United Power and solar
United Power is an electric cooperative serving about 103,104 homes in Colorado. Here's what its rates and export rules mean for solar: for a typical customer, solar is worth it.
- Average price (2026 est.)
- 17.4¢5% above Colorado average
- Typical bill
- $139797 kWh a month
- Exports credited
- RetailFull retail net metering
- Typical payback
- 11.5 yrs6.1 kW, cash
Export rules for United Power customers
Full retail net metering (Colorado rule).
Colorado requires investor-owned utilities like Xcel Energy to credit solar exports at the full retail rate, with credits rolling over month to month indefinitely. Co-ops and large municipal utilities must also offer net metering, though their rules and size limits differ.
Solar for a typical United Power home
| System | 6.1 kW (101% of 797 kWh/month) |
|---|---|
| Cost | $19,055 |
| First-year savings | $1,601 |
| Payback | 11.5 years |
| 25-year net | $29,651 |
Uses the utility's average price.
Solar adoption
- Homes with solar (2025)
- 13,299
- Share of customers
- 12.9%
- Residential solar capacity
- 79 MW
- Residential customers
- 103,104
EIA-861, 2025.
Questions about United Power and solar
Does United Power have net metering?
United Power follows Colorado's rules: Colorado requires investor-owned utilities like Xcel Energy to credit solar exports at the full retail rate, with credits rolling over month to month indefinitely. Co-ops and large municipal utilities must also offer net metering, though their rules and size limits differ.
How much does electricity cost with United Power?
Residential customers paid an average of 16.5¢ per kWh in 2025 (EIA), about 17.4¢ adjusted to 2026. The typical home uses 797 kWh a month, a bill of about $139.
Is solar worth it with United Power?
For a typical customer, solar is worth it: a 6.1 kW system costing about $19,055 pays back in about 11.5 years, with $29,651 net over 25 years.
How many United Power customers have solar?
About 13,299 homes had net-metered solar at the end of 2025, roughly 12.9% of residential customers (EIA-861).
Legal name: United Power, Inc (EIA ID 19499). Data: EIA-861 2025 and monthly data through 2026, state policy research October 2026.