Solar Panels in Denver: 2026 Pricing, Incentives & What to Expect
How Much Do Solar Panels Cost in Denver in 2026?
The cost of a residential solar system in Denver depends primarily on your home's energy usage and how much of your bill you want to offset. Here's a general range:
- Small system (6–8 kW): $18,000–$24,000 before incentives
- Mid-size system (8–10 kW): $24,000–$30,000 before incentives
- Large system (10–14 kW): $30,000–$42,000 before incentives
After applying available Colorado incentives, many homeowners reduce their net cost by 15–25% or more.
Colorado Solar Incentives Available in 2026
Colorado DR 1307 State Tax Credit (10%)
Colorado's DR 1307 offers a 10% state income tax credit on the cost of any solar system that includes battery storage. This is a true credit — it reduces your state tax liability dollar-for-dollar. You can recieve up to 10% of battery storage equipment costs in the form of a tax credit.
City of Golden Solar Rebate (Up to $3,000)
If you live in the City of Golden, you may qualify for a local rebate of up to $3,000 on a solar installation. Income-qualified households at or below 80% AMI can receive double the rebate amount. This stacks with the Colorado state tax credit.
Xcel Energy Net Metering
Xcel Energy customers can participate in net metering — sending excess solar production back to the grid in exchange for bill credits. This lets your roof earn money during peak production hours to offset your nighttime usage.
What Equipment Does Solar Wave Use?
We install REC solar panels paired with Enphase microinverters — a combination known for durability, performance in Colorado's variable climate, and best-in-class monitoring. Every panel operates independently, so shading on one panel doesn't drag down your entire system. We also have alternative system configurations you can explore!
The Solar Installation Process with Solar Wave
- Free proposal — We design your system in Aurora Solar and send a detailed proposal
- Zoom consultation — We walk through the system design, savings estimate, and answer your questions
- Site survey — We visit your home to inspect the roof, attic, and electrical panel
- Contract & deposit — Simple digital contract, deposit to start
- Engineering & permitting — Full plans submitted to Xcel Energy and your local building department
- Installation — Our licensed team installs your system, typically in one day
- Inspection & PTO — We handle the final inspection and Permission to Operate from Xcel
Why Solar Wave?
Solar Wave is a locally owned Denver company with over 10 years of experience serving Front Range homeowners. We don't use commission-based sales reps — which means lower prices and honest advice. We're not here to sell you the biggest system. We're here to design the right one.
Get a Free Solar Proposal
Send us your last 12 months of Xcel Energy bills and we'll design a custom system sized specifically for your home. No pressure. No obligation. Just real numbers. Start your proposal here.
