Net metering with Colorado Springs Utilities
Colorado Springs Utilities is a four-service municipal utility. As a city-owned utility, CSU sets its own solar rules through its Solar Energy Program rather than through the state PUC — so its net metering terms are decided in city rate cases and can change with them.
Program
CSU Solar Energy Program + net metering agreement
Application fee
$100 for residential (one-time)
Credit structure
Netted on your bill; surplus carries forward
How it works, step by step
Join the Solar Energy Program
Going solar with CSU means enrolling in their Solar Energy Program and signing a net metering agreement. Your installer submits the application; CSU charges residential customers a one-time application fee (currently $100) on the next electric bill.
Your meter nets production against usage
CSU installs a bi-directional meter. Solar you use at home directly offsets your bill; excess sent to the grid is tracked and credited against the energy you pull at night and on cloudy days.
Credits apply to future bills
When you produce more than you use in a billing period, the surplus becomes a credit that carries to future bills under your net metering agreement.
Watch the 2026 rate case
CSU has proposed updating how solar customers are credited as part of its 2026 rate case. In past rate cases, existing customers have generally kept the terms of the agreement they signed, though future treatment is ultimately set by CSU and City Council — check the current filing status before counting on any specific structure.
Good to know
- Because CSU is municipally owned, its solar rules are set by City Council rate cases — not the Colorado PUC — so terms can change between years.
- CSU has proposed changes to solar crediting in its 2026 rate case; we track these filings and design systems around the rules in force when you connect.
- Fixed monthly charges for electric service still apply and can't be offset by solar production.
Utility rates and net metering rules change over time. This overview reflects Colorado Springs Utilities's program as of mid-2026 — always confirm current terms at CSU Solar Energy Program. When you get a quote from us, we verify the current rules for your address.
Solar designed around CSU's rules
We size and design every system for your utility's exact rate structure — so your savings estimate reflects how Colorado Springs Utilities actually credits solar.