Small Business Solar Incentives

Customers must use a CoSEIA pre-approved installer. Installers may be added to the list by contacting CoSEIA.

The United Power Solar Incentives program is offered in conjunction with the State of Colorado Governor's Energy Office (GEO) solar matching grants program. Please read through the following criteria carefully before purchasing or installing equipment.

Applications will be accepted beginning February 2, 2009.

All New Energy Incentives require customers to contact United Power's Energy Management team prior to purchasing or installing any equipment to ensure eligibility. Rebate recipients will be selected on a first come, first served basis and funds are limited.

For more information about United Power's Solar Incentives,
please call 303-637-1250.

Solar Electric Installations

Program Details & Requirements

Rebate Process

Application

Solar Hot Water Installations

Program Details & Requirements

Rebate Process

Application

 

Small Business Solar Electric Installations

Program Details & Requirements

• Applications can only be accepted and the solar equipment must be purchased after February 2, 2009. Installations must be completed by June 30, 2009.
• United Power will pay $1.50 per DC rated watt up to $7,500. The GEO will match this rebate and represents a maximum of $15,000 per installed system.
• The customer can install additional capacity (up to 25 kW) but will only receive rebates for the first 5 kW and a total maximum rebate of $15,000.
• The total portion of the proposed PV project cost to be covered by funding from this program shall not exceed 37.5% of the total installation cost.
• Provide all necessary documentation including all proper local permits and inspections, a 20 year Renewable Energy Credit contract, net metering/interconnection agreement, a completed engineering study through United Power, and a minimum of $300,000 in additional liability insurance.
• Customers may be eligible for additional tax credits from the federal government. Applicants should contact their tax advisor for the most accurate information.
• Only one rebate per customer.
• Only available to existing business customers within the United Power service territory.
• New construction and industrial park development properties are not eligible under this matching grants program.
• Program is not available to customers currently on the United Power Time-of-Day rates. The current metering device doesn’t work well for this type of solar application.
• Building owners may reside out of state.
• Program will be available for new DC name-plate rated systems between .5 kW – 25 kW.
• Program application must include a check for $100 made out to United Power to complete the Engineering Study for the customers Interconnection Agreement.
• Customer must contract with a pre-approved installer from the official program list.
  • The current list of pre-approved installers can be found at the COSEIA web-site. http://www.coseia.org/newsite/index.php?id=133. This list is periodically updated.
  • Installers can be added to the list by contacting the COSEIA office.
• This must be new equipment, purchased and installed on the customers’ site after the official program start date of this matching grants program.
• The equipment must be UL 1741 approved. This includes both the solar panels and the inverter.
  • Verification can be found at www.consumerenergycenter.org/erprebate/equipment.html  
• The system solar orientation must be documented and achieve a minimum of 90% of ideal orientation to be part of this program.
  • Orientation performance will be calculated using the NREL program – PVWatts Calculator Version 1. / Boulder.  Found at the following web-site: http://rredc.nrel.gov/solar/codes_algs/PVWATTS/version1/US/Colorado/Boulder.html.
  • Rebates for systems that do not meet 90% of optimum orientation will be prorated.
• The customer must submit a list of all energy efficiency improvements completed in the building including any commissioning completed in the last 5 yrs. A rate analysis must also be completed.
• Customer must obtain and provide copies of all permits and inspections.
• Customer must agree to manage trees or other potential shade sources.
• Customer must sign a United Power Net-Metering / Interconnection Agreement.
• Customer must document liability insurance at the site for a minimum of $300,000.
• Customer must sign over the Renewable Energy Credit (REC) for a period of 20 years.
• All participants will be required to complete a GEO Program Survey.
• The GEO will conduct an on-site verification of 10% of the rebated installations. Customers that are selected must be willing to participate in this process with the GEO.
• PV Installations must include a 5 year installation warranty.
• Applicant must document that the project went through a competitive bid process. A standard bid form template is available through United Power.

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Small Business Solar Hot Water Installations

• Applications can only be accepted and the solar equipment must be purchased after February 2, 2009. Installations must be completed by June 30, 2009.
  • United Power will pay 15% of the  total system costs with a minimum requirement of 60,000 Btu/day based on SRCC rating for clear day/C interval with a minimum solar tank size of 80 gallons.
  • The GEO will match this rebate.
  • Total rebate will not exceed $9,000
• Intended to provide hot water to an existing small business.
• Customer can install additional capacity, but will only receive the total maximum rebate of $9,000.
• Customer must use a CoSEIA pre-approved installer.
• All proper permits and inspections must be provided and documented.
• Customers may be eligible for additional tax credits from the federal government. Applicants should contact their tax advisor for the most accurate information.
• Only one rebate per customer.
• Only available to existing business customers within the United Power service territory.
  • New construction and industrial park development properties are not eligible under this matching grants program.
  • Building owners may reside out of state.
• Program is only available to customers with electric hot water systems.
• Customers converting from an alternate fuel to an electric system to take advantage of this program could qualify for additional rebates on electric water heaters.
• These additional rebates would not be a part of the GEO Solar matching grants program.
• Customer must contract with a pre-approved installer from the official program list.
• The current list of pre-approved installers can be found at the COSEIA web-site. http://www.coseia.org/newsite/index.php?id=133. This list is periodically updated.
• Installers can be added to the list by contacting the COSEIA office.
• This must be new equipment, purchased and installed on the customers’ site after the official program start date of this matching grants program.
• The Solar Hot Water system must be SRCC approved.
  • SRCC ratings can be found at www.solar-rating.org/ratings/ratings.htm.
• The system solar orientation must be documented and achieve a minimum of 80% of ideal orientation to be part of this program.
  • Orientation performance will be calculated using the NREL program – PVWatts Calculator Version 1. / Boulder. 
  • http://rredc.nrel.gov/solar/codes_algs/PVWATTS/version1/US/Colorado/Boulder.html
• The customer must submit a list of all energy efficiency improvements completed in the building including any commissioning completed in the last 5 yrs.
• Customer must obtain and provide copies of all permits and inspections.
• Customer must agree to manage trees or other shade sources.
• All participants will be required to complete and submit a GEO Program Survey to the Program Administrator as part of the rebate process.
• The GEO will conduct an on-site verification of 10% of the rebated installations. Customers that are selected must be willing to participate in this process with the GEO.
• Solar Hot Water installations must include a 2 year installation warranty.
• Applicant must document that the project went through a competitive bid process. A standard bid form template is available through United Power.

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Rebate Process

• Application: Customer has read the requirements for the United Power / Solar Electric Program and submits a signed application with all associated information provided and a check for $100.
  
  • Rebate recipients will be selected on a first come – first served basis based on the date the original application having been received by United Power. Once the matching grants money for this program are exhausted, no further rebates will be issued unless additional funds are allocated towards this program.

• Review: United Power will review the customers application for accuracy and whether this applicant is qualified for this rebate program.
  
  
  • This is a pre-approval process. A customer can make changes in equipment, orientation or installers during the process but must document and receive approval from United Power for any changes from the original application.

• Acknowledgement: After the review, the customer will receive from United Power a letter acknowledging receipt of the application.
  
  
  • Approval: Summarizes the system specifications and provides documentation of the estimated rebate. This rebate will be reserved for a period of 90 days from the date of the approval letter. At the end of 90 days an applicant can ask for an extension but must be able to document or demonstrate that construction of the project is in progress. United Power holds the right to deny or extend the original application. If the Applicant fails to meet this 90 day deadline or wishes to be removed from the process, United Power will open that rebate money to the next available recipient.
    
    
  • Denial: Customer will be informed that their application has been denied. The basis for that denial will be explained. The customer can make the necessary adjustments and reapply with a new signed application.

• Energy Audit:  Customer will schedule with United Power an appropriate time for an on-site energy audit. The Energy Auditor will collect the necessary data at this time.

• Completed System Installation: Once the system has been installed, United Power will schedule with the customer a final on-site inspection to verify the equipment and orientation of the system against the specifications from the original application. In addition, the customer will receive their energy audit documents.

• Process Rebate: All paperwork including copies of permits, inspections, insurance, interconnection agreements, REC contracts and the invoice for the purchase and installation of the equipment. At this point the rebate will be processed and mailed directly to the customer in a period of 6 – 8 weeks. The GEO portion of this rebate will be included in this payment to the customer.

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Rebate Applications

Applications for Solar Incentives will be accepted beginning February 2, 2009. Applications must be complete in order to be considered. United Power will provide notice of receipt of application and will contact you to initiate rebate process. For more information, please call 303-637-1250.

Return completed application and fees, if applicable, to:

United Power
Solar Incentives
PO BOX 929
Brighton, CO 80601

Application for Small Business Solar Electric Systems (pdf)

Small business solar electric application must include a check for $100 made out to United Power to complete the engineering study for the customer interconnection agreement.

Application for Small Business Solar Hot Water Systems (pdf)

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