The value-of-solar gap is the battery’s paycheck
Every kWh a battery shifts from export to evening use earns the difference between the retail price and the value-of-solar credit. How much that’s worth depends on the current credit rate and how much you export; we calculate it from your meter data rather than guessing.
LPC itself notes that batteries can absorb midday surplus and discharge in the early evening, when demand and emissions peak.
Permitting and interconnection
Batteries fall under Longmont’s Distributed Energy Resources interconnection standards. Inside city limits, permits go through the city Building Department; outside, through Boulder County with LPC’s field engineering reviewing the interconnection.
Grandfathered systems: be careful
If your solar predates 2025 and keeps retail-based credits through 2040, a battery adds less bill value, because your exports already earn retail. For those homes, a battery is mostly a backup purchase. Ask LPC how a battery retrofit affects your grandfathered status before buying.
Utility type
Municipal utility
Wholesale: Platte River Power Authority
How exports are credited
Exports credited at a value-of-solar rate below retail
System size limit
Confirmed per project
Net metering, in plain English
For systems installed or expanded after January 1, 2025, exports earn a value-of-solar bill credit, which is below the retail rate. Systems installed before then keep retail-based credits through January 2040. Self-generation customers pay a higher fixed monthly customer charge and a lower energy charge.
Sources & dated facts
- Value-of-solar bill credit applies to customers who install new solar or expand existing systems after Jan. 1, 2025; earlier systems keep credits based on the retail rate through January 2040.As of Sep 23, 2026 · source
- Self-generation customers pay a higher fixed monthly customer charge and a lower energy charge than non-generating customers.As of Sep 23, 2026 · source
FAQ
Questions we hear
Do batteries pay off in Longmont?
Better for post-2025 systems, where storing solar avoids exporting at the lower value-of-solar credit. For grandfathered systems with retail credits, the bill case is weak and backup is the main value.
Does Longmont offer a battery rebate?
We haven’t found one as of September 2026. The state 10% battery credit covers tax years through 2026.
What battery size makes sense in Longmont?
Enough to hold your typical daily solar surplus. For many homes that’s one Powerwall 3 (13.5 kWh), one Enphase 10 kWh system, or a 9–18 kWh SigEnergy stack.