Time of Use plus demand: the arithmetic
On the 2026 Time of Use rate, on-peak energy is $0.1880/kWh and off-peak is $0.0672 — a spread of about 12¢. A battery moving 10 kWh a weekday out of 5–9 p.m. saves around $30 a month on energy. Trimming a few kW off your highest 15-minute peak adds $4.55 per kW per month.
Put together, that’s real but modest money against a battery that costs $15,500 (SigEnergy, 9 kWh) to $19,000 (Powerwall 3, 13.5 kWh). The 10% Colorado battery tax credit (tax years through 2026) and the sales-tax exemption help at the margin.
The United Power battery pilot
United Power runs a battery pilot that pays a monthly credit for letting it discharge part of your battery during peaks. Its announced equipment partners are other brands than the ones we install, so if earning pilot credits is your main goal, confirm eligibility with United Power before you buy.
Utility type
Electric cooperative
Wholesale: Guzman Energy (15-year contract from May 2024, about one-third of supply) plus its own and contracted resources; left Tri-State May 1, 2024
How exports are credited
Exports banked 1:1 as kWh credits
System size limit
≤200% of annual usage; standard process covers inverter-based systems up to 25 kW
Net metering, in plain English
Excess kWh roll into a net-meter bank month to month and are drawn down before energy charges apply. Each March the bank is settled to zero and the balance paid at the current wholesale energy rate (April–March year). Systems up to 25 kW inverter-based may not exceed 200% of the location’s annual usage. The fixed charge is always billed.
Time-of-use: As of Jan. 1, 2026: standard residential (R1) is $22.00/month, $0.1184/kWh and $4.55/kW demand on the highest 15-minute interval any time of day. The optional Time of Use rate (RTD1) charges $0.1880/kWh on-peak (5–9 p.m. Monday–Saturday) and $0.0672/kWh off-peak, with the same $4.55/kW demand charge. The on-peak window shrank from 2–10 p.m. to 5–9 p.m. on Jan. 1, 2026.
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
- United Power net meter banks roll over monthly until March, when all banks are settled to zero and paid at the current wholesale energy rate.As of Sep 23, 2026 · source
- System generation cannot exceed 200% of the location’s annual usage (inverter-based facilities up to 25 kW).As of Sep 23, 2026 · source
- United Power does not offer a rebate for new solar or storage system installations.As of Sep 23, 2026 · source
- Batteries require an interconnection application and signed Terms & Conditions, and members are directed to review NFPA 855 with their contractor.As of Sep 23, 2026 · source
- United Power’s withdrawal from Tri-State became effective May 1, 2024; Guzman Energy supplies roughly one-third of its needs under a 15-year fixed-price contract.As of Sep 23, 2026 · source
FAQ
Questions we hear
Does United Power offer a home battery rebate?
No — United Power says it doesn’t offer rebates for new system installations, including storage (as of September 2026). It does run a battery pilot that pays monthly credits for qualifying equipment.
Can a battery lower my United Power demand charge?
Yes, if it’s programmed to cover spikes. The demand charge ($4.55/kW in 2026) is set by your highest 15-minute interval at any time of day, so the battery has to respond to load, not just a clock.
Do I need to apply to United Power for a battery?
Yes. Batteries need an interconnection application and signed Terms & Conditions, just like solar. We handle the paperwork and the NFPA 855 placement rules.
What’s the on-peak window on United Power’s Time of Use rate?
5–9 p.m. Monday through Saturday since Jan. 1, 2026 (it used to be 2–10 p.m.). Sundays are off-peak all day.