Why grid-tied plus battery
Mountain outages are common and long, especially in areas under wildfire shutoff risk. A battery handles that. The grid connection handles what a battery alone can’t: a week of storms in January. Staying connected also means net metering, which lets the long, bright days of summer bank credits against winter.
Mountain homes are usually served by co-ops such as Holy Cross Energy, CORE Electric, Mountain Parks Electric, San Miguel Power, La Plata Electric, or Gunnison County Electric. Each has its own interconnection process and export rules. CORE, for example, credits annual excess at an avoided-cost rate (about 4.6¢ per kWh from May 2026) rather than retail — which argues for sizing to use, not to oversize.
Ground mounts and roofs at altitude
A ground mount is often the best answer on a mountain lot: it can face true south at a steep tilt that sheds snow, stays out of the roof’s snow and ice, and can be placed to avoid tree shade. Trenching distance to the house is a real cost, and wildfire defensible-space planning should shape where it goes.
Roof arrays on mountain homes face heavier design snow loads and wind than on the plains. Engineering follows your county’s requirements. Tall pines are the other constraint — plan clearing for defensible space and sun at the same time.
Permits, co-op programs, and incentives
Unincorporated mountain lots are permitted through the county. Requirements differ: in Jefferson County, for example, rooftop solar needs an electrical permit from Building Safety without a separate planning-and-zoning permit. Ask your county early.
Some mountain co-ops pay for batteries. Holy Cross’s Power+FLEX program has offered $500 per kW up to $12,500 plus monthly payments for five years; La Plata Electric and Gunnison County Electric have offered battery rebates. As of September 2026 — verify with your co-op. The federal homeowner credit ended after 2025; with a lease or PPA, the owner can still claim §48E on solar placed in service by the end of 2027.
What to do next
- 1Confirm with your co-op that the lot will have utility service and ask for its interconnection requirements.
- 2Walk the lot for a sunny, south-facing ground-mount spot that fits your defensible-space plan.
- 3Plan conduit and panel capacity during design, including a critical-loads panel for backup.
- 4Check your co-op’s battery programs and export-credit rules before sizing.
- 5Run the blackout-runtime calculator for the loads you’d need in a multi-day outage — well pump, heat, refrigeration.
FAQ
Questions we hear
Do you install off-grid solar systems?
No. We design grid-tied systems with battery backup. If your property won’t have a utility connection, you’ll need an off-grid specialist.
Is a ground mount or roof mount better for a mountain home?
Often a ground mount: it can face true south, tilt steeply to shed snow, and avoid tree shade. Roof mounts can work well on a sunny south-facing roof. We build both.
How does net metering work with mountain co-ops?
Co-ops must offer net metering for residential systems of at least 10 kW under Colorado law, but export credit rates and true-up timing vary. CORE, for example, credits annual excess at avoided cost. Check your co-op’s current tariff.
Will a battery keep a mountain home running through a long outage?
With solar recharging on sunny days, one or two batteries can carry essential loads through many outages. Long cloudy stretches reduce that. The runtime calculator shows your specific loads.