Solar energy can power everything from your household appliances to electric cars. If you have the space and budget to install solar panels, they could be a perfect match for your energy needs.
Decide if solar is right for you
Complete the following tasks to determine if solar is a fit for your home:
- Log in to My Account to determine your electric usage.
- Go to the 'Billing' tab and select 'Billing History', then view statement
- Copy the kWh into our solar calculator and repeat for the most recent 12 months.
- This total will determine the solar energy system size that may meet your home’s needs.
- Use that value to determine how much the system will cost and your budget.
- To bring your system sizing and cost down, make your home as efficient as possible. Here is how to check energy efficiency for your home. Also, visit EnergyStar for additional resources.
- Additionally, remember to check our rebates for assistance with energy efficiency improvements.
Choose an installer
The first step to install solar is choosing the right installer, but it’s just as important to educate yourself before investing in a system. Research reputable installers and systems before ever signing a contract.
With solar scams on the rise, there are several steps customers should take to protect themselves:
- Get multiple bids. We recommend getting at least three bids from different installers.
- Research companies before signing a contract. Look for positive reviews, their length of experience and accreditations.
- Be wary if the salesperson makes claims about your bill or meter equipment.
- Investigate claims of potential cost savings, tax incentives and rebates for residential rooftop solar. Sales representatives can sometimes mislead customers about cost savings potential and available incentives.
Remember, we don’t endorse any solar companies, they operate independently from us.
Once you’ve chosen an installer, they are responsible for providing updates about your application status, permits and installation. The installer submits the application to us, we then review it to ensure it meets standards and safety.
- If denied, details are provided to the installer with the required updates.
- When approved, we send an email approval and system details to the installer and the Pikes Peak Regional Building Department (PPRBD).
- After approval, it’s the installer’s responsibility to obtain the proper permits from PPRBD, which verifies codes and laws.
- PPRBD inspects and closes permits. Visit PPRBD’s permit search page to check the status of your permit.
After installation
Once inspectors have completed their final review and all permits are completed, there are two additional steps needed to use your solar system.
- We install two meters -- your billing meter is upgraded to a net meter and we install a new production meter.
- We provide a Permission To Operate (PTO), after we have accepted your new solar energy system onto our grid.
- That’s it, you can now begin using your system.
We will email the PTO to your installer and email you a copy of your sample bill, your interconnection agreement and a rollover form. The rollover form enables you to carry over end-of-year banked electric credits into the new year to supplement your usage.
Track your usage
To track your electricity usage and delivery, there are several options. Many solar companies offer live data tracking through an online account or mobile app. If your system lacks this feature, you can install devices like current transformers, third-party solar monitoring systems, smart main panels, or watt meters.
Some are DIY-friendly, while others require licensed electricians to install them. We recommend asking for at least three bids if you hire someone to install a device.
Most homes with solar panels have two meters:
- Production Meter: Measures electricity produced by your solar system. It is a generation-only meter and does not have a register 10. It is Used for utility purposes like grid planning.
- Utility Meter: A two-way meter for delivered and received electricity (registers 10 and 11). It is not intended for tracking solar generation.
Reading meters directly can be difficult and potentially misleading. Our technicians use computers to check meter data. For accurate usage values that come directly from the meter, please check “my usage” in My Account.
Resources & documents
Frequently asked questions by customers
If I generate more energy than I use, how will billing work?
Your bill will change when you start generating solar electricity. We use net metering to track how much solar energy our customers use and how much is sent back to the grid.
- On your bill, the excess electricity sent back to the utility is tracked as “Energy Sent to Grid.”
- Energy supplied from our grid is labeled as “Energy Provided by Grid” on your bill.
- We subtract the energy provided by the grid from the energy sent to the grid to determine your net usage.
- If your net usage is a positive number, you will pay a bill of that amount.
- If your net usage is a negative number, you’ll bank that amount as a credit that rolls forward to future billing periods.
In addition to the monthly adjustments for net metering, if you have a positive net metering balance at the end of the year, you will receive a credit on your January bill. The amount paid is the current cogeneration rate, approximately $0.02 per kWh. This is the default when you install a new solar system or buy a home with solar.
A rollover is an opt-in opportunity to save your electricity credits for next year. This is a one-time election that cannot be changed for the lifetime of your account. Click here to learn more and participate in a rollover for your solar energy system.
What is net metering?
Net metering allows our customers to bank unused solar generation when you generate more energy than your home uses. This allows net daytime generation to be used at night, and net summer excess to be used during the winter months.
What happens when you produce more power than you use?
- Excess energy is sent back through the net meter to the grid.
- Energy sent to the grid or received is tracked on Register 10 of your net meter.
When you need more power than your system can generate:
- Your home will use energy solely from our grid, or it might use both solar energy and energy from the grid, depending on what is available.
- The energy your home uses from the grid is tracked on Register 11 of your Net Meter.
Both register 10 and 11 only count upward. We subtract Register 10 from Register 11 on your bill to calculate your net usage for the billing period.
Do solar panels store the energy they produce?
Solar panels do not store electricity. Generally, onsite storage is not necessary due to minimal outages in our service area.
I bought a home with an existing solar system. How do I connect it to my utilities account?
When you move into a home with pre installed solar an updated interconnection agreement is required. This is to provide you with the account credit and maintain the grid within safety compliance.
I’m now renting a home with an existing solar system. How do I connect it to my utilities account?
Proper installation of solar systems is important for the safety of our community and the success of your business.
Follow the steps below to ensure a smooth installation process:
Steps to apply to install a solar system
1. Complete the following documentation:-
- Net metering agreement
- Interconnection application
- Site plan and one-line diagram
- Complete solar shading analysis for the property (examples below)
- Take photos of meter measurement from grade and meter location
2. Email the documents to renewables@csu.org. Once the application is submitted, your customer will be charged a $100 residential and $1,000 commercial fee to their electric account.
3. Following approval, you are eligible for a Pikes Peak Regional Building Department (PPRBD) plan review to receive a permit.
4. PPRBD will contact us to start interconnection once all permits are complete and an Electric Service Inspection is complete.
Solar installer improvements & updates
At our semi-annual meeting on Aug. 8, 2024, we detailed multiple improvements and changes coming to the installation process.
