Where the combination beats solar alone
If your utility pays you less for exports than you pay for imports, storing your midday production for the evening is worth more than sending it to the grid. That’s the situation in Fort Collins, in Longmont for systems installed from 2025, and under the new Colorado Springs structure.
On Xcel, exports are still credited kWh for kWh, so the battery’s money case rests on shifting usage out of the 5–9 pm peak and on backup value. For many foothills and northern Front Range homes, the backup value is the main reason.
Multi-day shutoffs change the sizing
A battery alone drains in a long outage. With solar recharging it each sunny day, the same battery can carry essential loads through a shutoff lasting several days — the length Xcel’s December 2025 and March 2026 wildfire shutoffs reached for some customers.
Winter is the hard case: short days, low sun and snow on the panels. We size for a December outage, not a June one, and tell you what that means in practical terms.
What the pair costs
Solar runs about $2.80–$3.25 per watt; a first Powerwall 3 adds about $19,000, Enphase about $17,000 for 10 kWh, or SigEnergy $15,500 for 9 kWh. An 8 kW array with one Powerwall lands in the low-to-mid $40,000s before rebates.
The battery portion may qualify for Colorado’s 10% battery income-tax credit through tax year 2026, and batteries are exempt from state sales tax. Neither the solar nor the battery gets the federal homeowner credit if you own them, but a lease or PPA provider may claim the business credit (as of September 2026; verify current terms).
FAQ
Questions we hear
Can I add a battery later instead of now?
Yes, and we design solar to be battery-ready. Adding later means a second permit and visit, and the 10% Colorado battery credit is scheduled only through tax year 2026.
Will my solar keep running in an outage without a battery?
No. Grid-tied inverters shut off when the grid goes down to protect line workers. A battery with automatic transfer lets the system keep running safely.
How many batteries do I need with solar?
One is enough for many homes whose goal is covering the evening peak plus essentials in an outage. Well pumps, electric heat or medical equipment often push it to two. The blackout-runtime calculator gives a first estimate.
Does the battery charge from the grid or only from my panels?
It can do either, depending on how it’s programmed and any utility program rules. Charging from solar is typical; some rate plans make off-peak grid charging worthwhile too.