What happens when your solar panels produce more electricity than your home or business needs? The extra power can go back to the grid, and your utility may give you credits in return. This is called solar net metering. The value of these credits depends on your utility provider and its billing rules.
For property owners in Glenwood Springs and Pitkin County, understanding these rules helps with planning. Before choosing the best solar installer in Glenwood Springs, compare Holy Cross Energy and Xcel Energy.
How Does Solar Net Metering Work?
Solar panels produce electricity during daylight hours. Your home or business uses some of that power right away. If the panels produce more than you need, the extra electricity can flow back to the grid.
Your utility may give you credits for that extra power. Later, when your panels produce less electricity, you can use the grid to meet your needs. These credits may help reduce your electricity bill.
For example, a home in Glenwood Springs might produce more power on a sunny summer afternoon than the family uses. In winter, shorter days and snow may reduce solar production. Credits can help balance energy costs across different periods, depending on the utility's rules.
However, solar panels do not automatically remove every charge from your bill. Monthly fees and other charges may still apply.
How Holy Cross Energy Handles Export Credits
Holy Cross Energy gives eligible solar customers full retail energy credits for extra electricity that offsets their annual energy use. If they send more electricity than they use over the year, the additional power earns credits at a wholesale rate. Customers still pay monthly charges. Since April 2026, small residential and small commercial customers have also had a demand charge of $1 per kilowatt.
For a home in Carbondale or Basalt, using solar power while it is being produced can help reduce costs. Running appliances during sunny hours may also help manage electricity demand.
How Xcel Energy Handles Export Credits
Xcel Energy uses a Solar Bank system to track extra electricity. Customers can choose to keep dollar credits for future bills. These credits can roll over without expiring, but they cannot be cashed out or transferred if the customer moves or ends service.
Another option allows eligible customers to receive payment for unused credits at the end of the year. The payment depends on the utility's energy cost rate.
For example, a property owner who produces more electricity in summer can save credits to help cover eligible electricity charges during winter.
Why Local Conditions Matter
Solar production can vary across the Roaring Fork Valley. Roof direction, nearby trees, mountain shadows, and snow can affect how much electricity your panels produce.
In Glenwood Springs, two homes on the same street may get different results because one roof receives more sunlight than the other. A site visit can help estimate how much power your roof may generate throughout the year.
For businesses solar installation in Pitkin County, operating hours also matter. A restaurant may use more electricity in the evening, while an office may use more during the day. Matching electricity use with solar production can help businesses make better use of the power their panels generate.
What Should You Check Before Installing Solar?
Before choosing a system, take these simple steps:
- Review your electricity bills. Check your usage across all four seasons.
- Ask about export credits. Find out how your utility values extra electricity and how long credits remain available.
- Check additional charges. Remember that solar may not remove fixed fees or demand charges.
- Consider winter conditions. Ask how snow, shade, and shorter days could affect production.
- Choose the right system size. Producing more electricity than you can use may not offer the best savings.
When comparing the best solar installer Glenwood Springs has to offer, request an estimate based on your roof, electricity use, and utility rates. For businesses solar installation in Pitkin County, ask for a plan that considers working hours and peak electricity needs.
Make an Informed Solar Decision
Holy Cross Energy and Xcel Energy both offer ways to benefit from extra solar electricity. However, their credit rules and monthly charges differ. Your potential savings depend on your utility, roof conditions, and energy use.
Before choosing the best solar installer in Glenwood Springs, Pitkin County or beyond, check your electricity provider's current net metering rules. Then compare system options using your actual bills. This will help you understand the likely costs and savings before making a decision.
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