Why grid-tied with backup, not off-grid
A true off-grid home must carry itself through a week of January storms with no fallback, which means a much larger battery bank, a generator and careful load management. It’s a specialized trade, and it isn’t ours.
A grid-tied system with batteries gets you most of the day-to-day independence — your panels and batteries run the house first, and during an outage they run it alone — while the grid covers the long, dark stretches. If you’re building on a lot with no utility service at all, we’ll tell you up front that you need an off-grid specialist.
Designing for altitude, snow and shade
At elevation, clear-sky sunlight is stronger and cold panels are more efficient, which helps. Snow load, drifting and ice dams are the counterweights: racking and attachments have to meet your county’s snow-load requirements, and steep roofs shed snow faster than shallow ones. Tall lodgepole and ponderosa pines are the usual production killer; sometimes a ground mount in a clearing beats the roof.
Permitting in unincorporated mountain areas usually runs through the county. Jefferson County, for example, doesn’t require a planning-and-zoning permit for rooftop PV but does require an electrical permit.
Mountain co-ops pay for batteries
Several mountain and Western Slope co-ops publish battery incentives as of 2026. Holy Cross Energy’s Power+FLEX program has offered $500 per kW up to $12,500 plus a monthly capacity payment for five years. La Plata Electric has offered $1,000 or $2,000 depending on battery size, with extra in designated areas. Gunnison County Electric has offered $2,000 for batteries of 8 kWh or more. Terms change; confirm with your co-op.
Export credits are the other side of the ledger. CORE Electric Cooperative, which serves much of the Front Range foothills outside the larger towns, has been reported to credit year-end excess at an avoided-cost rate well below retail. In that kind of territory, storing and using your own power is worth more than exporting it.
Build it once, before winter
Mountain installs are weather-dependent, and access roads, snow and short days compress the season. If you’re planning backup for next winter’s outages, starting design in summer leaves time for permits, utility approval and a fall install.
Sources & dated facts
- Holy Cross Energy Power+FLEX: $500/kW up to $12,500 plus $10.30/kW-month for 5 years.As of Sep 23, 2026
- La Plata Electric battery rebate: $1,000 (10–19.9 kWh) / $2,000 (≥20 kWh), +$500 in designated areas.As of Sep 23, 2026
- Gunnison County Electric: $2,000 battery rebate for ≥8 kWh.As of Sep 23, 2026
- Jefferson County: no planning-and-zoning permit for rooftop PV; electrical permit from Building Safety required.As of Sep 23, 2026 · source
FAQ
Questions we hear
Do you install off-grid solar?
No. We build grid-tied solar with battery backup. If your property has no utility service, you’ll need an off-grid specialist, and we’ll say so on the first call.
Can a grid-tied system keep my mountain home running in an outage?
Yes, with a battery and backup equipment. The panels recharge the battery each day while the grid is down. On cloudy or snowy stretches you’ll ration to essential loads.
Does snow stop my panels from working?
While they’re covered, yes. Panels usually shed snow within a day or two of sun because they warm up and are smooth. Tilt and roof pitch matter; our snow guide covers the details.
Which mountain utilities offer battery rebates?
As of 2026, Holy Cross Energy, La Plata Electric Association and Gunnison County Electric have all published battery incentives. Amounts and eligibility change, so confirm with your co-op before signing.
Is a ground mount better than the roof in the mountains?
Sometimes. A ground mount can be placed in the sunniest clearing, tilted steeply to shed snow and oriented ideally. It costs more for foundations and trenching. We compare both when the roof is shaded or complicated.