Top Takeaways:
Xcel Energy is placing all Coloradans on Time of Use (TOU)
Continuous Rollover Credits are recommended on the Solar Bank Election
Time of Use
Xcel Energy places residential customers on a Time of Use (TOU) rate where pricing is higher during on-peak hours and lower during off-peak hours. Currently, on-peak hours are 3-7pm weekdays. In October 2025, peak hours are changing to 5-9pm weekdays. The mid-peak pricing will be eliminated in October.
Solar pairs well with Xcel's TOU rate if you select the Continuous Rollover option on the Solar Bank Election form as described below.
Maximizing Savings on TOU
Maximizing Savings on TOU
If you have battery storage, enable a Time-of-Use or Self-Powered mode in the manufacturer's mobile app. Otherwise, try to reduce some household usage during peak hours to maximize electric bill savings.
The biggest energy intensive appliances that you may be able to control are:
Charging an EV at night
Air Conditioning - In the summer, pre-cool your home in the afternoon and then schedule it to turn up or off before peak hours
Electric Heating (if any) - In the winter, if you have electric heating, pre-heat your home in the afternoon then schedule it to turn down before peak hours
You can learn more about TOU from Xcel here. Opting out to a flat rate is an option.
1-to-1 Net Metering
Xcel Energy and all utilities Palmetto LightReach services currently offer 1-to-1 net metering. Under 1-to-1 net metering, production and consumption used subtract, or "net," at the same retail rate the utility charges you. Excess credits rollover month to month until you need them.
Small cooperative utilities including United Power, CORE, Grand Valley Electric Coop, and DMEA rollover credits until their spring annual cash out where they pay out for any unused credits. The price paid per kilowatt hour (kWh) in the annual cash out is at a low wholesale rate; not the retail rate they charge you.
Xcel Energy, Black Hills, and Holy Cross provide an option to continuously rollover credits year to year until used (a full retail rate value) or receive the annual cash out (a low 1-3 cent wholesale rate) by waiving the decision. Palmetto LightReach recommends the Continuous Rollover option to ensure each excess solar kilowatt hour produced is valued at the maximum retail utility rate. Eventually, your home will use the electricity.
Net Metering Example
Net Metering Example
Solar Bank Election Form
Solar Bank Election Form
Xcel has a Solar Bank Election Form for net metering customers to complete. Please be aware if you select Option A. Continuous Rollover Credits, the utility will not allow you to return back to the annual cash out.
If you prefer annual cash out or to decide later, select B. Waive Decision. Your installer will likely ask you to complete the form and they will submit it to Xcel for you as part of the utility interconnection application process.
Why Continuous Rollover is critical with TOU
In Xcel Energy, for customers on Time of Use, the Continuous Rollover Credits option is crucial in order for excess peak credits to be monetarily valued at the on-peak rates.
Under both programs, excess solar generation not immediately consumed in your home will export to the grid and net with consumption in the same time period.
A) Under Continuous Rollover, net generation (when your PV system produces more energy than you use), will be credited the dollar value of the time period it's produced. The monetary credit will be added to a Solar Bank and can be used in the future.
For example, a Summer On-Peak credit is valued at 32 cents per kWh.
B) Under Waive Decision/Annual Cash Out, net generation stays as a kWh credit instead of a $ monetary value. It first offsets consumption during the same time period it was produced. Then, it offsets consumption in the lower time period.
For example. a Summer On-Peak credit may reduce a 12 cent off-peak kWh.
A. Continuous Rollover Credit
B. Waive Decision (Annual Cash Out)
