; $0.25/kWh from 4–9 p.m.; $0.11/kWh otherwise; separate credit banks) or Time-of-Day Peak Power ($35/month; $0.1196/kWh; $3.50/kW peak charge; one combined bank).

Sources & dated facts

Colorado law (C.R.S. 40-9.5-118) requires every electric co-op to offer net metering to systems of at least 10 kW residential and 25 kW commercial, carry excess kWh forward month to month one-for-one, and credit any annual excess within 60 days.As of Sep 23, 2026
SMPA Policy 303 (rev. 2022-01-25): 10 kW residential / 25 kW commercial; monthly 1:1 carryforward; annual true-up on April 1 or November 1 (member’s one-time choice), paid within 60 days at the Net Meter Avoided Cost; systems above the cap and under 100 kW may use split-system or net billing at avoided cost; $300,000 liability insurance for systems ≤25 kW.As of Sep 23, 2026 · source
Net-metering rate options: default TOU Energy ($33/month; $0.25/kWh on-peak 4–9 p.m.; $0.11/kWh off-peak; separate on- and off-peak banks) or Time-of-Day Peak Power ($35/month; $0.1196/kWh; $3.50/kW peak charge; one bank). No effective date shown.As of Sep 23, 2026 · source
SMPA serves parts of Montrose, San Miguel, Dolores, Mesa, San Juan, Hinsdale and Ouray counties, with offices in Nucla and Ridgway, and buys its power from Tri-State.As of Sep 23, 2026 · source

Two banks, not one

On SMPA’s default TOU Energy net-metering rate, exported kWh are banked by time period. Midday solar builds off-peak credit worth 11¢; your 4–9 p.m. use draws on on-peak energy at 25¢, which only on-peak credit can offset. A west-facing array helps a little. A battery that stores midday solar and runs the house from 4 to 9 p.m. helps a lot.

The alternative, Time-of-Day Peak Power, uses one combined bank at a flat $0.1196/kWh but adds a $3.50/kW peak charge. Homes with modest, steady evening loads may prefer it; homes with big evening spikes usually won’t.

Rebates: small but real

SMPA’s solar rebate is $0.10 per watt on up to 3 kW for homes — $300. The battery rebate is $750 for 6 kWh or more, provided the battery charges from renewables, and a Level 2 charger can get up to $500. All are offered while funds last and must be claimed within 60 days.

None of that replaces the ended federal credit, but on a $15,500 SigEnergy or $19,000 Powerwall 3 with solar, the combined help plus Colorado’s 10% battery tax credit (tax years through 2026) is worth claiming.

Picking your true-up date

SMPA lets you choose, once, whether your annual true-up happens April 1 or November 1, and pays leftover credit within 60 days at its avoided cost. For a solar-only home in the Telluride–Ridgway–Norwood country, a November true-up often clears the summer surplus before winter draws it down — but run it against your own year before choosing.

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.

Renewable and electrification rebates

Open

Solar PV $0.10/W (residential up to 3 kW / $300); home battery $750 for 6 kWh or larger, charged by renewables; Level 2 EV charger 50% of equipment up to $250 plus 50% of installation up to $250. Offered while funds last; claim within 60 days.

Solar PV rebate $0.10/W, capped at 3 kW / $300 residential and 10 kW / $1,000 commercial.(source)
Home battery rebate $750 for 6 kWh or larger, renewable/PV-charged only; Level 2 EV charger rebate up to $500 total, one per account per year.(source)

Program page

FAQ

Questions we hear

Why doesn’t my midday solar cover my evening SMPA bill?

On the default TOU Energy net-metering rate, SMPA banks on-peak and off-peak credit separately. Midday exports earn off-peak credit and can’t offset 4–9 p.m. on-peak use.

What’s SMPA’s battery rebate?

$750 for a battery of 6 kWh or more that charges from renewables, offered while funds last and claimed within 60 days.

Can I install more than 10 kW on an SMPA home?

Not under standard net metering. Systems above the cap and under 100 kW can use a split-system or net billing, with excess valued at SMPA’s Net Meter Avoided Cost.

Does SMPA require insurance for solar?

Yes — its net-metering policy requires $300,000 of liability coverage for systems 25 kW and under. Most homeowner policies meet it; check yours.

Get honest numbers for your roof

Our Colorado crew looks up your utility’s current rules, models your roof, and tells you straight — including when solar or a battery won’t pay off.

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