Help Your Business Harness the Sun#
Equipping your property with solar photovoltaic (PV) panels can reduce its carbon footprint and lower your electricity bill. About 100 of our commercial customers have solar PV systems in Fort Collins. These systems contribute to Our Climate Future emissions reduction goals.
To equip your business or property with renewables, start with a solar contractor. They will vet your site for feasibility, work through the interconnection application and permitting process, and help you apply for rebates that Fort Collins Utilities offers.
Contractors: Submit and Manage Applications
Apply for commercial solar interconnections and rebates through PowerClerk.
PowerClerk features a ‘pre-application’ feasibility module to manage your early inquiries into Utilities to vet the site location and system size (solar hosting capacity) for your proposed commercial solar project and/or energy storage system. Once Utilities reviews your feasibility application, PowerClerk will invite you to submit a full project application.
If you don't have a PowerClerk account yet, you can request one here.
Commercial Solar Rebate Program#
Utilities supports customers generating their own renewable energy. The Commercial Solar Rebate Program provides incentives and guidance to help make sure each project is a success.
Commercial customers can receive rebates up to $50,000. Rebate amounts are calculated based on $0.50/Watt of DC system generation capacity and include a 20-year Renewable Energy Credit (REC) assignment to Utilities. See eligibility requirements in the tab below for more details.
- Must be a Fort Collins Utilities electric customer. View the City of Fort Collins Electric Service Area Map.
- PV system must be sized greater than 500 watts and less than the capacity to provide up to 200% of average annual energy use over the previous 24 months.
- Systems must meet Utilities Interconnection Standards (PDF 353KB).
- Customers must review and acknowledge interconnection policies.
- Equipment must be new and UL listed and named on the eligible equipment list.
- If the system is shaded between 9 a.m.-3 p.m., the applicant must submit a shading analysis.
- Customer agrees to manage trees and other potential shading sources to mitigate excess array shading from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
- The system must be installed within six months of the rebate reservation letter.
When you generate solar power, any energy you don't use immediately flows back into the electric grid. Utilities pays for the energy returned to the grid through net metering credits on your monthly utility bill (see infographic) based on the current commercial rates.
1. How much is this going to cost me?#
It depends!
2. Will a solar system lower my bill?#
Yes, it will lower your electricity bill, but it won't eliminate it entirely. Fort Collins Utilities charges all electric customers a base fee. Also, your system will only generate energy during daylight, which means if energy is used overnight, you will be billed for what your solar system cannot create.
C-PACE Announcements#
Did You Know?
Lowering the water-heater temperature to the lowest comfortable setting saves money.
Free sprinkler checkups are available to find ways to save water and improve system efficiency.
Cleaning your dryer filter regularly prevents lint build ups that can reduce airflow resulting in clothes not drying completely.