Is Fort Collins on Xcel Energy?

No. Fort Collins has its own municipal utility — Fort Collins Utilities. They run their own solar programs, rebates, and net metering separately from Xcel. Their incentives are among the most generous in Colorado.

How much is the Fort Collins solar rebate?

Fort Collins Utilities pays $300 per kW of installed solar capacity, up to $1,500. For battery storage, the rebate is $300 per kWh up to $6,000. The combined maximum for solar plus battery is $7,500. You must apply before installation and use an approved contractor. Apollo Energy is on the Fort Collins Utilities approved contractor list.

Do I need to use a specific solar contractor in Fort Collins?

Yes. To qualify for Fort Collins Utilities solar and battery rebates, you must use a contractor from their Participating Solar Contractor Network. Apollo Energy is an approved contractor on that list.

How long does a solar installation take in Fort Collins?

The physical installation takes 1-2 days. The full project timeline including design, rebate application, permits, installation, inspection, and utility activation is about 60-90 days.

Aurora Solar Installation — Two Utilities, One Expert Installer

Aurora straddles two utility territories. The western half is served by Xcel Energy. The eastern sections fall under CORE Electric Cooperative. Your solar economics, net metering terms, and available rebates depend on which side of the line your home sits on. Apollo installs across both territories and optimizes every system for the right utility.

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Your Utilities: Xcel Energy & CORE Electric

Xcel Energy (West Aurora): 1:1 retail-rate net metering at about 15 cents/kWh. Solar*Rewards and Battery Connect up to $5,000.
CORE Electric (East Aurora): 1:1 net metering for systems up to 10 kW. 6.7% rate increase January 2026. Member-owned cooperative.
Both Territories: Colorado sales and property tax exemptions. Apollo verifies your utility by address before designing your system.

Solar Incentives in Aurora

Xcel territory: Solar*Rewards income-qualified rebate, Battery Connect up to $5,000. CORE territory: cooperative programs and battery incentives. Both: Colorado sales and property tax exemptions. Apollo’s 25% upfront incentive available to all Aurora homeowners.

Permitting & Installation

Aurora issues building permits through the city. Apollo handles the full process including utility-specific interconnection for whichever provider serves your address. Typical timeline: 8 to 16 weeks.

Battery Backup & Resilience

Both Xcel and CORE customers benefit from battery storage. Xcel offers Battery Connect up to $5,000. Colorado’s 10% state battery tax credit applies. Battery keeps your power on during outages regardless of utility.

Solar Panels

Durable, efficient panels that capture sunlight and convert it into clean, renewable energy for homes and businesses.

Effortless Solar Solutions for Exceptional Results in Aurora, CO

Apollo Energy provides seamless solar installations, maintenance, and energy solutions to help homes and businesses in Aurora, CO, maximize efficiency and savings with clean energy.

Why Aurora Homeowners Choose Apollo

Dual-Utility Expertise: Aurora's split territory requires knowing both Xcel and CORE. Apollo verifies your provider at the start of every project.
Maximize Incentives: Whether Xcel Battery Connect or CORE programs, we capture every available rebate and exemption.
In-House Licensed Electricians: W-2 crews. 10 years on the Front Range. 4.9-star rating.

Solar Incentives for Aurora Homeowners

Right now, Aurora homeowners going solar through Apollo Energy can get a 25% upfront incentive — that’s 25% off the cost of your system, applied before you pay anything. No waiting for tax season. No paperwork headaches. It comes right off the top.

On top of that, here’s what else is available in Aurora:

Net metering from Xcel Energy. Your system sends excess power to the grid during the day. Xcel credits you at the full retail rate. Those credits offset what you use at night. Most of our Aurora customers see their monthly bill drop to the minimum connection fee.

No sales tax on solar. Colorado exempts solar equipment from state sales tax. That saves you a few hundred bucks on the purchase.

No property tax increase. Solar adds real value to your home — typically $15,000–$25,000 — but Colorado law says that added value won’t increase your property taxes.

Xcel Solar*Rewards. If you’re income-qualified, Xcel offers rebates up to $1/watt. On an 8 kW system, that’s $8,000 back.

Battery rebates. Xcel’s Renewable Battery Connect program offers up to $5,000 for qualifying battery installs. Colorado also has a 10% state tax credit on battery equipment. Tesla is running a $1,000 rebate on Powerwall 3 installations right now.

We figure out which incentives you qualify for and handle the applications. You don’t need to chase any of this down yourself.

How Much Power Will Solar Panels Produce in Aurora?

Aurora gets over 300 days of sunshine a year. At 5,400 feet elevation, the air is thinner and the sun hits harder than it does at sea level. That’s good news for solar output.

A typical 8–10 kW system in Aurora produces around 12,000–15,000 kWh per year. For most households, that covers 80–100% of annual electricity use.

Winter production drops a bit with shorter days, but cold temps actually make panels more efficient. And the dry climate means your panels stay cleaner longer than they would in a humid state.

What Does Solar Cost in Aurora?

Colorado’s average is about $3 per watt. Here’s what that looks like for common system sizes:

6 kW system: ~$18,000 before incentives
8 kW system: ~$24,000 before incentives
10 kW system: ~$30,000 before incentives
12 kW system: ~$36,000 before incentives

With the 25% upfront incentive and other available rebates, the out-of-pocket number drops fast. Most Aurora homeowners pay off their system in 7–10 years. After that, you’re looking at 15–20 years of basically free electricity.

We do free quotes that include a savings breakdown based on your actual Xcel bill, your roof, and the incentives available to you.

Permits and HOA Rules for Solar in Aurora

Permits. Solar installs in Aurora require building and electrical permits through the city’s building department. We handle all of it — structural engineering, plans, applications, inspections, and Xcel interconnection. Most permits come back in 2–4 weeks.

HOAs. This is a big one in Aurora since so many neighborhoods are HOA-governed. Here’s the short version: your HOA cannot block you from installing solar. Colorado law (C.R.S. 38-30-168) is clear on this. They can set reasonable aesthetic guidelines — panel color, placement, that sort of thing — but those rules can’t increase your cost or cut your production by more than 10%.

There’s also a 60-day clock. If your HOA doesn’t respond to your application within 60 days, it’s automatically approved.

We deal with Aurora HOAs regularly. We submit the architectural review paperwork on your behalf and design systems that keep HOA boards happy while still maximizing your energy production.

Aurora Neighborhoods We Serve

We’ve installed solar across Aurora, including:

Southlands and Tallyn’s Reach
Saddle Rock and Saddle Rock Ridge
Murphy Creek and Painted Prairie
Stapleton (Central Park) adjacent areas
Heather Gardens and Heather Ridge
The Meadows and Wheatlands
Original Aurora and Del Mar Parkway corridor
Quincy Reservoir and Tollgate Crossing
Southeast Aurora near E-470

Newer builds, older roofs, flat lots, HOA communities — we’ve worked on all of it in Aurora.

Got Questions? We’ve Got Answers!

Frequently Asked Questions

Who is the electric company in Aurora?

Check your electric bill or call us. We’ll verify your utility by address. The line runs roughly through central Aurora but there are exceptions.

How much will I save on my electric bill?

Both work well. CORE’s slightly higher rates mean each net metering credit is worth more. Xcel offers more structured rebate programs. Solar is a strong investment either way.

Can my HOA stop me from going solar?

The Qcells panels we install pass IEC 61215 hail testing for 1-inch stones at 52 mph. Real-world damage is rare, and homeowner insurance covers solar equipment.

How long does the whole process take?

The actual install is 1–2 days. The full timeline — design, permits, HOA (if needed), install, inspection, Xcel activation — runs about 60–90 days start to finish.

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Apollo Energy proudly serves homeowners and businesses as the leading solar company in Aurora, CO. Whether you’re looking for residential solar panels, battery storage, or commercial solar solutions, we’re here to help you harness the power of solar energy.