Three utilities, three sets of rules
Xcel Energy serves Denver, Lakewood, most of Aurora, Arvada, Westminster and the bulk of Jefferson and Arapahoe counties. CORE Electric Cooperative covers much of Douglas County, including Castle Rock and Parker, and pieces of south and southeast Aurora. United Power serves much of northern and eastern Adams County around Brighton, plus parts of Broomfield.
The lines run through subdivisions, not along city limits, so two houses a mile apart in Aurora can have different utilities. The name at the top of your electric bill is the only reliable answer, and it’s the first thing we check before we model anything.
Why Xcel’s 5–9 pm peak matters more than it used to
Since November 2025, Xcel’s residential time-of-use plan puts on-peak pricing at 5–9 pm on non-holiday weekdays year-round, and the on-peak rate runs about 2.7 times the off-peak rate. Smart-meter homes are placed on it by default unless they opt out to a flat rate.
Solar panels are winding down by 5 pm, especially in winter. That means a panels-only system in Xcel territory mostly offsets cheap midday and shoulder hours, while a battery can cover the expensive evening window. It’s why we now run the numbers both ways for metro Xcel customers instead of assuming panels alone are the best buy.
Hail is a design input here, not a footnote
The metro sits in one of the most hail-prone corridors in the country. The May 8, 2017 storm over west Denver is regularly cited as the costliest hailstorm in Colorado history, at roughly $2.3 billion in insured losses. Many metro homeowners have already been through at least one hail-driven roof replacement.
Mainstream panels are tested to the IEC 61215 standard, which fires a 25 mm ice ball at about 23 meters per second, and they survive typical storms far better than asphalt shingles do. Larger hail can still break glass, so we check how your homeowner’s policy treats rooftop solar and whether the roof under the array has enough life left before we install.
West-side shutoffs and the case for batteries
Xcel cut power to about 50,000 customers in December 2025 and about 18,000 in March 2026 to reduce wildfire risk during high winds, and Jefferson County foothill neighborhoods were among those affected. Outages lasted anywhere from about a day to three days or more.
If you live below the foothills in Lakewood, Golden, Arvada’s west side or the canyons, a battery is less about bill math and more about keeping the furnace blower, fridge and Wi-Fi running. On the plains side of the metro, shutoff risk is lower and the case for a battery rests mostly on peak-rate savings.
Housing stock and permitting across the metro
Denver’s bungalows and 1950s ranches often have mature street trees and smaller roof planes, while newer suburbs in Aurora, Douglas County and north Adams have big, clear roofs and HOAs. Colorado law limits how far an HOA can restrict solar: a restriction can’t add more than 10% to cost or cut output by more than 10%, and an application with no answer after 60 days is treated as approved.
Denver is one of five Colorado jurisdictions using full SolarAPP+ automated review, which can shorten the permitting step. Aurora, Lakewood and the other cities run their own building departments, and unincorporated areas go through their county.
FAQ
Questions we hear
How do I know whether I’m on Xcel, CORE or United Power in the metro?
Look at the utility name on your electric bill. Territory lines cut through neighborhoods in Aurora, Douglas County and Adams County, so the city you live in doesn’t settle it. We confirm by address before sizing a system.
What does a typical Denver-area solar system cost in 2026?
We quote $2.80–$3.25 per watt installed, so a 7 kW system typically lands around $19,600–$22,750 before any incentive. The federal homeowner credit ended for systems completed after 2025, so compare offers on the full price. Your roof, your electrical panel and shading all move the final number.
Do I need a battery if I’m on Xcel’s time-of-use plan?
Not necessarily. Solar alone still offsets energy, but panels produce little during the 5–9 pm on-peak window. If much of your use falls in those hours, a battery can shift solar energy into them. We model both options so you can see the difference in your numbers.
Can my HOA in Highlands Ranch or Aurora stop me from going solar?
Colorado law voids covenants that effectively prohibit solar. An HOA can set aesthetic rules only if they add no more than 10% to cost and cut performance by no more than 10%, and it has 60 days to respond. We prepare the HOA submittal as part of the project.
Will the next big Front Range hailstorm wreck my panels?
Usually not. Certified panels are impact-tested, and in most storms the shingles fail before the glass does. Severe hail can still crack modules, so we confirm how your insurance covers the array and pick equipment with strong hail ratings.
Is a foothills home in Jefferson County a good fit for solar plus battery?
Often, yes, because of the shutoff history there, though tall pines can limit production. We check your roof’s sun exposure first. If shade is heavy, a battery charged from the grid overnight can still give you backup even without much solar.