States / Colorado
Colorado electricity rates and solar payback
Residential electricity price history
Cents per kWh, annual state averages.
Electricity prices by sector, 2025
| Sector | Cents/kWh |
|---|---|
| Residential | 15.85 |
| Commercial | 12.47 |
| Industrial | 9.07 |
| All sectors | 12.77 |
Solar in Colorado
This illustration uses Denver solar yield (1719.8 kWh/kW/year) and the state trailing monthly mean rate of 16.55¢/kWh, 2025-08 through 2026-07. It is sized for average state household use.
Solar simple payback
| System size | 4.7 kW |
|---|---|
| Installed price | $3.62/W |
| Gross cost | $16,995 |
| Annual production | 8,083 kWh |
| Annual value | $1,338 |
| Simple payback estimate | 12.7 years |
Installed price uses the national median, n = 61,712 systems, from Berkeley Lab Tracking the Sun (systems installed in 2025, in 2025 dollars, before incentives).
System size = annual household use divided by local annual yield. Gross cost = size in watts × installed price per watt. Annual value = annual production × the state electricity rate in dollars per kWh. Simple payback = gross cost divided by annual value.
The federal 25D credit ended for systems installed after Dec 31 2025. State and utility incentives are not included. This estimate values all production at retail, with no financing, maintenance, degradation, rate changes or discounting. Actual export payments and roof conditions can change the result. Figures are rounded. Sources and limits.