Colorado utility guide

Solar & batteries with Sangre de Cristo Electric Association

Sangre de Cristo Electric rewrote its rules in 2026 in a way that favors batteries. Without storage, homes are capped at 10 kW DC; with a battery at least one-third of the solar nameplate, the limit rises to 25 kW. Since July 1, 2026, residential bills include a $2.50/kW charge on your highest hour between 5 and 9 p.m. Monday–Saturday, and a 2026 pilot pays $3,000 toward a home battery for the first 20 members.

Cooperative3 Colorado communities on the state map

Utility type

Electric cooperative

Wholesale: Tri-State Generation and Transmission (majority of supply)

How exports are credited

Exports banked 1:1 as kWh credits

System size limit

10 kW DC residential without storage; up to 25 kW with qualifying storage

Net metering, in plain English

Board Policy C-20 (effective 05/27/2026): without storage, 10 kW DC residential / 25 kW DC commercial; with storage, up to 25 kW residential / 50 kW commercial generation and export, with the battery at least one-third of solar nameplate and at most 30 kWh (residential). NABCEP-certified installers required. Rate Schedule 6 (effective 03/28/2026): excess kWh carry forward monthly at retail value; any balance on December 31 is paid within 90 days at SDCEA’s avoided cost as determined by Tri-State.

Time-of-use: Residential Schedule 1 (from 07/01/2026): $0.13026/kWh, a $2.50/kW on-peak demand charge on the highest hour between 5 and 9 p.m. Monday–Saturday, and a single-phase service availability charge of $42.36 in 2026 ($46.60 in 2027). The Schedule 7 time-of-use rate is closed to new customers.

Sources & dated facts

State statute C.R.S. 40-9.5-118 sets the co-op minimum: net metering for home systems to at least 10 kW and business systems to at least 25 kW, monthly one-for-one kWh carryforward, and an annual settlement of leftover credits within 60 days.As of Sep 23, 2026
Policy C-20: 10 kW DC residential / 25 kW DC commercial without storage; with storage up to 25 kW residential / 50 kW commercial; battery ≥1/3 of solar nameplate and ≤30 kWh residential / 60 kWh commercial; NABCEP-certified installers required.As of Sep 23, 2026 · source
Rate Schedule 6: monthly carryforward at retail value; Dec. 31 balance paid within 90 days at avoided cost as determined by Tri-State; TOU customers bank on- and off-peak separately.As of Sep 23, 2026 · source
Fees (Policy C-99, eff. 01/30/2026): new system or expansion requiring a meter $500; expansion without a new meter $150; re-inspection $150.As of Sep 23, 2026 · source
SDCEA paid property tax in Chaffee, Fremont, Custer, Lake and Saguache counties; 2,022 square miles; 14,568 billed accounts at end of 2024; offices in Buena Vista and Westcliffe.As of Sep 23, 2026 · source

Add a battery, get a bigger system

SDCEA’s May 2026 interconnection policy caps homes at 10 kW DC of solar — unless you add storage. Pair the array with a battery at least one-third of the solar nameplate (and no more than 30 kWh), and the residential limit rises to 25 kW. For an all-electric Buena Vista or Wet Mountain Valley home, that can be the difference between covering half your use and covering most of it.

One Powerwall 3 (13.5 kWh) or a SigEnergy stack sized to the rule can satisfy the one-third requirement for a sizeable array; we design to SDCEA’s ratio from the start. SDCEA also requires NABCEP-certified installers.

The 5–9 p.m. demand charge

Since July 1, 2026, SDCEA bills $2.50 per kW on your highest hour between 5 and 9 p.m. Monday–Saturday, while the energy rate dropped to $0.13026/kWh. A household that routinely hits 8 kW in the evening pays $20 a month for it. A battery covering that window avoids most of it — and SDCEA’s 2026 pilot pays $3,000 toward the first 20 members’ batteries.

Year-end settlement and a word on sales pitches

Excess kWh carry forward at retail value through the year; whatever’s left on December 31 is paid within 90 days at SDCEA’s avoided cost. The service availability charge can’t be offset by production.

SDCEA publishes a warning about door-to-door solar sellers who falsely claim to be affiliated with the co-op. We aren’t affiliated with SDCEA either — we’re an independent installer, and we’ll show you SDCEA’s own documents for every rule we cite.

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.

Residential battery pilot (2026)

Open

$3,000 one-time toward installation for the first 20 members; full-time residents; with or without solar; battery at least one-third of solar nameplate; Wi-Fi programming required; SDCEA keeps the renewable energy credits.

SDCEA residential battery pilot: $3,000 one-time for the first 20 members; full-time residents; Wi-Fi programming required; SDCEA retains RECs.(source)

Program page

Managed EV charging pilot

Open

$8/month bill credit for avoiding the 5–9 p.m. peak; up to 25 participants with a Level 2 charger of at least 7 kW; March 2026–February 2027.

Managed EV charging pilot: $8/month credit; max 25 participants; Level 2 ≥7 kW; runs March 2026–February 2027.(source)

Program page

EV charging equipment rebate

Open

50% of cost up to $250 for an unmanaged Level 2 charger, or up to $1,000 for a co-op-managed charger or one on a time-of-use rate.

Level 2: 50% up to $250 unmanaged; up to $1,000 managed or TOU.(source)

Program page

FAQ

Questions we hear

How big can my solar system be on SDCEA?

10 kW DC for homes without storage. With a battery at least one-third of the solar nameplate (up to 30 kWh), residential systems can go up to 25 kW.

What is SDCEA’s new demand charge?

$2.50 per kW on your highest hour between 5 and 9 p.m. Monday–Saturday, effective July 1, 2026.

Is SDCEA’s $3,000 battery pilot still open?

It’s limited to the first 20 members in 2026. Check with SDCEA for remaining slots before you plan around it.

What does SDCEA charge to connect a new solar system?

$500 for a new system or expansion that needs a meter, $150 for an expansion without a new meter.

Can I get SDCEA’s time-of-use rate with solar?

SDCEA’s time-of-use rate (Schedule 7) is closed to new customers.

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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