Solar Atlas · Colorado
Is solar worth it in Denver, CO?
A 7 kWdc rooftop array in Denver makes about 11,166 kWh a year (NLR PVWatts, modeled) and pays back in 13.0 years at Public Service Co of Colorado’s 16.7¢/kWh residential rate (Aug 2025–Jul 2026), with no federal credit. Exports follow Colorado net metering.
39.74°N · 9.2–14.8 h daylight · site signature
- Production
- 1,595 kWh per kWdc per year · capacity factor 18.2% AC
- Residential rate
- 16.7¢/kWh · Public Service Co of Colorado
- Exported solar
- Colorado net metering · credited at retail
- Climate
- cold semi-arid (Köppen BSk) · 10.6 °C mean, 368 mm/yr
Source: NLR PVWatts v8.5.0 (NSRDB PSM V3 GOES tmy-2020 3.2.0) — 1 kW, tilt 20°, azimuth 180°, roof mount, 14% losses · fetched 2026-09-24 · modeled, not metered
Source: EIA-861M utility average · Aug 2025–Jul 2026 · EIA Colorado average Jan–Jul 2026 16.7¢ · utility’s EIA-861 2024 average 15.1¢
Source: Customers of Colorado investor-owned (qualifying retail) utilities, e.g. Xcel Energy (Public Service Co. of Colorado) and Black Hills Colorado Electric · checked 2026-09-25
Source: NOAA NCEI Climate Normals 1991–2020, DENVER INTL AP, CO US (30.2 km away) · fetched 2026-09-24
No federal credit: the homeowner credit (§25D) ended for systems installed after 2025-12-31. A lease or PPA price may reflect the lessor’s §48E credit. 26 U.S.C. §25D(h) and (e)(8)(A) · policy as of 2026-09-24
Make it your answer
Start from your bill. Everything else is prefilled from this page and can be changed.
Your exact roof, or a business
The payback calculator runs hourly PVWatts at your address. The Modeler opens a grid-tied home at Denver. A business goes to the Quote Studio with the 13.4¢/kWh commercial rate.