Solar Upgrade Guide

Is it time to upgrade
your solar system?

Older panels generate 20-30% less power than modern equivalents. Sol Country calculates whether upgrading makes financial sense at your address — and shows every available incentive to reduce the cost.

Run Find My Power first to see your current savings estimate before calculating an upgrade.

Upgrade calculator

Old system vs new —
see the difference.

YOUR CURRENT SYSTEM
5.5% based on 2015 install with 0.5%/year standard degradation
$0.133/kWh
Common rates: CO (Xcel): $0.133 · CA (PG&E): $0.287 · TX avg: $0.130 · NY avg: $0.210 · National avg: $0.137
YOUR UPGRADE
UPGRADE ANALYSIS
$190/yr
from upgrading to modern panels
Current annual output
5,292 kWh/yr
New system annual output
6,720 kWh/yr
Production improvement
+27% more power
Additional savings / year
$190/yr
Payback period(before incentives)
52.7 years
Payback with incentives(after CO stack)
0.0 years

Estimates based on your address data. Actual savings may vary.

AVAILABLE INCENTIVES IN CO:
✓Xcel Solar*Rewards: up to $5,000
✓CO battery credit: 10%: (expires Dec 2026)
✓Net metering: $100/kW
Total available: ~$10,500
2026 upgrade incentives

What’s still available after
the federal credit expired.

The federal residential solar tax credit (Section 25D) expired December 31, 2025. Third-party owned systems (ESA/PPA) may still qualify through the Section 48E commercial ITC. State and utility incentives are now the primary savings opportunity for homeowner-owned systems in 2026. Sol Country tracks every available program.
Best for 2026

Third-party ownership — the new Section 25D workaround

Since the 48E commercial credit replaced 25D, homeowners upgrading via a solar lease or PPA get the equivalent of the old 30% credit passed to them through lower monthly payments. This is now the highest-value upgrade path for many homeowners.

Get TPO quotes →

Utility rebates — varies by state and utility

Colorado's Xcel Energy offers $1/watt upfront. New York, Massachusetts, and Illinois have the strongest utility programs. Enter your zip code to see your specific utility's current program.

Find my utility rebates →

State tax credits still available in 2026

Colorado: 10% battery credit through 2026. New York: 25% credit up to $5,000. Massachusetts: SMART program $0.03/kWh for 20 years. Maryland / NJ / DC: Active SREC markets paying $85-90/MWh.

Check my state →
Expires Dec 2026

Battery storage — the upgrade worth acting on now

Colorado's battery incentives expire in 2026. Xcel's Renewable Battery Connect pays $250/kW up to $5,000. Colorado state battery credit: 10% through December 2026. Golden CO adds another $3,000. A Colorado homeowner adding battery storage now can stack up to $8,500+ in incentives.

See battery incentives →
Upgrade financing

Four ways to finance
your upgrade.

Cash purchase

Best ROI long term. Combine with utility rebates to reduce upfront cost significantly.

Solar loan

Goodleap and Mosaic offer 0% APR solar loans for qualified buyers. Monthly payment often less than current utility bill savings.

Get loan quotes →

Lease or PPA

$0 down. Installer claims the 48E credit and passes savings to you. Best option if you don't have tax liability to offset.

Get TPO quotes →

PACE financing

Property Assessed Clean Energy loans are repaid through your property tax bill. Available in Colorado, California, Florida, and more.

Get upgrade quotes

Compare upgrade quotes
from vetted installers.

Compare multiple quotes

EnergySage connects you with 3-5 installers who compete on price. Average homeowner saves $1,200 by comparing.

Get free quotes →

Colorado local installers

Sol Country's verified installer directory for Colorado upgrade projects.

Find local installers →

Add battery storage

Tesla Powerwall 3 — Colorado customers can stack Xcel rebate + state credit + city rebate for up to $8,500 off.

Get Powerwall quote →

See if upgrading makes
financial sense at your address.

Sol Country calculates your exact upgrade savings using current panel efficiency data and every available incentive at your zip code.

Run Find My Power →
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