01
Electricity use and rates
A year of utility bills shows how much power the property uses and how that use changes by season. Commercial properties also need a closer look at operating hours and rate structure.
DOES SOLARMake financial sense in Colorado?
Colorado solar economics. Property-specific answers.
Solar can reduce the amount of electricity you buy from the utility, but the answer depends on your property, energy use, goals, and local rules. We evaluate the full picture, including solar access, roof condition, utility rates, future electrical loads, storage needs, and every available credit and incentive in your area.
Evaluate My PropertyThe starting point
Start with the cost you already have
Every month, your property buys electricity at the utility's current rates. Solar gives you the option to generate part of that power on-site.
The value is not based on one headline number. It comes from how much electricity the system can produce, when you use power, what the utility charges, and how long you expect to own or operate the property.
A useful solar analysis compares the proposed system with the cost of continuing to buy all of your electricity from the grid. It should show assumptions clearly and avoid promising a universal savings or payback figure.
A property-specific answer
Six factors that shape the economics
The right answer comes from modeling these factors together, not applying one statewide average to every home or business.
02
Solar access
Roof area, orientation, pitch, shading, and location affect how much energy a system can produce.
DOE source03
Roof and site condition
A roof that needs replacement soon may need to be addressed first. Structural limits, equipment space, ground conditions, and electrical service can also affect design.
DOE source04
Utility rules
Billing, net metering, utility fees, and interconnection requirements affect how exported energy is treated and how the system connects to the grid.
05
Credits and incentives
Incentives can improve project economics, but they should not replace a site-specific analysis. We help you capture all available credits and incentives in your area.
06
Future electrical loads
An EV, heat pump, addition, new equipment, or business expansion can increase future electricity use and should be considered before sizing a system.
DOE sourceGood, better, best
Choose the system around your goal
Good
Solar only
Generate clean power on-site and reduce the amount of electricity you purchase from the utility.
Better
Solar plus battery backup
Add stored energy that can support selected loads during an outage when the system includes compatible storage, controls, and an inverter.
Best
Solar, battery, and bidirectional EV charging
For compatible vehicles and equipment, make the vehicle battery part of a broader home energy system designed around your goals.
Solar panels alone generally shut down when the grid is out for safety. Backup power requires compatible storage, controls, and an inverter. Learn more from the U.S. Department of Energy.
One framework, two different property decisions
For homeowners
Connect today’s electricity use with the life of the roof, the home’s solar access, planned upgrades, outage priorities, and the expected ownership horizon. If an EV or heat pump is in the plan, evaluate those future loads now.
Residential solarFor commercial properties
Consider usable roof or land area, daytime load, rate structure, operating schedule, site control, roof life, electrical infrastructure, and interconnection. For a portfolio, start with the properties that have the strongest fundamentals.
Commercial solarA transparent assessment
When solar may not be the right first step
The right recommendation may be to improve efficiency, replace the roof, gather more usage history, or plan future electrical loads before finalizing a system. Our goal is to design the right project, not force every property into the same answer.
- The roof is near replacement
- Shade limits useful production
- Electricity use is very low
- Site constraints make installation impractical
- The property’s future is uncertain
Real Colorado systems, built for different properties
Verified residential, commercial, and municipal installations from Discovery Clean Energy.
8.2 kW
Roof Mount
Denver, CO
7.8 kW
Roof Mount
Evergreen, CO
1.2 MW
Commercial Office Space
Golden, CO
200 kW
Municipal Building
Centennial, CO
Solar economics questions
Direct answers to the questions that shape a property-specific solar decision.
Solar economics
What determines whether solar is worth it in Colorado?
The answer depends on electricity use, utility rates, solar access, roof or site condition, utility rules, available incentives, expected future loads, and how long you expect to own or operate the property. A useful assessment models those factors together instead of relying on a statewide average.
Can solar protect me from rising electricity prices?
Solar can reduce the portion of electricity you purchase from the utility by generating power on-site. Actual savings depend on production, consumption, rates, system cost, financing, and utility rules, so no installer should promise one result for every property.
Does solar make sense without incentives?
It can, but the result is site-specific. Incentives can strengthen the economics, while electricity costs, solar production, usage patterns, and project cost remain fundamental. Discovery helps customers capture all available credits and incentives in their area.
How long does it take for solar to pay for itself?
There is no universal payback period. It changes with system cost, annual production, electricity rates, usage, financing, maintenance, incentives, and ownership horizon. A proposal should show the assumptions behind any estimate.
Storage and planning
Can solar power my property during an outage?
A typical grid-tied solar system generally shuts down during an outage for safety. Backup power requires a system designed with compatible storage, controls, and an inverter, plus a clear plan for which loads need support.
Should I size solar for a future EV or heat pump?
Yes. Planned electrical loads should be part of the design conversation. An EV, heat pump, addition, or new business equipment may change the right system size.
Is battery backup financially worth it?
Battery value is not limited to direct financial return. It can also provide outage protection, support selected loads, and increase the amount of solar energy used on-site. The right choice depends on resilience goals, load priorities, system design, and budget.
What makes a commercial building a good solar candidate?
Strong candidates usually have usable roof or land area, meaningful electricity use, a suitable operating profile, a roof with adequate remaining life, site control, workable electrical infrastructure, and a viable interconnection path.
Find out what solar could look like for your property
Share your electricity use, property details, and energy goals. We will help you understand whether solar, battery backup, or a broader electrification plan is the right fit.
Evaluate My Property