Net metering with Poudre Valley REA
Poudre Valley REA (PVREA) is a member-owned electric cooperative serving rural communities in northern Colorado, including Wellington, Windsor, and the surrounding Larimer and Weld county areas. As a cooperative, PVREA sets its own net metering and interconnection rules through its board — not through the Colorado PUC.
Regulation
Board-governed co-op; own tariff rules
Self-consumed solar
Offsets retail-rate purchases directly
Surplus at true-up
Settled at a cooperative-set rate
How it works, step by step
Member-owner interconnection process
As a PVREA member, you apply for interconnection through the cooperative's generation interconnection program. Seed Solar prepares your application and ensures your equipment meets PVREA's Small Generation Interconnection Standards.
Solar offsets your usage first
Power your panels generate is consumed by your home in real time, directly reducing the energy you purchase from PVREA at the retail rate. Only excess production flows to the grid.
Surplus is metered and credited
Excess solar exported to the grid is tracked by your bi-directional meter and credited on your bill under PVREA's net metering tariff. Banked credits typically settle at an annual true-up.
True-up rate differs from retail
Like most co-ops, PVREA's annual true-up for remaining banked credits is paid at a rate below full retail. Right-sizing your system to your annual load maximizes the value of every kWh your panels produce.
Good to know
- PVREA's net metering and interconnection rules are set by its board and can be updated between rate cases — we verify the current terms for every project.
- Because co-op true-up rates are below retail, the best economics come from sizing your system to closely match your annual consumption rather than oversizing to maximize exports.
- Battery storage can be a strong complement to co-op service, helping you keep more of your production inside your home instead of exporting it at a lower rate.
Utility rates and net metering rules change over time. This overview reflects Poudre Valley REA's program as of mid-2026 — always confirm current terms at Poudre Valley REA — Solar. When you get a quote from us, we verify the current rules for your address.
Solar designed around Poudre Valley's rules
We size and design every system for your utility's exact rate structure — so your savings estimate reflects how Poudre Valley REA actually credits solar.