Rebates

Fort Collins Utilities offers its residential customers low-interest loans that may be used to finance up to 100% of the cost of eligible energy efficiency and renewable energy projects at existing homes. This loan program offers no-money-down financing for up to 15 years. Payments are made through the customer's utility bill, and there is a limit of one loan per premise. Eligible technologies are those eligible for Fort Collin's energy efficiency rebates. See the program website for more information, or see contacts below.

NOTE: CSU is not offering a solar energy rebate in 2023.

Through its Renewable Energy Rebate Program, Colorado Springs Utilities (CSU) offers a rebate to customers who install grid-connected solar-electric (photovoltaic, or PV) systems. To calculate the PV system’s AC output, a de-rating factor is used to account for shading and suboptimal orientation or tilt.

All Renewable Energy Credits (RECs) generated from systems installed under this program are transferred to CSU for compliance with Colorado’s renewable portfolio standard.

The application, interconnection agreement, and other documents are available at the program website above. Qualifying PV modules and inverters must be included

In December 2005 the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) adopted standards for net metering and interconnection, as required by Amendment 37, a renewable energy ballot initiative approved by Colorado voters in November 2004. The interconnection rules were overhauled in July 2021.

The PUC standards generally apply to investor-owned utilities (IOUs) with 40,000 or more customers and all electric cooperatives. Municipal utilities with 5,000 customers or more are required to adopt interconnection rules that are functionally similar to the PUC's standards (see H.B. 08-1160). Electric cooperatives and municipal utilities may reduce or waive any insurance requirements that apply to IOUs.

Colorado’s

Golden Valley Electric Association's (GVEA) SNAP program encourages members to install renewable energy generators and connect them to the utility's electrical distribution system by offering an incentive payment based on the system's production on a dollar per kilowatt-hour ($/kWh) basis. The amount paid to participating renewable energy producers depends on the total amount contributed by GVEA supporters.

“Qualified alternative energy resources" includes electricity produced from generation facilities that are fueled by: (a) wind; or (b) solar energy and other renewable energy resources. GVEA limits these resources to 25 kilowatts of capacity or less per system.

There are two different SNAP

Note: The Solar*Rewards Program has capacity limits that are allocated on a monthly basis for the Small Program and quarterly for the Medium Program. These allocations typically fill quickly when the application windows open. Check the program website for the latest information on available capacity remaining and other program updates.

Xcel Energy's Solar*Rewards Program provides incentives for customers who install grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) systems sized up to 120% of the average annual load of their homes and facilities. Xcel purchases the renewable energy credits (RECs) produced by the systems for a period of 20 years (unless other legal provision supersedes)

The Solar Rights Act (CA Civil Code 714), enacted in 1978, bars restrictions by homeowners associations (HOAs) on the installation of solar-energy systems, but originally did not specifically apply to cities, counties, municipalities or other public entities. Subsequent legislation extended these restrictions to all public entities and common interest developments.  These entities are allowed to impose reasonable restrictions on a solar energy system that do not significantly increase the cost of the system or significantly decrease its efficiency or specified performance. 

"Significantly" was not originally defined, but later legislation adopted a specific dollar amount and system efficiency impact that the

Note: The NC Utilities Commission issued an order modifying Duke Energy's net metering rules for residential systems in March 2023. The Commission order also approved a Proposed Bridge Rate, which was included in a Stipulation agreed to by Duke Energy and a consortium of solar installers. Beginning October 1, 2023, residential customers applying for net metering will have to choose between the new rules adopted in the March 2023 order, or the Proposed Bridge Rate. Residential customers who own their systems and signed a net metering agreement prior to October 1, 2023 may remain on those prior tariffs until

Clark Public Utilities offers financing available to its customers for the purchase and installation of residential solar equipment. Loans up to $30,000 are available.

Loans under $10,000 have repayment terms of up to 5 years, but a minimum monthly payment of $25 is required. Loans over $10,000 have a maximum term of 7 years. All loans carry an interest rate of 3.5%. Loans of less than $5,000 have a loan processing fee of $230, and loans of $5,000 or more have a loan processing fee of $450. Loans are not transferable.

Certain renewable energy systems and equipment sold in Rhode Island are exempt from the state's sales and use tax. Eligible products include solar electric systems, DC-to-AC inverters that interconnect with utility power lines, solar thermal systems, manufactured mounting racks and ballast pans for solar collectors, geothermal heat pumps, and wind turbines and towers.

New York enacted legislation in July 2005 exempting the sale and installation of residential solar-energy systems from the state's sales and compensating use taxes. The exemption was extended to non-residential solar systems in August 2012 (S.B. 3203), effective beginning January 1, 2013. In 2015 (A.B. 3009) the exemption was extended to solar systems that are owned by third party owners, who provide solar electricity to residential and commercial users. Both solar lease payments and the receipts of the sale of electricity by such systems are exempt from state sales and use tax. The exemption was further