Compare the highest-rated home solar professionals in Hillside, Colorado. All contractors are licensed, insured, and verified through our rigorous screening process.
As one of the largest dedicated residential solar companies in the nation, Sunrun offers a comprehensive suite of services from design to installation and maintenance. Their strong presence in Colorado provides Hillside residents with robust financing options, including popular leasing and PPA models, and access to top-tier equipment.
A highly-rated regional installer based in Colorado Springs, Photon Brothers is known for exceptional customer service and high-quality craftsmanship. They specialize in both grid-tied and off-grid systems with an emphasis on integrated battery storage and energy efficiency for a complete home energy solution.
Blue Raven Solar has a strong national presence with a dedicated local office in Colorado Springs. They are recognized for their straightforward sales process and attractive financing options, such as their "BluePower Plus" loan, which includes initial two years of payments covered. They provide full-service installation and design.
** The home solar market in the Hillside, Colorado area is robust and highly competitive, benefiting from the state's excellent solar irradiance (over 300 days of sunshine annually) and favorable net metering policies. The market is characterized by a mix of large national providers (like Sunrun) and strong regional installers (like Photon Brothers) competing on price, service quality, and financing options. This high level of competition benefits consumers through competitive pricing and innovative service offerings. The average cost for a residential solar system in Colorado typically ranges from **$15,000 to $25,000** before the 30% federal tax credit, though final pricing is highly dependent on system size, equipment quality, and roof complexity. Providers in this region are generally well-versed in local incentives, including Xcel Energy's rebate programs (for applicable areas) and the state's sales tax exemption for renewable energy equipment.
4.7+ star average from verified customer reviews
All contractors are properly licensed and insured
10+ years average experience in the industry
Familiar with Hillside regulations and climate
Get answers to common questions about home solar services in Hillside, Colorado.
Hillside's high altitude (over 9,600 feet) and 300+ days of sunshine annually are major advantages for solar, as thinner atmosphere allows for stronger solar irradiance. This means your system can often be slightly smaller to meet the same energy needs compared to lower elevations. However, heavy winter snow is a key consideration; proper panel tilt and durable equipment are essential for snow shedding and maximizing production during the bright, cold winter months.
While system costs vary by home, Colorado offers excellent financial incentives that significantly reduce the net price. You can combine the 30% federal solar tax credit with the state sales and property tax exemptions. Furthermore, you are served by Sangre de Cristo Electric Association, which offers a net metering program to credit you for excess energy sent back to the grid, improving your long-term savings and payback period.
Permitting is handled through Custer County, which generally has a straightforward process for residential solar. Colorado's "Solar Rights Act" protects your ability to install solar, limiting the power of HOAs to outright prohibit systems or enforce unreasonable restrictions on performance. However, you should still review your specific HOA covenants for any architectural guidelines related to placement or panel color.
Prioritize installers with extensive experience in high-altitude and high-snow-load regions like the Colorado Rockies. Look for local companies familiar with Custer County's permitting process and your specific utility, Sangre de Cristo Electric. Verify they are licensed, insured, and offer strong warranties, and ask for references from recent installations in similar mountain communities to assess their durability and service.
Sangre de Cristo Electric's net metering policy credits you at the retail rate for surplus kilowatt-hours your system exports to the grid, banking credits for later use. Importantly, a standard grid-tied solar system will shut off during a power outage for safety reasons unless you invest in a hybrid system with a solar battery backup. This is a critical consideration in Hillside, where winter storms can occasionally cause outages.