Xcel, United Power, or CORE — check your bill
United Power, a member-owned co-op, serves Brighton, Commerce City, Northglenn, Thornton, Westminster, Arvada and other north-metro communities, but not all of each: many of those cities are split between United Power and Xcel. Bennett and much of the eastern county are CORE territory.
The split changes the economics. Xcel customers face a 5–9 pm weekday on-peak window with prices about 2.7 times off-peak. United Power and CORE set their own net-metering and rate terms under Colorado’s co-op statute; CORE, for instance, net-meters home systems only up to 10 kW AC. We read the utility from your bill before modeling anything.
Permitting in the cities and the county
Most Adams County residents live in incorporated cities, each with its own building department. Bennett, which straddles Adams and Arapahoe counties, is one of five Colorado jurisdictions using SolarAPP+ for full automated permit review.
Unincorporated Adams County handles solar through its Community and Economic Development department and online E-Permit Center. The county allows solar as a by-right accessory use in all zones, so a residential system doesn’t need a special use permit or hearing; it does need an electrical permit, with the work done by a state-licensed electrical contractor.
Housing stock and roofs
Adams County’s housing ranges from 1950s and 1960s ranches in the older south and west to large new subdivisions in Thornton, Brighton and Commerce City. Newer homes often have simple, unshaded roofs that suit solar well; older homes are more likely to need a roof replacement or electrical panel upgrade first.
If your roof is within a few years of replacement, doing roofing and solar together avoids paying to remove and reinstall panels later. We do both.
Hail and wind on the plains edge
The county sits in the Front Range and plains hail corridor, and the open east side adds strong wind. Racking is designed for both, and we recommend checking that your homeowner’s policy covers a rooftop array before installation.
Snow loads are lower than in the foothills, and south-facing arrays usually shed snow within a day or two of a storm.
Group-buy programs
Adams County has partnered with the nonprofit Solar United Neighbors on group-buying rounds — Solar Switch in 2022 and 2023 and Switch Together Adams County in 2025. If a round is open, it is worth comparing that offer against independent quotes, including ours.
Rebates & programs
Programs change often. Status shown is what we could confirm on the date listed — always check with the program before you count on it.
Switch Together Adams County (Solar United Neighbors group buy)
Status unconfirmedCounty-sponsored solar group buy run with the nonprofit Solar United Neighbors; earlier rounds ran as Solar Switch in 2022 and 2023.
FAQ
Questions we hear
My Thornton neighbor is on Xcel but I’m on United Power. How is that possible?
Utility territory lines in the north metro predate today’s subdivisions and don’t follow city limits. Several Adams County cities are split between Xcel and United Power, sometimes block by block.
Does United Power net-meter rooftop solar like Xcel does?
United Power offers net metering under Colorado’s co-op statute, but its terms and rates are set by its own board and differ from Xcel’s. We model your system under United Power’s current tariff.
Do I need a special use permit for solar in unincorporated Adams County?
No. The county allows solar by right as an accessory use in all zones. You still need an electrical permit, with the work done by a state-licensed electrical contractor.
Is Bennett’s solar permitting faster?
Bennett uses SolarAPP+ for full automated review, so qualifying rooftop systems can be permitted quickly.
Is solar worth it on a newer Brighton or Commerce City home?
Often, because newer roofs are usually unshaded and have years of life left. The utility — Xcel, United Power or CORE — shapes the payback, so we start there.
Is Adams County running a solar group buy right now?
The county has run group-buy rounds with Solar United Neighbors in the past. Check the county’s environmental programs page for whether a round is open.