What Colorado still offers after the federal credit ended
Every incentive on this page is verified against Colorado government sources - and the expired ones salespeople still quote are called out.
The 30% federal solar tax credit ended for installations finished after December 31, 2025 - Otis systems completed in 2026 get $0 from it.
Under Colorado's export rules, compensation for surplus power decides the payback - which typically runs 10-14 years on unsubsidized 2026 math.
Installed home solar for Otis homeowners averages about $2.58 a watt across the U.S. marketplace - roughly $30,960 for a 12 kW system before incentives.
If a salesperson in Otis tells you a 30% federal tax credit applies to your 2026 installation, they are quoting a dead law. What may still exist: Colorado's own incentives and tax treatment, listed below, and lease/PPA arrangements where a company claims commercial credits - in which case the credit belongs to them, not you.
Leased and PPA systems deserve extra scrutiny in 2026: the sales pitch often bundles 'tax savings' that now accrue to the leasing company under separate commercial rules - not to you. Get every claimed saving in writing, attributed to a specific law, before signing a 20-25 year contract.
The 2026 numbers
| System size | Installed price (marketplace avg) | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| 6 kW | $15,480 | Small roof / low usage |
| 8 kW | $20,640 | Typical starter system |
| 10 kW | $25,800 | Family home with AC |
| 12 kW | $30,960 | Large home / EV charging |
| Home battery (optional) | $12,000-$16,000 | Backup power + self-consumption |
Get solar quotes for Otis
These platforms collect bids from licensed installers so you can compare against the same spec. Prices come from installers, not from this site.
Disclosure: this is an independent guide. If you request quotes through a link here, the platform may pay this site a referral fee. That fee never changes your quotes.
Colorado rules that decide your payback
| Rule | Colorado status |
|---|---|
| Export compensation (net metering) | Colorado requires investor-owned utilities to offer net metering: under PUC Rule 3664 (4 CCR 723-3), excess generation is carried forward month to month and credited at a 1:1 ratio against the customer's retail kWh consumption, with any accrued excess credits compensated within 60 days after each calendar year at the utility's average hourly incremental cost of electricity supply, unless the customer makes a one-time written election to roll credits forward indefinitely. |
| State incentive | Colorado Sales and Use Tax Exemption for Components Used to Produce Energy from a Renewable Energy Source (Sec. 39-26-724, C.R.S.); utility rebates may also apply. |
| Sales tax on the system | Exempt |
| Property tax on added home value | Excluded |
A Colorado net-metered system may be sized to supply no more than 120 percent of the customer's average annual electricity consumption at the site, and unless the homeowner files a one-time written election to keep rolling credits over, leftover credits are cashed out each year at the utility's average hourly incremental cost - well below the retail rate the credits were originally worth.
This guide is research, not advice: an independent summary of published prices and state rules. It is not an installer, lender or tax advisor - verify incentive eligibility with a licensed tax professional before relying on it.
What this means for Otis roofs
The honest 2026 answer for Otis: solar pays back slower without the 30% credit - paybacks that ran 7-10 years often now run 10-14 - but electricity rates keep rising and hardware is the cheapest it has ever been. The deciding factor is Colorado's export compensation, covered in the net metering section.
This guide is research, not advice: an independent summary of published prices and state rules. It is not an installer, lender or tax advisor - verify incentive eligibility with a licensed tax professional before relying on it.
Getting Otis quotes
The spread between the highest and lowest bid for the same roof routinely hits 30-50%, because solar quotes carry very different sales overheads. Two or three independent bids collected against the same system size is the single highest-value hour in the whole project.
This guide is research, not advice: an independent summary of published prices and state rules. It is not an installer, lender or tax advisor - verify incentive eligibility with a licensed tax professional before relying on it.
Common questions
Is there still a federal solar tax credit in 2026?
No. The 30% Residential Clean Energy Credit was repealed effective for systems placed in service after December 31, 2025, per the IRS. Only systems finished by the end of 2025 qualified. State-level incentives are separate and some survive - check the state page in this guide.
How do I check if a solar quote is fair?
Divide the total price by the system's wattage. The U.S. marketplace average is about $2.58 per watt installed; $2.30-3.00 covers most fair quotes depending on roof complexity. Above that, ask exactly what you are paying extra for - in writing.
How much does home solar cost in 2026?
The U.S. marketplace average is about $2.58 per watt installed - roughly $15,500 for a 6 kW system and $31,000 for 12 kW, before any state incentives. Quotes meaningfully above that level deserve a written explanation of what justifies the premium.
Is my roof even suitable for solar?
Three things decide it: orientation (south-facing is best in the U.S., east-west workable), shade (trees or taller buildings across midday hours can sink the math), and roof age (if the shingles have under 10 years left, reroof first - removing and reinstalling panels later costs thousands). Any honest installer assesses all three before quoting a number.
What happens if my installer goes out of business?
Panel and inverter warranties come from the manufacturers and survive, but the workmanship warranty usually dies with the company. That is a real risk in the post-credit shakeout - prefer installers with years of local history, and get manufacturer-backed workmanship coverage where offered.
Get solar quotes for Otis
These platforms collect bids from licensed installers so you can compare against the same spec. Prices come from installers, not from this site.
Disclosure: this is an independent guide. If you request quotes through a link here, the platform may pay this site a referral fee. That fee never changes your quotes.