Colorado Homeowner Guide

Net metering is how Colorado utilities credit you for the extra solar electricity your home sends to the grid. When the sun is strong and you’re not using much power, you build credits. At night or on cloudy days, you use those credits to offset electricity you pull from the grid. Simple.

Quick win

• Right‑size your system to your yearly usage and goals.
• Shift big appliances (EV charging, laundry) to sunny or off‑peak times.
• Add a battery to cover evenings and reduce peak‑rate imports.

Your panels often make more power than your home needs during the day. The extra flows to the grid and earns bill credits (measured in kWh or dollars, depending on your rate).

At night and on cloudy days, you draw from the grid. Your earlier credits automatically offset this usage so you pay less—or nothing—for those hours.

At night and on cloudy days, you draw from the grid. Your earlier credits automatically offset this usage so you pay less—or nothing—for those hours.

Net metering doesn’t change your comfort or how you use electricity—it just changes how you’re credited for the energy your system produces.

Heads‑up: Rate plans and credit rules can change. We confirm the latest tariff details with your specific utility before installation.

A home battery stores daytime solar for evening use, so you import less from the grid when rates are higher. During outages, batteries keep essentials running. Paired with net metering, batteries can:

• Reduce peak‑hour imports on time‑of‑use (TOU) plans
• Increase self‑consumption (use more of your own solar)
• Provide backup power for critical loads

Many Colorado customers are moving to TOU rates, where electricity costs more during late‑afternoon and evening peaks. Net metering still applies, but the value of a credit can depend on when you export versus when you consume.