Colorado HB26-1007 takes effect January 1, 2027. The law requires UL 3700 (or equivalent) system certification for plug-in kits. UL 3700 was published December 2025; first product certifications are expected late 2026. Sol Country tracks certification status for every kit and will only list compliant kits.
ColoradoLaw passed ✓

First US state to pass
plug-in balcony solar legislation.

Jan 1, 2027 · HB26-1007 effective
1,920W · Colorado wattage limit
↓ Skip to what to do now

HEAR heat pump rebates are active in Coloradoup to $8,000 for qualifying households. Full details →

Federal Rebates

Full federal HEAR + HOMES guide

HEAR active

The Colorado callout above covers Region 2 (open until August 1). For the full national picture — HEAR income tiers, HOMES, WAP, and how to stack them — see:

Full 2026 heat pump rebate guide →
Xcel Energy - Rate Increase Filed

Xcel Energy has filed for a 9.9% residential electricity rate increase effective August 2026. A balcony solar kit installed before August locks in your savings at today's lower rate.

Colorado's balcony solar law also takes effect January 1, 2027 - you can install before the rate increase and before the legal deadline.

Colorado's own utility regulators estimate average household electricity prices could rise at least 55% above 2024 levels by 2029 - driven by grid improvements and renewable energy investments. Locking in your own solar generation now means today's rates, not 2029's.

Source: CPR News, May 7, 2026, citing Colorado PUC estimates.

Law passed - Jan 1, 2027
◆ BothColorado has both balcony solar AND community solar available.
Compare your options →
Sol Country recommendation for Colorado renters
Craftstrom 800W Kit
Colorado averages 5.31 peak sun hours per day. At Xcel's current rate of $0.133/kWh an 800W kit saves ~$152/yr - rising to ~$166/yr after Xcel's filed 9.9% increase.
Annual savings~$152/yr now · ~$166/yr after August increase
Payback period~5.5 years
State limitTwo tiers: 395W no-approval · 1,920W licensed
New to balcony solar? Read the complete DIY guidebook →
Building types in Colorado

Where will yours go?

Apartment balcony
Most common Colorado setup. Railing-mounted panels work for most balconies.

Hang one or two panels from your balcony railing using UL-listed rail-mount hardware.

Plug-in to a standard 120V outlet within reach of the inverter cable (typically 10-25 ft).

No drilling, no roof access, no permit if you're under your state's no-approval tier.

Rooftop access
Single-family homes and townhouses in Colorado. Highest production potential.
Rear yard / patio
Ground-mount or patio-frame setup for renters with private outdoor space.
Fire escape - NOT RECOMMENDED
Fire escapes must remain clear under municipal code in nearly every Colorado city.
Colorado law

Law specifics

HB26-1007 - Two Tiers
Signed
April 2026
Effective
January 1, 2027
395W - No approval needed
No electrician required
No permit required
No HOA approval required
No landlord permission required
Up to 1,920W - Licensed tier
Licensed electrician required
Dedicated circuit required
Landlord still cannot prohibit
Full HB26-1007 guide →
Need to talk to your landlord?Generate a personalized notification letter citing Colorado's law in 30 seconds. Free, no signup required.
Generate landlord letter →
Utility programs

Xcel Energy programs

Battery Connect - Up to $5,500
Community Solar - 5-10% off bill
OhmConnect - $100-300+/yr
Xcel Energy details →
What's available now

Colorado local utility
and city rebates.

These programs stack with Xcel Energy and Colorado state programs. Verify current rates and availability before applying — local budgets change yearly.

City of Denver
Solar installation rebate: up to $4,000
Battery storage rebate: available
Heat pump rebate: available
Combined with Xcel and state programs, these can significantly reduce project costs for Denver homeowners.
Fort Collins Utilities
Per-watt rebate on new solar installations
Battery storage rebate: up to $6,000 for battery energy storage systems when paired with solar panels. Stacks with Colorado state programs and Xcel rebates for Fort Collins homeowners on Fort Collins Utilities (not Xcel).
Important: Fort Collins Utilities is a municipal utility — separate from Xcel Energy. Check your utility bill to confirm which utility serves your address before applying. If your bill shows "Fort Collins Utilities" this rebate applies to you.
Verify current availability and terms at fcgov.com/utilities →
Source: Sandbox Solar, March 2026, citing Fort Collins Utilities program.
Colorado Springs Utilities
Per-watt rebate on new solar installations
Verify current rates at csu.org →
Source: acdirect.com 2026-2027 incentives analysis citing Colorado local programs. Amounts and availability are subject to change; confirm with each program before applying.
Apply early
Local utility rebates are subject to annual budget availability. Apply early in the calendar year — funding exhausts mid-year in most cases.
What's available now · EV charging

Colorado Vehicle Exchange Program.

Colorado stacks a trade-in rebate on top of its state EV tax credit for income-qualified residents.

Colorado Vehicle Exchange Program
$9,000+ combined

Income-qualified Colorado residents can receive additional rebates for trading in an older vehicle for a qualifying EV. Combined with the state EV tax credit, the total incentive can reach $9,000+.

driveelectric.colorado.gov

The federal 30C EV charger credit expired June 30, 2026.

The law

HB26-1007.
What it means for you.

Bill
HB26-1007
Effective
Jan 1, 2027
Legislative progress - stage 5 of 5
Signed into law
Key provisions
Plug-in solar systems up to 1.2kW permitted without permit
No utility interconnection agreement required for compliant kits
Renters explicitly protected - landlords and HOAs cannot prohibit
Standard 120V outlet connection allowed with UL-listed microinverter
Meter collar adapters - up to $5,000 in savings on panel upgrades

HB26-1007 requires the Colorado PUC to update interconnection rules by December 31, 2026 to explicitly allow customer-owned meter collar adapters - devices installed between your electric meter and the utility's billing meter that provide immediate interconnection for customer-owned energy devices.

Xcel Energy and Black Hills already use this technology. The new law makes access universal and statewide.

Why this matters: meter collars eliminate the need for expensive electrical panel upgrades, saving households $2,000-$5,000 per installation - and avoiding panel upgrades that can cost up to $10,000.

Source: Solar Power World, May 8, 2026, citing HB26-1007 bill text.

Disclaimer
Educational only - not legal advice. Verify with your utility, AHJ, and HOA.
Shop Colorado kits
We ship to your door from Denver.
Are you a Colorado landlord?
Sol Country has a free HB26-1007 compliance guide for property managers and landlords.
Get the compliance guide →
Available kits in Colorado

Kits legal under
HB26-1007.

Every kit below meets Colorado's 1,920W limit and is pursuing UL 3700 (or equivalent) system certification — required by HB26-1007. No kit has completed certification yet; we flip the badge the day it changes.

HB26-1007 effective in 210 days - order now to be ready on January 1, 2027.
CRAFTSTROM
Smart Kit 395W
395W · under Colorado limit
$1,499
UL 3700 PENDING
APSYSTEMS
EZ1-M 800W
800W · under Colorado limit
$1,299
UL 3700 PENDING
ECOFLOW
STREAM Microinverter
1,200W · under Colorado limit
$599
UL 3700 PENDING
ECOFLOW
STREAM Ultra (1,200W + 1.92kWh battery)
1,200W + battery · under Colorado limit · Utah only for now
$1,199 early / $1,899 MSRP
UL 3700 PENDING

Colorado allows up to 1,920W under HB26-1007. All kits above are within the legal limit.

Sol Country Exclusive

CRAFTSTROM KITS

US-focused plug-in solar with UL-listed components and UL 3700 system certification in progress.


CraftStrom current promotion

20% off all kits — available to all customers on craftstrom.com

Sol Country exclusive — extra

Additional 5% off when you book an advisor call + use code SOLCOUNTRY5

Combined saving: 25% off for Sol Country visitors who book an advisor call.

KitApprox. full priceAfter 20% (everyone)After extra 5% (Sol Country)
800W~$1,900~$1,520~$1,444
1,200W~$2,400~$1,920~$1,824
1,600W~$3,000~$2,400~$2,280
2,000W~$3,600~$2,880~$2,736

The 20% reduction is CraftStrom's current site-wide promotion. The additional 5% requires booking an advisor call and using code SOLCOUNTRY5 at checkout.

Certification status: CraftStrom (UL certified — Sol Country is verifying the specific certification level against UL 3700 system requirements. Check craftstrom.com for current certification documentation.) Some sources describe CraftStrom as ETL listed to UL 1741 and IEEE 1547, which is not the same as UL 3700 system certification. We'll update this note as soon as CraftStrom confirms directly.

1. Book your free advisor call

Visit CraftStrom's site and book a free advisor call. Their team can answer installation-specific questions, help you pick the right wattage for your space, and confirm which tier applies under your state's law. The 20% discount applies automatically on their site.

2. Use code SOLCOUNTRY5 at checkout

After your advisor call, enter SOLCOUNTRY5 at checkout for an additional 5% off the already-discounted price.

Choose your kit below, then use the advisor booking popup on CraftStrom's site to schedule your call — apply code SOLCOUNTRY5 at checkout for the extra 5%.

Sol Country earns a commission on CraftStrom purchases made with code SOLCOUNTRY5. The 20% site-wide discount is offered by CraftStrom to all customers. The additional 5% is Sol Country's exclusive arrangement. Neither discount affects Sol Country's product recommendations — we recommend CraftStrom because it's a complete, UL-certified plug-in kit sold directly in the US, not because of this arrangement. CraftStrom (UL certified — Sol Country is verifying the specific certification level against UL 3700 system requirements. Check craftstrom.com for current certification documentation.)

Community solar in Colorado

No balcony?
No problem.

Community solar is available in Colorado right now - no equipment, no installation, $0 upfront.

Arcadia / Xcel Solar*Connect
Colorado
Save 5-15% on your electricity bill
None
30-90 days notice
Via Arcadia / Xcel Solar*Connect - affiliate link
Arcadia
Multi-state
Save up to 10% on your electricity bill
$0 upfront
Cancel anytime
Via Arcadia - affiliate link
Community solar in Colorado - available now
Program
Community Solar Gardens / Xcel Solar*Connect
Primary provider
Arcadia / Xcel Solar*Connect
Estimated savings
5-15% off your bill
Upfront cost
None
Tax incentives & savings

Colorado incentives
stacked.

Sales tax exemption on solar equipment (saves $48-$132 per kit)
10% battery storage tax credit - expires Dec 31, 2026
Xcel Energy net metering for qualifying systems

Federal residential solar credit (Section 25D) is no longer available for owned residential systems placed in service after Dec 31, 2025. Section 48E remains available for leased/third-party-owned systems through Dec 31, 2027.

Colorado tax credits & exemptions (2026)
Federal credit (2026): Not available for owned systems. Section 48E available for leased/TPO systems through Dec 31, 2027.
Battery storage: 10% Colorado state tax credit - expires December 31, 2026. Act before this deadline.
Solar equipment: Colorado exempts solar equipment from sales tax.
Property tax: Solar system value is exempt from property tax assessment.
Wildfire zone bonus
Residents in Colorado wildfire-risk zones may qualify for additional resilience rebates on battery storage. Combined with the 10% state battery credit, savings can exceed $1,500 on a Stream Ultra-class kit.
Utility interconnection

Utility interconnection.

Visit the utility page

See what's legal
at your address.

Sol Country checks your address, utility territory, and state law to show every solar option available to you today.

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Full Xcel Energy guide →Colorado outage preparedness →