The load curve: open-to-close, peaking in summer afternoons
A typical store’s demand climbs after opening and holds through the afternoon, driven by cooling on the Front Range’s hot, dry summer days. That overlap means most solar output is used on site instead of exported, which is the most valuable way to use it under almost any Colorado rate.
Stores open late into the evening still carry load after sunset. On Xcel’s time-of-use rates the on-peak window is 5–9 pm on non-holiday weekdays, so a battery may be worth modeling for a store that stays busy through the evening — solar alone won’t cover those hours.
Rooftop units and roof real estate
Retail roofs carry rooftop HVAC units, exhaust fans, skylights and signage, and each one needs service clearance and fire-access pathways. On a small inline store the usable area can shrink to a fraction of the footprint. We map every obstruction before quoting a size.
If the rooftop units are near replacement, it can make sense to replace them before or with solar so a crane and crew don’t have to work around a new array. Newer, efficient units also shrink the load the solar has to cover.
Strip centers, meters and leases
In a strip center each tenant typically has its own meter, and a single rooftop array can only connect to one meter under ordinary net metering. Owners often start with the house meter that serves parking-lot lighting and common areas, or with an anchor tenant whose meter is large enough to justify its own system.
Under a triple-net lease, the tenant pays for power and the landlord owns the roof — the same split incentive found in warehouses. Solutions include the landlord selling solar power to the tenant, or a third-party PPA, but each needs a written agreement and advice from your attorney and CPA.
Chargers as a customer amenity
Some retailers add Level 2 chargers for customers who shop for an hour or more. We install Level 2 chargers; DC fast chargers are a different class of equipment and utility service that we don’t install, and their demand spikes can change your rate picture. The federal §30C charger credit ended for property placed in service after June 30, 2026.
FAQ
Questions we hear
Can one solar system serve several tenants in my strip center?
Not under ordinary net metering, which ties a system to one meter. Owners usually pick the house meter or the largest tenant’s meter, or build separate systems. Ask your utility about current rules before planning around shared generation.
Will the array get in the way of HVAC service?
It shouldn’t if it is laid out correctly. We keep service clearances around every rooftop unit and fire-access pathways across the roof, which is why the buildable area is often smaller than it looks from the parking lot.
My lease has five years left. Is solar still worth it?
It depends on who owns the system and what happens at lease end. A tenant-owned system on a short lease is hard to justify. A landlord-owned system or a PPA that stays with the building can make sense if the lease language passes value to whoever pays for it.
Does solar lower the demand charge on a store bill?
Sometimes a little. Demand charges are set by your highest short interval of use in the month, and a cloudy afternoon or an evening peak can set it with the panels producing little. Storage is the tool that targets demand directly.