Renewables || Utilities

Choose the Renewable Option That’s Right for You#

Aerial view looking north west over solar panels

Our Climate Future

The Our Climate Future plan calls for providing 100% renewable electricity as part of the community-wide carbon reduction goal of 80% by 2030. Fort Collins Utilities continues to increase renewables in the mix of energy delivered to our customers through local solar generation, and in partnership with our wholesale power provider Platte River Power Authority.

Choosing Your Electricity Sources

From subscribing to more clean, renewable energy to producing solar electricity on your own roof, Utilities gives customers options to be more sustainable. Even if you rent, don't have a sunny roof, or can't afford your own system, we can help you get to 100% renewable energy right away. Use the table below to help determine your best options.


	Standard energy mix	Purchase your own solar system	Battery storage at your home	Leased solar at your home	Multifamily Shared Energy System
Source(s) of delivered energy	49% non-carbon mix of hydro, wind, solar in 2022	Solar and grid mix	Typically solar or grid mix	Solar and grid mix	Solar and grid mix
Provided by	Fort Collins Utilities	Solar contractor	Solar contractor	Solar provider	Site owner / host
Responsibility for ownership, operations, maintenance	Fort Collins Utilities	Homeowner	Homeowner	System owner	System owner
Net metering bill credits	No	Yes, for surplus energy returned to grid	Yes, for surplus energy returned to grid	Yes, for surplus energy returned to grid	Yes
Production reduces your energy purchases	No	Yes, purchase only what your system cannot provide	Yes, purchase only what your system cannot provide	Yes, purchase only what your system cannot provide	No
Carbon reduction benefit	49% in 2022	Up to 200%	Varies by power source	Up to 120%	Up to 200%
What you pay	Current utility rates	Average of $4,000 per kW, varies by system	Typically more than $10,000, varies by system	Monthly payment set by lessor	Varies by project
How you pay	Monthly utility bill	Pay solar installer per contract terms	Pay solar installer per contract terms	Pay solar installer per contract terms	Typically charged by site host
Requires installation on your property	No	Yes	Yes	Yes	Installed at host property
Readily accessible to renters	Yes	No	No	No	No, determined by property owner
Learn more	Fort Collins Utilities Energy Vision	Fort Collins Residential Solar	Fort Collins Battery Program	Fort Collins Residential Solar	Fort Collins Shared Energy Systems

Community-Wide Solar Generation#

Graph of estimated solar power generated in Fort Collins that shows increase in production between 8 a.m. and 1 p.m.

More than 3,000 of our residential and commercial customers generate solar power. Utilities partnered with Colorado State University to create a visual representation of the estimated total power that grid-connected photovoltaic systems make each day.

Read more about the model by downloading this handout here.

View the Model