The most common surprise for new solar customers isn't the install — it's the paperwork around it. Here's the full journey from signed contract to producing power, and who handles each step (spoiler: mostly us).
Step 1: Design and engineering
After your site assessment, we produce a final design: panel layout, electrical single-line diagram, and structural details. This package is what the city and utility review.
Step 2: Building and electrical permits
Every Colorado jurisdiction — Denver, Aurora, Jefferson County, and the rest — requires permits for rooftop solar. Review times vary from a few days to a few weeks depending on the jurisdiction's backlog. We prepare and submit everything; you don't need to visit a permit office.
Step 3: Utility interconnection application
In parallel, we apply to your utility for permission to connect your system to the grid. Each utility — Xcel Energy, Colorado Springs Utilities, co-ops like United Power — has its own process and timeline. This is also where your net metering arrangement gets set up.
Step 4: Installation day(s)
The part you actually see. Most residential installs take one to two days: racking, panels, inverter(s), and electrical work by licensed electricians.
Step 5: Inspection
The local building department inspects the finished work against the permitted plans. We schedule it and meet the inspector.
Step 6: Permission to Operate (PTO)
After passing inspection, the utility gives final approval — often swapping or reprogramming your meter — and issues Permission to Operate. Only then does the system switch on. PTO wait times vary by utility from days to a few weeks.
How long does the whole thing take?
From signed contract to PTO, most projects land in the one-to-three month range, driven mostly by permit and utility queues rather than construction. A local installer who knows each jurisdiction's quirks keeps things moving — it's a big part of what you're paying for. Curious what the process looks like for your town? Check our service areas or start with a free assessment.