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Updated / CO residential estimate

Colorado solar panel cost calculator

Estimate system size, panel count, gross cost, annual production, and savings using defaults for Colorado. Enter an address or ZIP Code below to replace them with live location data.

Clear-sky conditions can support good annual output, with snow, elevation, roof pitch, and local utility programs affecting results.

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State data baseline

Planning sun hours
5.3 hours/dayState planning default used when API data is unavailable.
PVWatts annual yield
1,417 kWhPer 1 kW system at 20% loss. Solar resource: 5.42 kWh/m²/day; 16.2% capacity factor.
EIA residential rate
$0.1713/kWhLatest state average: 2026-06.
API baseline location
Denver, CO 80202, USA39.7541, -105.0002
Location APIGoogle Geocoding API
Electricity APIEIA Open Data API v2
Production APINLR PVWatts v8

Server-side API snapshot, refreshed monthly. All three providers returned external data.Data sources and update notes

Decision brief

What changes the decision in Colorado

These state-specific checks are not included in a generic national quote. Resolve them before comparing payback claims. Supporting rules and official references are collected at the end of this page.

  1. 01Before you sign

    Identify whether the utility is state-regulated

    Investor-owned, municipal, and cooperative utilities can apply different interconnection and credit rules. Ask for the serving utility's current tariff, not a statewide sales assumption.

  2. 02Before you sign

    Check the 120% sizing condition

    Colorado's statutory net-metering framework includes a 120% annual-consumption sizing threshold for covered systems. Confirm how the utility calculates historical use and future loads.

  3. 03Before you sign

    Model snow and roof pitch separately

    Annual PVWatts weather data does not replace a site-specific snow-shedding, roof-load, and obstruction review.

Verified state policy

What can reduce your cost in Colorado

Review these 3 statewide or utility-level policy signals before comparing net cost. They are not automatically applied because eligibility, tax liability, utility territory, equipment, and program capacity can change.

Policy configuration verified .

Policy sources
Eligibility applies01
Renewable equipment sales-tax exemption

100% of the 2.9% state tax

Qualifying renewable-electricity components are exempt from Colorado state sales and use tax. Home-rule local taxes can differ.

Generally available02
Residential renewable equipment exemption

100% of qualifying equipment value

Qualifying residential renewable energy equipment owned and used by the property owner is exempt from property tax.

Eligibility applies03
Investor-owned utility net metering

Retail-rate credit up to 120% sizing

Covered investor-owned utility systems may be sized up to 120% of annual consumption. Municipal and cooperative utility rules differ.

Calculation walkthrough

How we calculate for Colorado

A worked example using this page's baseline assumptions. Calculator results above change when you edit the inputs.

Baseline inputs

Illustrative 1,000 kWh/month household

Solar resource
4.853 peak sun hours/day
Modeled system loss
20% loss / 80% delivered
Household electricity use
12,000 kWh/year
Energy value
$0.1713 retail / $0.05 export
  1. 01

    Annual output per 1 kW

    Location and production losses

    4.853 h/day × 365 days × 80% delivered

    1,417 kWh/year

  2. 02

    Required system capacity

    Annual demand divided by output

    12,000 kWh ÷ 1,417 kWh per kW

    8.47 kW

  3. 03

    Energy-based panel count

    Rounded up; entered usable roof area can cap the result

    8.47 kW ÷ 0.4 kW per panel → round up

    22 panels

    8.8 kW

  4. 04

    Estimated first-year value

    Retail offset plus export credit

    12,000 kWh × $0.1713 + 471 kWh × $0.05

    $2,079/year

Model notes and limitationsSources and scope

Production baseline

NLR PVWatts v8 modeled a 1 kW array at 20° tilt and 180° azimuth for Denver, CO 80202, USA.

Energy valuation

Self-consumed production offsets the retail rate. Production above annual use is valued at the configured export rate; utility tariffs may use different timing or settlement rules.

Not included

Roof shading, structural conditions, hourly tariffs, financing, maintenance, incentives, and tax eligibility require separate verification.

Colorado FAQ

Data updated: 2026-08-11. API baseline: Google Geocoding API, EIA Open Data API v2, and NLR PVWatts v8. Policy assumptions should be verified before purchase using the sources below.

Sources & verification

Review the original API, statute, regulator, or program documentation before relying on an estimate for a purchase, tax filing, or contract.

Data sources

Geocoding, residential electricity rates, and solar production inputs.

3 sources · Updated 2026-08-11

State rules

Official references behind the state-specific decision checks.

3 primary references

Incentives

Tax, rebate, and compensation sources used for policy summaries.

3 policy sources · Reviewed Aug 11, 2026