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Help Your Business Harness the Sun#

Solar panels on the roof of an office building

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.

Commercial Solar Rebate Program#

Solar panels on the roof of an office building

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. 
How net metering works - solar generated and returned to the grid and how the customer receives credit for that

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?

Fort Collins Utilities is committed to providing ‘round-the-clock, world-class service to our community. We operate 24/7/365.

Stormwater Master Planning helps protect people, property and the environment against flooding, erosion and water quality problems caused by runoff.

You can save approximately 50¢ per load by drying your laundry during off-peak hours.