What is solar?

When we say “solar”, we’re referring to photovoltaic (PV) systems that convert sunlight into usable electricity in your home or business.

How does solar work?

Click here to visit energy.gov for more information!

Net metering

Your PV system only generates electricity when the sun is shining, but your home still needs electricity on cloudy days and after the sun goes down. Black Hills Energy and San Isabel Electric customers can sign up for net metering when they install a PV system. Net metering is a billing program that allows customers with solar energy systems to buy and sell electricity to and from their utility. By participating in the net metering program, a customer is able to buy electricity when their solar energy system is not producing enough energy to meet the demand in their home or business, and to sell the excess generation to the grid when they are producing more than needed. If your PV system is the correct size, it can often cover the cost of your electricity use when the sun isn’t shining.

What happens to my bill?

If you choose to participate in the net metering program, your meter will capture all excess energy generated by your solar system. Black Hills Energy will pay customers for excess energy at a rate of $0.045/kWh generated on systems less than or equal to 30 kW, and $0.075/kWh generated on systems greater than 30 kW. Black Hills Energy reports this on your bill as a Renewable Energy Credit, or REC:

Note: Electricity is only sent back to the grid when your system is generating more than what your home or business is using at the time. If your home or business is using all of the electricity your system is generating, there is nothing to send back to the grid and therefore no credit on your bill.

Is Pueblo a good place for solar?

Pueblo is a fantastic place to put solar on your home or business. To date, more than 1,200 Pueblo County residents have installed PV systems on their homes.

Pueblo has 107% more sun than Berlin, Germany, a world leader in solar, and 99% as much solar as Yuma, AZ, the sunniest city in the United States. It is estimated that 33,000 buildings in Pueblo are suitable for solar, with an energy generation potential of 463,400 MWh. This would be enough to run all of Pueblo County on renewable energy!

Are there incentives for going solar?

In addition to net metering benefits, you will qualify for:

  • Federal tax credits. The solar Investment Tax Credit (ITC) reduces the cost of your solar panel system by 30 percent. Note: the ITC applies only to those who buy their PV system outright (either with a cash purchase or solar loan), and you must have enough income for the tax credit to have an economic impact.
  • Net metering. When enrolled in Black Hills Energy’s Production Based Incentive program (PBI), PV owners receive $0.045 for every excess kWh generated on systems less than or equal to 30 kW, and $0.075 for every excess kWh generated on systems greater than 30 kW.
  • Colorado sales and use tax exemption. Components used in the production of electricity from a renewable energy source, are exempt from state sales and use tax.
  • Property tax exemption. Renewable energy personal property that is located on a residential classified property, owned by the residential property owner, and produces energy that is used by the residential property, is exempt from Colorado property taxation.

SolSmart Bronze

In the spring of 2018, Pueblo County was awarded the SolSmart Bronze award, which recognized our community for taking bold steps to make it faster, easier, and cheaper to go solar. Pueblo County is “open for solar business”, and wants business, solar companies, and residents to know that Pueblo County is a great place to go solar. The City of Pueblo also received a SolSmart Bronze award in April of 2018.

  • BLACK HILLS ENERGY SOLAR

    Information for Black Hills Energy customers about the On-Site Solar Incentive Program, and the Community Solar Garden Program. The website details the requirements and incentives for placing solar on a home or commercial structure, and allows residents to sign up for subscriptions to community solar gardens.

 

 

  • RENEWABLE ENERGY OWNER’S COALITION OF AMERICA (REOCA)

    Renewable Energy Owners Coalition of America (REOCA) is an organization of solar owners and renewable energy advocates striving to produce collective power, to promote and protect distributed generation & renewable energy production for the welfare of the environment, our community and future generations through education and legislation.

 

  • GOOGLE’S PROJECT SUNROOF

    An online tool for assessing solar potential on your rooftop. The tool uses Google Earth imagery to analyze your roof shape and local weather patterns to create a personalized solar plan for your property. It also allows you to compare loan, lease, and purchase options for your solar panels based on your results.

 

  • CSU EXTENSION SOLAR CALCULATOR

    This calculator can be used to figure out the size, costs, and benefits of a grid­-tied solar PV system for the home or business. It can be used for both owning and leasing a system.

 

  • PV WATTS CALCULATOR

    A product of the National Renewable Energy Lab (NREL), PV Watts estimates the energy production and cost of energy of grid-connected photovoltaic (PV) energy systems throughout the world. It allows homeowners, small building owners, installers and manufacturers to easily develop estimates of the performance of potential PV installations.

 

  • LET’S GO SOLAR

    Consumer friendly resources about “going solar”. The website offers step-by-step solar instructions, charts, checklists, quizzes, state-specific scenarios, and advice from long-time industry experts.

 

  • COLORADO SOLAR AND STORAGE ASSOCIATION (COSSA)

    The Colorado Solar and Storage Association expands solar and storage markets to generate jobs and prosperity for the people of Colorado. Together with hundreds of solar and storage business members they work to advance clean energy policies, remove market barriers, highlight emerging trends, and increase solar and storage education.

 

 

 

  • SOLAR FINANCE SIMULATOR

    The Solar Finance Simulator is an online tool for universities, hospitals, municipalities, nonprofits, and businesses to simulate long-term financial forecasting for four types of solar investments. Using their own values, users can simulate and compare financial projections for direct ownership, power purchase agreements (PPA), debt financing, and operating leases. It works for both taxable and tax-exempt entities. The tool can be used to guide or validate potential projects, compare proposals, or simply help users become more familiar with financing structures and common transaction costs. The Midwest Renewable Energy Association offers online and in-person training on this tool and others.

 

  • SOLAR RESILIENT

    An online tool that estimates technical specifications for solar and battery systems. SolarResilient allows building owners and city departments to do an initial screen on buildings, developing a portfolio of options before embarking on more detailed studies. It allows users to develop a quick and low-cost way to create a holistic energy security strategy for a city or county.