Solar in Dakota Ridge, CO
With Xcel Energy Colorado's electricity at about 16.8¢ per kWh and 1,523 kWh of sun per kW, solar is worth it for a typical Dakota Ridge home today: about a 12.9-year payback.
- Payback, typical home
- 12.9 yrsColorado: 12.4 yrs
- 25-year net
- $18,781after paying $15,230
- Sun
- 1,523kWh per kW per year
- Electricity
- 16.8¢7% below U.S. average
A typical Dakota Ridge home, by the numbers
| Utility | Xcel Energy Colorado |
|---|---|
| Electricity use | 584 kWh a month |
| Best-value system | 4.6 kW, about 11 panels, 7,005 kWh a year (100% of use) |
| Cost | $15,230 |
| First-year savings | $1,134 |
| Payback | 12.9 years |
| Exported power | 13.5¢/kWh (Xcel Energy Colorado) |
Cash purchase, no federal credit, 2.6% yearly rate increases. Run it with your own numbers.
Homes in Dakota Ridge
- Owner-occupied homes
- 84%
- Single-family detached
- 81%
- Median home value
- $605k
- Median year built
- 1989
- Population
- 33,753
Census ACS 2020–2024.
Installers working in Dakota Ridge
Public installation records for Colorado don't name installers, so we can't rank local companies here. Browse installers in Colorado.
Always verify the license and get at least three quotes. Compare quotes side by side.
Questions about solar in Dakota Ridge
Is solar worth it in Dakota Ridge, CO?
For a typical home in Dakota Ridge, solar is worth it at 2026 prices: a 4.6 kW system costs about $15,230 after state incentives, saves about $1,134 in year one and pays back in about 12.9 years. Enter your address for an estimate based on your roof and bill.
How much solar power does a system produce in Dakota Ridge?
About 1,523 kWh per year for each kW of panels on a south-facing roof, based on PVWatts and local weather. That's 4% less than the Colorado average. East- or west-facing roofs produce roughly 10–20% less.
Who is the electric utility in Dakota Ridge?
Most homes in Dakota Ridge are served by Xcel Energy Colorado, at about 16.8¢ per kWh on average. Some areas are served by CORE Electric Cooperative.
How much do solar panels cost in Dakota Ridge?
A fair cash price is around $3.05 per watt before incentives, so about $15,230 for a 4.6 kW system. There's no federal tax credit for homeowners who buy in 2026.
Nearby
- Ken Caryl 12.9 yrs
- Columbine 12.9 yrs
- Lakewood 12.9 yrs
- Littleton 12.7 yrs
- Englewood 12.5 yrs
- Highlands Ranch 12.5 yrs
- Wheat Ridge 12.9 yrs
- Centennial 12.3 yrs
- All of Colorado
Data: PVWatts (National Laboratory of the Rockies), EIA-861 2025 adjusted to 2026, U.S. Census ACS, LBNL Tracking the Sun, state policy research as of October 2026.