Utility Rebates

Xcel Energy Rebates
SolSource’s Rebate Manager actively works with Xcel Energy installations throughout Colorado and will handled all required paper work. As of March 24, 2010, Xcel Energy's Solar Rewards Program provides up to a $2.55-per-watt (DC) incentive for customers who install grid-connected photovoltaic systems of at least 0.5 kilowatts (kW) in capacity, up to a maximum of 10 kW-DC. The incentive is structured as a $2.00-per-watt Standard Rebate Offer (SRO) and a $.55-per-watt Solar On-site Renewable Energy Credit (SO-REC) payment. The SO-REC payment may be adjusted, either up or down, based on the calculation of expected kWh of electric output as compared with an optimally oriented, fixed (i.e., non-tracking) system at the customer's location. Additional costs related to battery backup systems are not covered by the rebate. To qualify for a solar rebate, participants must submit an application to Xcel and receive an approval letter prior to installing the system. Net metering allows for a customer to be paid pack at the retail rate for any solar energy they produce and use. If extra power is produced one month, the credit will carry over to the next month. If a customer produces more electricity than they use over the course of a year the customer will receive overage payment at Xcel Energy's wholesale rate or AHIC (Average Hourly Incremental Cost). This rate is less than the retail rate.

Black Hills Energy (formerly Aquila)
SolSource's office in Colorado Springs services the Black Hills service territory. Black Hill's On-Site Solar PV Rebate Program provides an incentive of $2 per watt DC of installed photovoltaic capacity combined with a separate payment for the renewable energy credits (RECs) associated with the PV-generated electricity over a 20-year period. The rebate and REC payment incentive program are available to any Black Hills Energy customer who installs a new PV system up to 100 kilowatts (kW) in capacity for onsite use. Rebates and REC payments for PV systems up to 10kW will be calculated at $2 per DC watt. An annual REC payment of $115 is provided for every megawatt-hour (MWh) of actual metered output of the PV system.

Colorado Springs Utilities
SolSource installed 10 systems under the initial 2008 Renewable Energy Rebate Program through Colorado Springs Utilities. Through its Renewable Energy Rebate Program, Colorado Springs Utilities offered a $3.75 per-watt (AC) rebate to customers who installed grid-connected solar electric (PV) systems during 2008 with a minimum capacity of 500 watts and a maximum of 10kW for residential systems and 25kW for commercial systems. The 2009 program budget is under review by the Utilities Board, and has not yet been replenished so that additional customers can benefit. The incentive amount, however, may decrease by $0.25 to $0.50 per watt per year.