Colorado utility guide

Solar & batteries with K.C. Electric Association

K.C. Electric Association keeps net metering simple: homes up to 10 kW and businesses up to 25 kW bank surplus kWh one-for-one, and within 60 days of the end of the annual period the co-op pays any leftover by check at its wholesale energy cost. Energy rates here are modest — about 10–11¢/kWh in 2026 — so solar pays back more slowly than in high-rate territories, and sizing to your actual use matters.

Cooperative11 Colorado communities on the state map

Utility type

Electric cooperative

Wholesale: Tri-State Generation and Transmission

How exports are credited

Exports banked 1:1 as kWh credits

System size limit

10 kW residential; 25 kW commercial

Net metering, in plain English

Residential up to 10 kW, commercial/industrial up to 25 kW. Excess kWh are banked and carried forward one-for-one; within 60 days of the end of the annual period, leftover kWh are paid by check at the Association’s wholesale energy cost. First-come, first-served, subject to system constraints. $250 non-refundable processing fee.

Time-of-use: 2026: Town Residential $25/month plus $0.10013/kWh; Rural Residential $34/month plus $0.11120/kWh. No residential time-of-use rate. A separate battery storage (BESS) rate, Schedule 16, charges $25/month, $0.0363/kWh and $30.09/kW on the monthly coincident peak between 1 and 9 p.m.

Sources & dated facts

Under C.R.S. 40-9.5-118, a Colorado co-op must net-meter residential systems up to at least 10 kW (25 kW for businesses), roll monthly surplus kWh forward at a one-to-one ratio, and settle the year-end surplus within 60 days.As of Sep 23, 2026
K.C. Electric net-metering schedule: 10 kW residential / 25 kW commercial; 1:1 monthly banking; annual leftover paid by check within 60 days at wholesale energy cost; first-come, first-served.As of Sep 23, 2026 · source
$250 non-refundable processing fee for inverter systems.As of Sep 23, 2026 · source
K.C. Electric serves Cheyenne, Kit Carson and part of Lincoln County, with offices in Hugo, Stratton, Cheyenne Wells and Flagler; its power source is Tri-State.As of Sep 23, 2026 · source

Eastern plains economics

K.C. Electric serves Cheyenne and Kit Carson counties and part of Lincoln County. At 2026 energy rates of about $0.100 (town) to $0.111 (rural) per kWh, each kWh of solar you use saves less than it would on the Front Range, so payback on an owned system is longer. The strong sun and unshaded sites help.

Surplus you don’t use by year-end is paid at wholesale energy cost, so aim for about 100% of your usage within the 10 kW residential cap.

The battery storage rate

K.C. Electric has a dedicated battery storage rate, Schedule 16: a low $0.0363/kWh energy charge paired with a steep $30.09/kW demand charge on the monthly coincident peak between 1 and 9 p.m. It’s built for storage that avoids the grid during that window — a design problem we’d model carefully before recommending it.

Farm and ranch loads

Shops, stock tanks and wells are good daytime loads for solar. Commercial net metering tops out at 25 kW; projects above that start with a conversation with the co-op about interconnection.

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.

EV charger rebates (Tri-State partnership)

Status unconfirmed

Level 2 rebates of up to $250 non-managed or $1,000 managed, per K.C. Electric’s posted 2024 rebate document; confirm 2026 amounts.

Program page

FAQ

Questions we hear

How does K.C. Electric pay for extra solar?

Surplus kWh carry forward one-for-one; within 60 days of the end of the annual period, K.C. Electric mails a check for leftover kWh at its wholesale energy cost.

What’s the net-metering fee at K.C. Electric?

A $250 non-refundable processing fee; failed inspections can add cost.

Does K.C. Electric have a time-of-use rate?

Not for homes. It does have a battery storage rate (Schedule 16) with a demand charge on the 1–9 p.m. coincident peak.

Is K.C. Electric the same as Kit Carson Electric?

No. K.C. Electric Association is the Hugo-based co-op serving eastern Colorado and buys power from Tri-State. Kit Carson Electric Cooperative is a separate utility in New Mexico.

Get honest numbers for your roof

Our Colorado crew looks up your utility’s current rules, models your roof, and tells you straight — including when solar or a battery won’t pay off.

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