To have a PV system installed on your roof, your property must have a reasonable amount of non‐shaded, unobstructed roof space during the key sun hours of the day. A southern orientation is ideal, but east‐ and west‐ facing roofs can still capture a portion of the power of a true south‐facing roof. Your roof can be flat or sloped. Rack‐mounted systems on the ground are also an option.
Please review the Candidate Checklist in order to determine your eligibility. Mobile homes are not eligible to participate in the Solar*Rewards Program. However, mobile homes may be eligible to participate in our non-incentivized DG solar program provided they have permanent services and the system is ground mounted. Roof top mounted systems are not permitted on mobile homes.
The size you choose is a tradeoff between the amount of money you want to invest and the amount of electricity you want to produce. A fairly large home during peak electricity usage in the summer uses up to 5 kW of electricity at any given moment. Over a year, that same home will use approximately 12,000 kWh of electricity. You can look at your past bills to calculate how much electricity your home typically uses and determine what percentage you want to cover with solar electricity. The amount of suitable space available on your roof is also something to consider. To be suitable, it must be unobstructed and not shaded, either flat or sloped, at an orientation other than north. You need roughly 120 square feet of roof space for each kilowatt of PV capacity you wish to install.
When it comes to designing a PV system for any residential or commercial system, the 120% rule is used to determine the limit to how much a building or structure can hold or how much energy the site’s service can handle. This rule is meant to calculate how many amps can be backfed through the load side of the site’s existing service equipment with a measure of safety.
Every application is checked for the 120% rule. For all programs, the annual power output (kWh) of a PV system can be no greater than 120% of the total customer usage from the previous 12 months. Any applications that come in over the 120% rule will be declined and asked to adjust system size accordingly.
We calculate this at the time of application review by using the previous 12 months of usage. If 12 months of usage is not available, then we will use the average of the available months (minimum of 4 months is required). If at least 4 months of usage is not available, then we will use the New Homes Usage Table to determine the appropriate system size based on livable square footage. Please note that, in this case, we will require proof of square footage.
Yes, new electric vehicle purchases follow a similar process as new construction with atypical loads. Based on average electric vehicle energy usage identified in The EV Project, up to 250 kWh per month can be added to your average historical load. Here’s how it works:
If you have less than 4 months of consumption history that includes EV load: We will add 250 kWh per month to your consumption history when calculating the 120% rule. This consideration will allow installers to size systems based on the future EV consumption when premise historical data is absent.
If you have at least 4 months of consumption history that includes EV load: We will not make any additions to your consumption when calculating the 120% rule.
When submitting your application, you are required to provide a copy of the vehicle registration showing the registration address, which corresponds with the install address, as well as confirmation of the EV purchase date. If the EV is not in your possession yet, proof of purchase is acceptable in place of the vehicle registration.
The following are three ways that a customer or installer can make a data request:
Xcel Energy customers can obtain billing and consumption information directly by calling 800-895-4999 and speaking with one of our customer service representatives.
Xcel Energy residential customers can sign up at no cost for My Account access to view and download up to 2 years of consumption history for their home.
Solar installers may request data for a customer by completing the Data Consent Form. Submit the request, and the completed and signed form to Xcel Energy at datarequest@xcelenergy.com.
If the building is new construction, we will use the data we have to determine if the kW system is appropriate for the site. You can use the New Homes Usage Table to determine the appropriate system size for your home or business. Please note that proof of conditioned square footage is required.
The new construction table is designed to provide an estimate of a home’s annual electricity use based on square footage. This is necessary to insure we are in compliance with the regulation that states PV systems can only provide up to 120% of a home’s annual energy use. The table is based on survey results of average electricity use for homes within the square footage parameters listed. If the home in question is larger than typical, we do not have any good data on how much energy it may consume in a year. The only way we can properly size a system is if we are provided with load calculations for the home such as an energy model from Xcel’s Energy Design Assistance Program. Another way to go about this might be to start at our 4,000 sq. ft. large end and add whatever “extra” loads may be in the house. For example, if the home has a pool/hot tub a pump load could be added. If it has multiple refrigerators or a/c units those loads could be added. The builder will have to provide this type of information to us.
As proof of square footage for new construction, we require either a blueprint or floor plan. The document must clearly indicate the total livable square footage and address, and must be uploaded at the time of application submission. As proof of square footage for buildings that are not new constriction, we require one of these options, or a printout of the property record from the City & County Assessor’s Office. Square footage documents from Zillow, Realtor.com, etc. will not be accepted.
Please follow the instructions provided by PVWatts in the FAQs on their website. They are as follows: “Note that the relation of system output to the system size is linear. To run a PV system smaller than the allowed lower limit of PVWatts, run PVWatts using a system size that is some multiple larger than your desired system size; e.g., 10 or 100 times larger. Then divide the estimated electricity produced by this same multiplier.”
We do not allow Solar*Rewards PV systems to be moved from one premise to another. You must keep the PV system on your home for the life of the contract.
In circumstances where the PV system needs to be removed for roof repair/replacement, your solar installer can remove the system for up to 90 days. The customer must notify Xcel Energy, in writing, of any plans to remove the system temporarily at least 20 business days prior to removal of the system. Once the system is ready to be installed again, the customer must notify Xcel Energy in writing a minimum of 5 business days prior to the re-installation. Xcel Energy will have up to 10 business days to review and respond.
The meters need to remain onsite during this time and should not be removed from the premise for any reason. A new electrical inspection may be required prior to turning the system on again.
If you sell your home after the application process is complete, you may transfer the Solar*Rewards Contract to the new owner with an Assignment of Contract The owner would assume responsibility for the terms of the contract. If the new homeowner elects not to sign the assignment form, you as the original contract signer would retain responsibility for the contract. In the event that damages are sought for breach of contract, those damages are limited to repayment of the prorated portion of the remaining contract term. The new homeowner needs to sign a new Interconnection Agreement with Xcel Energy to receive the benefits of the net‐metered rate. The new homeowner will also need to supply proof of insurance. Please visit our website for the instruction and forms required to complete an Assignment of Contract.
Xcel Energy is not required to issue 1099s for rebates and REC payments. The rules that require 1099 reporting are different than the rules that determine taxable income, and there are several exceptions to 1099 reporting that apply to different payments and recipients. Therefore, whether or not a company issues a 1099 should not be viewed as an assertion by the company about whether a payment should be included in the taxable income of that recipient. As a matter of policy, Xcel Energy does not provide tax advice to its customers and other businesses.
The service and availability charge is a flat monthly charge. The “Service” portion of these charges recovers the cost of meter reading, billing, customer accounting and customer service. The “Facility” portion of these charges recovers the fixed costs associated with Xcel Energy’s investment in customer‐related facilities such as meters and service laterals, also included is the GRSA and RESA (See back of bill for explanation.)
Please review the Candidate Checklist in order to determine eligibility. Mobile homes are not eligible to participate in the Solar*Rewards Program.
The size is a tradeoff between the amount of money they want to invest and the amount of electricity they want to produce. A fairly large home during peak electricity usage in the summer uses up to 5 kW of electricity at any given moment. Over a year, that same home will use approximately 12,000 kWh of electricity. You can look at past bills to calculate how much electricity the home typically uses and determine what percentage they want to cover with solar electricity.
The amount of suitable space available on the roof is also something to consider. To be suitable, it must be unobstructed and not shaded, either flat or sloped, at an orientation other than north. You need roughly 120 square feet of roof space for each kilowatt of PV capacity you wish to install.
When it comes to designing a PV system for any residential or commercial system, the 120% rule is used to determine the limit to how much a building or structure can hold or how much energy the site’s service can handle. This rule is meant to calculate how many amps can be backfed through the load side of the site’s existing service equipment with a measure of safety.
Yes, new electric vehicle purchases follow a similar process as new construction with atypical loads. Based on average electric vehicle energy usage identified in The EV Project, up to 250 kWh per month can be added to the average historical load. Here’s how it works:
If they have less than 4 months of consumption history that includes EV load:
We will add 250 kWh per month to the consumption history when calculating the 120% rule. This consideration will allow installers to size systems based on the future EV consumption when premise historical data is absent.
If they have at least 4 months of consumption history that includes EV load:
We will not make any additions to the consumption when calculating the 120% rule.
When submitting your application, you are required to provide a copy of the vehicle registration showing the registration address, which corresponds with the install address, as well as confirmation of the EV purchase date. If the EV is not in possession yet, proof of purchase is acceptable in place of the vehicle registration.
No, shading is not permitted to be accounted for in the 120% Rule calculation for the following reasons:
• No administratively consistent process to calculate and verify shading effects for individual projects, and
• Shade effects are not permanent — trees can be removed and shading varies over time — which jeopardizes the customer’s consistency with the 120% Rule.
If the site cannot provide the customer with the desired amount of solar generation due to shading, consider other renewable programs to pair with on-site generation such as Community-based Solar or Windsource.
The following are three ways that a customer or installer can make a data request:
Xcel Energy customers can obtain billing and consumption information directly by calling 800.895.4999 and speaking with one of our customer service representatives.
Xcel Energy residential customers can sign up at no cost for My Account access to view and download up to two years of consumption history for their home.
Solar installers may request data for a customer by completing the Data Consent Form. Submit the request, and the completed and signed form to Xcel Energy at datarequest@xcelenergy.com.
If the building is new construction, we will use the data we have to determine if the kW system is appropriate for the site. You can use the New Homes Usage Table to determine the appropriate system size for the home or business. Please note that proof of conditioned square footage is required.
The new construction table is designed to provide an estimate of a home’s annual electricity use based on square footage. This is necessary to insure we are in compliance with the regulation that states PV systems can only provide up to 120% of a home’s annual energy use. The table is based on survey results of average electricity use for homes within the square footage parameters listed. If the home in question is larger than typical, we do not have any good data on how much energy it may consume in a year. The only way we can properly size a system is if we are provided with load calculations for the home such as an energy model from Xcel Energy Design Assistance Program. Another way to go about this might be to start at our 4,000 sq. ft. large end and add whatever “extra” loads may be in the house. For example, if the home has a pool/hot‐tub a pump load could be added. If it has multiple refrigerators or a/c units those loads could be added. The builder will have to provide this type of information to us.
As proof of square footage for new construction, we require either a blueprint or floor plan. The document must clearly indicate the total livable square footage and address, and must be uploaded at the time of application submission. As proof of square footage for buildings that are not new constriction, we require one of these options, or a printout of the property record from the City & County Assessor’s Office. Square footage documents from Zillow, Realtor.com, etc. will not be accepted.
Please follow the instructions provided by PVWatts in the FAQs on their website. They are as follows: “Note that the relation of system output to the system size is linear. To run a PV system smaller than the allowed lower limit of PVWatts, run PVWatts using a system size that is some multiple larger than your desired system size; e.g., 10 or 100 times larger. Then divide the estimated electricity produced by this same multiplier."
An Energy Load Analysis is needed when the usage at the premise does not justify the system size or if the usage is less than 4 months. The Energy Load Analysis must be signed and stamped by a Professional Engineer (PE). The premise address and annual kWh must be shown as well.
Set your hot water heater to no higher than 120 degrees Fahrenheit. This isn't just energy smart—it's also safer, since it reduces the likelihood of accidental burns.
Always call 811 before digging in your yard to avoid hitting buried gas or electric lines. Not only is it the safe thing to do, but it's the law.
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