Home » Solar Companies » Best Solar Companies in Colorado (2026): 13 Installers Compared

Best Solar Companies in Colorado (2026): 13 Installers Compared

Compare 13 solar companies that work in Colorado: rating, warranties, licenses, offices and contacts.

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Written by Dean MahmoudChief Executive OfficerDean Mahmoud is the CEO of EcoGen America. Since 2021, his work has connected homeowners with residential solar installers and involved direct rela...Learn more, Checked by Trevor GuildayFounderTrevor has worked in home improvement and residential solar since 2016 and maintains the EcoGen Solar Cost Index.Learn more (prices and cost data) and Layton Smith Sr.IRS Enrolled Agent and Co-Founder, HofflerSmith Financial ServicesLayton Smith Sr. is an IRS Enrolled Agent and co-founder of HofflerSmith Financial Services in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, which he started in 1999. He has worked in tax practice for more than 27 years, representing clients before the IRS and handling tax planning and preparation for individuals and small businesses. H...Learn more (tax info) Last updated
Top Solar Companies in Colorado

Colorado solar companies

1. Sunrun12. Solar Wave23. Smart Wave Solar34. Namaste Solar44. Namaste Solar45. Shaw Solar56. Photon Brothers66. Photon Brothers66. Photon Brothers69. Big Dog Solar99. Big Dog Solar910. Sandbox Solar1011. Solar Power Pros11

  1. Sunrun

    National company · Denver, CO office · solar since 2007

    4Very goodEcoGen rating · 68/100
    Workmanship
    10 years when you buy the system; for the contract term on a subscription (lease)
    Roof penetrations
    5 years
    Batteries
    Tesla Powerwall
    Ways to pay
    Cash and lease (Sunrun Subscription Plan)
    Solar since
    2007 (company)

    Denver office: 717 17th St #500, Denver, CO 80202 DirectionsPhone: (833) 324-5886Website: sunrun.com

    How this rating adds up
    • Licensing15/30
    • Warranty protection20/35
    • Local presence15/15
    • Track record10/10
    • Options8/10
    Visit Sunrun website

  2. Solar Wave

    Denver, CO · serves the Front Range · solar since 2018

    3.5GoodEcoGen rating · 59/100
    Workmanship
    25 years (“25-year equipment & workmanship warranty” on purchased systems)
    Roof penetrations
    Not published
    Batteries
    Tesla Powerwall 3 and Enphase IQ batteries
    Ways to pay
    Cash, solar loan, LightReach PPA and Propel prepaid lease
    Solar since
    2018

    Denver office: 2301 Blake Street, Suite 100, Denver, CO 80205 DirectionsPhone: (720) 730-4129Website: thesolarwave.com

    How this rating adds up
    • Licensing10/30
    • Warranty protection20/35
    • Local presence15/15
    • Track record4/10
    • Options10/10
    Visit Solar Wave website

  3. Smart Wave Solar

    Bluffdale, UT · Denver office · serves Denver-area towns

    3.5GoodEcoGen rating · 58/100
    Workmanship
    25 years (“Smart Wave Solar’s workmanship guarantee is valid for 25 years”)
    Roof penetrations
    Not published
    Batteries
    Tesla Powerwall 3 (Tesla Certified Installer, per the company)
    Ways to pay
    Cash and financing (lender not named)
    Solar since
    Not published

    Denver office: 4201 Madison Street, Denver, CO 80216 DirectionsPhone: (720) 547-3422Website: smartwavesolar.com

    How this rating adds up
    • Licensing10/30
    • Warranty protection25/35
    • Local presence15/15
    • Track record0/10
    • Options8/10
    Visit Smart Wave Solar website

  1. Namaste Solar

    Longmont, CO · Denver office · solar since 2005

    3.5GoodEcoGen rating · 55/100
    Workmanship
    10 years, per its residential FAQ
    Roof penetrations
    Not published
    Batteries
    Enphase IQ Battery 5P and Tesla Powerwall 3
    Ways to pay
    Cash, $0-down loan (lender not named), prepaid Impact ESA and a PPA through LightReach by Palmetto
    Solar since
    2005

    Longmont headquarters: 1900 S Sunset St, Unit 1F, Longmont, CO 80501 DirectionsDenver office: 888 Federal Boulevard, Denver, CO 80204 DirectionsPhone: (303) 447-0300Website: namastesolar.com

    How this rating adds up
    • Licensing10/30
    • Warranty protection10/35
    • Local presence15/15
    • Track record10/10
    • Options10/10
    View Namaste Solar profile

  2. Shaw Solar

    Durango, CO · serves southwest Colorado · solar since 2006

    3.5GoodEcoGen rating · 48/100
    Workmanship
    5 years
    Roof penetrations
    Not published
    Batteries
    Tesla Powerwall 3, FranklinWH and Enphase
    Ways to pay
    $0-down loans (RENU and the La Plata Electric on-bill program) and an Energy Service Agreement
    Solar since
    2006

    Durango office and warehouse: 1479 Hwy 3, Durango, CO 81301 DirectionsPhone: (970) 259-5606Website: shawsolar.com

    How this rating adds up
    • Licensing10/30
    • Warranty protection5/35
    • Local presence15/15
    • Track record10/10
    • Options8/10
    Visit Shaw Solar website

  3. Photon Brothers

    Westminster, CO · Colorado Springs and Centennial offices · solar since 2013

    3.5GoodEcoGen rating · 47/100Google 4.7 ★ (518 reviews)
    Workmanship
    Not published for new systems; 10 years on detach-and-reroof reinstalls
    Roof penetrations
    Not published
    Batteries
    Tesla Powerwall 3 (Tesla Premier Certified Installer, per the company)
    Ways to pay
    Cash, loan (lenders found by its in-house team), prepaid Energy Service Agreement and 25-year lease
    Solar since
    2013

    Westminster headquarters (Denver): 7705 W 108th Ave, Westminster, CO 80021 DirectionsColorado Springs office: 752 Clark Pl, Colorado Springs, CO 80915 DirectionsCentennial office (DTC): 9869 E Easter Ave, Centennial, CO 80112 DirectionsWebsite: photonbrothers.com

    How this rating adds up
    • Licensing15/30
    • Warranty protection0/35
    • Local presence15/15
    • Track record7/10
    • Options10/10
    View Photon Brothers profile

  4. Epex Home Performance

    Albuquerque, NM · Colorado office in Denver

    3.5GoodEcoGen rating · 45/100
    Workmanship
    “Full 25 year guarantee” on the system, per its older process page; its new site names a workmanship warranty without a term
    Roof penetrations
    Not published
    Batteries
    Battery storage offered
    Ways to pay
    Cash purchase, Solar loan, Solar lease, PPA
    Solar since
    Not published

    License not checked yet: we could not check this company in the Colorado license records yet. Ask for its license number and look it up before you sign.

    Denver, CO: 2120 W 7th Ave, Denver, CO 80204 DirectionsWebsite: epexhome.com

    How this rating adds up
    • Licensing0/30
    • Warranty protection20/35
    • Local presence15/15
    • Track record0/10
    • Options10/10
    View Epex Home Performance profile

  5. Palmetto

    Charlotte, NC · no Colorado office published

    3.5GoodEcoGen rating · 45/100
    Workmanship
    10 years
    Roof penetrations
    5 years
    Batteries
    Battery storage offered
    Ways to pay
    Purchase, Solar loan, LightReach energy plan (lease or PPA)
    Solar since
    Not published

    Website: palmetto.com

    How this rating adds up
    • Licensing10/30
    • Warranty protection20/35
    • Local presence5/15
    • Track record0/10
    • Options10/10
    View Palmetto profile

  6. Big Dog Solar

    Chubbuck, ID · Grand Junction and Windsor, CO hubs · solar since 2008

    3AverageEcoGen rating · 65/100Google 4.6 ★ (546 reviews)
    Workmanship
    10 years on purchased systems
    Roof penetrations
    10 years on purchased and $0-down systems
    Batteries
    FranklinWH aPower2 and Tesla Powerwall 3
    Ways to pay
    Cash purchase, lease-to-own and a $0-down PPA (provider not named); all three listed for Colorado
    Solar since
    2008 (18 years, per the company)

    State discipline: Idaho DOPL lists 9 disciplinary actions on its electrical license (details are not published online). Our rating is one star lower because of it.

    Grand Junction hub: 3196 Hall Ave, Grand Junction, CO 81504 DirectionsWindsor hub: 9203 Eastman Park Dr, Unit 2, Windsor, CO 80550 DirectionsPhone: (970) 875-6202Website: bigdogsolar.com

    How this rating adds up
    • Licensing10/30
    • Warranty protection20/35
    • Local presence15/15
    • Track record10/10
    • Options10/10
    View Big Dog Solar profile

  7. Sandbox Solar

    Fort Collins, CO · serves the Front Range · solar since 2015

    3AverageEcoGen rating · 42/100
    Workmanship
    Not published; its residential page lists parts, labor and workmanship coverage without a term
    Roof penetrations
    Not published
    Batteries
    Enphase IQ batteries (its main storage offer)
    Ways to pay
    Cash (5% prepay discount), RENU loan and third-party ownership
    Solar since
    2015

    Fort Collins office: 112 Racquette Drive, Unit C, Fort Collins, CO 80524 DirectionsPhone: (970) 673-7733Website: sandboxsolar.com

    How this rating adds up
    • Licensing10/30
    • Warranty protection0/35
    • Local presence15/15
    • Track record7/10
    • Options10/10
    Visit Sandbox Solar website

  8. Solar Power Pros

    Centennial, CO · serves the Front Range · solar since 2013

    3AverageEcoGen rating · 42/100
    Workmanship
    Not published; the company mentions workmanship warranties without a term
    Roof penetrations
    Not published
    Batteries
    Tesla Powerwall 3, Enphase IQ Battery and FranklinWH
    Ways to pay
    Cash, $0-down loan (lenders not named) and a PPA through Palmetto LightReach
    Solar since
    2013

    Centennial office: 7332 S Alton Way, Unit 13K, Centennial, CO 80112 DirectionsPhone: (303) 797-6527Website: solarpowerpros.com

    How this rating adds up
    • Licensing10/30
    • Warranty protection0/35
    • Local presence15/15
    • Track record7/10
    • Options10/10
    Visit Solar Power Pros website

  9. Solar Side Up

    Golden, CO (state registry) · serves the Denver metro area · solar since 2011

    3AverageEcoGen rating · 33/100
    Workmanship
    Not published
    Roof penetrations
    Not published
    Batteries
    Enphase IQ Battery (Enphase Platinum Installer, per the company)
    Ways to pay
    Cash and credit union loans, including the RENU program
    Solar since
    2011

    Phone: (720) 740-7085Website: solarsideup.com

    How this rating adds up
    • Licensing10/30
    • Warranty protection0/35
    • Local presence5/15
    • Track record10/10
    • Options8/10
    Visit Solar Side Up website

  10. Sunforce Solar

    Las Cruces, NM · serves Colorado Springs · solar since 2020 (company)

    3AverageEcoGen rating · 29/100
    Workmanship
    Not published; its FAQ mentions its own workmanship guarantee without a term
    Roof penetrations
    Not published
    Batteries
    Enphase IQ Battery 5P and 10C
    Ways to pay
    Cash, $0-down loan, PPA and lease
    Solar since
    2020 (company)

    Phone: (575) 652-6806Website: sunforce.solar

    How this rating adds up
    • Licensing10/30
    • Warranty protection0/35
    • Local presence5/15
    • Track record4/10
    • Options10/10
    Visit Sunforce Solar website

Request Colorado solar quotes

Ready to compare Colorado prices?

Enter your ZIP code to ask solar providers that serve your area for quotes. Compare each quote with the checklist below.

Solar providers that serve your area may contact you, and they pay EcoGen for the introduction. Providers can include installers, solar marketplaces and lead exchanges, and more than one may contact you. How we make money.

Need to know

13solar companies rated
4 / 5Sunrun (Very good)
  • We rated 13 Colorado solar companies on licensing, warranties, local presence, track record and options. The top three: Sunrun (4, Very good), Solar Wave (3.5, Good) and Smart Wave Solar (3.5, Good).
  • Your utility sets the deal. Xcel, Black Hills, co-ops and larger city utilities credit exports one for one, but credits left at year end earn only about 1.5 to 2 cents per kWh at Xcel and Colorado Springs, so size the system to a year of use.
  • Colorado has no general contractor license. Solar electrical work needs a DORA-registered electrical contractor or, under SB25-165, a registered photovoltaic installer; installers must register by December 31, 2026.

What solar costs in Colorado

$3.02per watt installed
$21,140typical 7.00 kW system
$16,100 to $40,900for 6 kW to 12 kW

No federal credit for systems you own. The 2.9% sales tax exemption and a 10% state battery credit still apply. Batteries and roof work cost extra. Compare each quote’s price per watt with these numbers.

Source: EcoGen Solar Cost Index (September 2026 Edition), prices as of September 25, 2026. Full breakdown: Colorado solar panel prices.

Solar incentives, tax breaks and rebates in Colorado

Net metering
State law makes Xcel Energy, Black Hills Energy, co-ops and city utilities with 5,000 or more customers credit each extra kWh you send out against a kWh you use later.
Year-end credits
Leftover credits are paid out at a low rate unless you roll them over. Xcel's last printed rate is 1.529 cents per kWh (2023); Colorado Springs Utilities pays about 2 cents.
Battery tax credit
A state income tax credit of 10% of a home battery's purchase price, through tax year 2029. A leased battery gets no credit.
Xcel battery payment
$250 per kW of battery power upfront, or $1,000 per kW for income-qualified homes. Tesla Powerwall and Enphase only; approved for 2026 and 2027.
Xcel Solar*Rewards
$3 per watt, up to 10 kW, for income-qualified Xcel homes, and $0.50 per watt in listed disproportionately impacted communities. The 2026 budget is $1,000,000.
Holy Cross Energy
$100 per kW for solar on up to 25 kW, and up to $12,500 for a battery on the Time of Use rate. Get the approval letter before work starts.
Sales tax
No 2.9% state sales tax on solar equipment or a home battery. City and county sales taxes may still apply.
Property tax
Solar equipment on a home is exempt from Colorado property tax, whether you own it or a company owns it (up to 100 kW).
Federal credit
The homeowner credit ended for systems installed after December 31, 2025. Colorado has no state income tax credit for solar panels.

Who qualifies, deadlines and sources: Colorado solar incentives.

What to check with your utility

Xcel Energy

  • Credits each extra kWh one for one. Send the Solar Bank Election Form by December 1 to roll leftover credits over; otherwise they are paid out at the low year-end rate.
  • Solar*Rewards pays only income-qualified homes ($3 per watt) and homes in listed communities ($0.50 per watt). Get the amount in writing before work starts.
  • The $250 per kW battery payment lets Xcel use up to 80% of the battery, up to 60 times a year, for five years.

Black Hills Energy

  • Full bill credits under the same state law as Xcel.
  • Ask for the year-end payout rate and which path is the default, in writing.

Colorado Springs Utilities

  • Exports are banked one for one today. Year-end surplus earns about 2 cents per kWh unless you choose rollover, a one-time choice.
  • From April 1, 2027 new solar homes pick a plan with a $1.00 daily grid access charge or a demand charge. The utility estimates about $38 more a month.
  • Agreements dated before April 1, 2027 move to the new rates on April 1, 2032.

Holy Cross Energy

  • $100 per kW solar rebate on up to 25 kW. Get the HCE Approval Letter before building starts and finish within 120 days.
  • Battery rebate up to $12,500 on the Time of Use rate, or Power+FLEX at $500 per kW. You can take only one battery offer.
  • No payment can exceed 40% of installed cost, and a system may supply no more than 200% of last year's use.

CORE Electric Cooperative

  • Net metering only up to 10 kW. A bigger system is paid 4.616 cents per kWh for what it sends out.
  • Leftover kWh are paid or credited after the April billing cycle at its average avoided cost.

United Power and other co-ops

  • United Power allows a system up to 200% of yearly use and cashes out leftover credits each April to March year at its wholesale energy rate.
  • United Power says rate or net metering changes will not be grandfathered. Ask your co-op for its year-end rate in writing.

Check the company and its warranty

Three names can appear in one solar deal: the company that sells, the company that signs the contract and the licensed people who do the work. Check that they fit together.

Before your first sales call, read questions to ask your solar installer and how to read a solar quote.

Compare your Colorado quotes

Ask every company to quote the same basics. Then the differences you see are real.

The boxes are for your own use. Nothing is saved or sent.

From quote to permission to operate

Some steps overlap, and timing depends on your town, your utility and equipment supply. Ask each installer for a written schedule for your project.

  1. Proposal and site check

    The installer looks at your roof, shading and electrical panel and gives you a written proposal.

    You and the installer

  2. Design and applications

    After you sign, the installer finishes the design and applies to your utility for the connection.

    Installer; you sign the forms

  3. Permits and utility review

    Your town or county reviews the building and electrical permits. The utility reviews the connection.

    Permit office and utility

  4. Installation and inspection

    The crew installs the system. A licensed electrician connects it, and the inspector checks the work.

    Installer crew, electrician and inspector

  5. Permission to operate

    The utility approves the system and updates your meter if needed. Turn the system on only after this step.

    Utility

How we rate Colorado solar companies

Each company gets up to 100 points from facts anyone can check: its own website and Colorado’s public license records, read October 14, 2026. Facts a company does not publish earn no points. No company pays for its rating, and we do not use customer star reviews.

  • Licensing (30 points): an active state license, a licensed electrician and license numbers printed on its website.
  • Warranty protection (35 points): workmanship warranty length, roof-penetration coverage in writing and any production guarantee.
  • Local presence (15 points): an office in Colorado and Colorado named as a service area.
  • Track record (10 points): years installing solar.
  • Options (10 points): batteries and the number of ways to pay.

Stars: 85 points or more is 5 (Top-rated), 72 is 4.5 (Excellent), 60 is 4 (Very good), 45 is 3.5 (Good), below 45 is 3 (Average). We did not inspect installations, collect customer quotes or test customer service.

Colorado solar company FAQs

How do I check a Colorado solar installer?

Search the company name in DORA’s license lookup and match it to the name on your contract. Colorado has no general contractor license, so look for an electrical contractor registration. Since SB25-165, a photovoltaic installer registration with the State Electrical Board also counts; installers must register by December 31, 2026. Then read the written workmanship warranty.

Does Colorado have net metering?

Yes. State law requires Xcel Energy, Black Hills Energy, electric co-ops and city utilities with 5,000 or more customers to credit each extra kWh against a kWh you use later. What differs is year end: leftover credits are paid out at a low rate unless you choose rollover. Xcel’s last printed rate is 1.529 cents per kWh.

Is there a Colorado solar tax credit?

Not for solar panels. Colorado gives a state income tax credit of 10% of a home battery’s purchase price, through tax year 2029, and skips the 2.9% state sales tax on solar equipment. Solar equipment is also exempt from property tax. The federal homeowner credit ended for systems installed after December 31, 2025.

What changes for Colorado Springs Utilities customers?

New rates start on April 1, 2027. New solar homes choose between a $1.00 daily grid access charge with time-of-day prices, or a demand charge based on their highest use in peak hours. The utility estimates about $38 more a month. Agreements dated before April 1, 2027 move to the new rates on April 1, 2032.

Will the companies on this page contact me?

Not because they appear here. This page is an editorial comparison. If you request quotes, the providers that serve your area may contact you. They can include installers, marketplaces and lead exchanges. Our page on how we make money explains how EcoGen is paid.

More Colorado solar guides

Request Colorado solar quotes

When your shortlist is ready, enter your ZIP code to ask providers that serve your area for quotes.

Solar providers that serve your area may contact you, and they pay EcoGen for the introduction. Providers can include installers, solar marketplaces and lead exchanges, and more than one may contact you. How we make money.

Dean Mahmoud Headshot 2025

Written by

Chief Executive Officer

Dean Mahmoud is the CEO of EcoGen America. Since 2021, his work has connected homeowners with residential solar installers and involved direct relationships with installation companies. He writes about solar prices and financing and maintains the EcoGen Verified Installer Methodology.

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