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How Third-Party Solar Ownership Lets Colorado Homeowners Keep the 30% Tax Credit—Even After the Sunset
For years, the 30% Federal Investment Tax Credit (ITC) has been one of the biggest reasons Colorado homeowners go solar. With the residential tax credit scheduled to sunset after December 31, many homeowners are wondering: Is it too late to go solar? The good news is that for Colorado homeowners, third-party ownership (TPO)—such as solar
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Colorado Battery Rebates Explained: How Homeowners Can Save Thousands on Energy Storage
Battery storage is becoming one of the smartest energy upgrades for Colorado homeowners—and thanks to multiple incentives, it’s also more affordable than ever. Between Colorado state tax credits (DR 1307), Xcel Energy’s Renewable Battery Connect program, and the Federal 30% Investment Tax Credit (ITC), homeowners can significantly reduce the cost of adding a battery system,
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Xcel Energy’s 5–9 PM Peak Rates: Why a Flat Rate Plan Makes Sense for Many Colorado Homes
Xcel Energy has recently shifted its peak electricity pricing window to 5–9 PM on weekdays, a change that’s catching many Colorado homeowners off guard. While time-of-use (TOU) plans were originally designed to reward customers who could shift energy use to off-peak hours, this new peak window makes that harder than ever—especially for working families. At
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How Solar Panels Can Protect Colorado Homeowners from Rising Energy Rates
Colorado homeowners are facing higher electricity bills as utility companies push for rate increases to cover infrastructure upgrades and rising demand. In November 2025, Xcel Energy requested approval to raise residential electricity rates by nearly 10%, potentially increasing the average household bill by about $10 per month if regulators approve the change. While utilities argue
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Massive Discounts on Energy Storage for Qualified Customers
Are you interested in getting discounts on your solar energy system and storage? XCEL’s Solar Rewards program is now offering significant discounts for Income qualified and disproportionately impacted communities program for both solar systems and energy storage systems. The Program: For batteries, Xcel will pay for $800 per kW of equipment installed, or up
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Maximize Your Solar Energy with Xcel’s Renewable Battery Connect Program
Are you ready to contribute to a sustainable electric grid while earning significant incentives? Xcel’s new Renewable Battery Connect program offers an opportunity for homeowners and small businesses to contribute to a reliable power grid by installing batteries at a largely discounted price. With this program, Xcel will pay for $500 per kW of
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XCEL’s Summer Time of Use Rates
Are you looking for ways to save on your electricity bill? The team at Golden Solar Electric is here to help you find more ways to save. All you need is an AMI meter, also referred to as a smart meter, which the majority of XCEL customers possess. One of the easiest ways to save
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50% REAP Grants for Ag Producers and for Rural Businesses Make Solar Panels a Good Investment
Here is a link to a useful seminar from the University of Nebraska’s Center for Agricultural Profitability. It covers the economics of solar in rural areas especially where electrical coops are the electricity providers. It is worth watching if you own a farm or ranch where food is produced or have a business in a
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Congress Has Extended the Solar Investment Tax Credit
Started back in 2005, the popular Solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC) would have dropped from 26 percent to 22 percent this year, and then eliminated altogether. But Congress has just agreed to extend it for four more years on residential installations, and permanently on commercial installations. Used to offset the cost of installing solar electric
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Can solar panels be recycled?
In recent years, the solar industry has not been a major contributor to landfills because of the long life expectancy of solar panels. However, as solar continues to grow rapidly and systems reach the end of their useful life, recycling will become increasingly important in the coming decades. In the future as much as 96%
