Colorado Springs approves new solar net-metering options
The 7-2 council vote set the options to take effect April 1, 2027. Colorado Springs Utilities projects average residential bills under either option will be about $38 higher than under the frozen net-metering rate.
Colorado Springs City Council voted 7-2 on Sept. 22 to approve two new net-metering options for residential and small-commercial customers, which take effect April 1, 2027, the council meeting record shows.
Councilmember Nancy Henjum opposed the changes, saying distributed battery storage for solar customers was not yet in place. “I cannot vote in favor of this because we don’t have that distributed storage in place now,” she said. The Gazette also reported that Colorado Springs Utilities CEO Travas Deal said the utility was targeting a battery program start around March 2027, while Councilmember Roland Rainey said storage solutions were expected early the following year.
One option, called Demand, preserves one-to-one energy exchange and monthly rollover of credits, but adds seasonal demand charges based on a customer’s highest 15-minute net on-peak demand during a billing period. The rate-case decision describes battery storage as a potential way for customers to manage demand, not a condition for the new rates. The adopted resolution and tariff sheets detail both options.
The other option, Energy Wise Net Metering Standard, credits excess electricity at applicable time-of-use rates, does not carry unused credits forward month to month and adds a $1-per-day Grid Access Charge. Which option costs less depends on a customer’s electricity use and generation patterns.
Colorado Springs Utilities projects that residential customers under either new option will have average monthly bills about $38 higher than under the frozen net-metering option in 2027. That is an average projection, not a guaranteed increase for each household; the utility did not provide a corresponding average for small-commercial customers. At an August rate-case hearing, all 36 people who spoke opposed the proposal. The rate-case decision gives the bill comparison and hearing context.
Eligible existing residential and commercial customers may remain on frozen rates until April 1, 2032, or choose a new option earlier, subject to Colorado Springs Utilities’ transition schedule.