Solar & Battery Regulation & Incentive Programs

Black Hills Energy - Solar Power Program

Program Overview


Category:
Financial Incentive
Program Type:
Performance-Based Incentive
Implementing Sector:
Utility
State:
Colorado
Eligible Storage Technologies:
Solar Photovoltaics
Website:
http://www.blackhillsenergy.com/solar
Incentive Amount:
Systems sized 0.5 kW - 10 kW: $0.05/kWh
Systems sized 10.001 kW - 30 kW: $0.05/kWh
Systems sized 30.001 kW - 60 kW: $0.075/kWh
Systems sized 60.001 kW - 100 kW: $0.075/kWh
Terms:
10 years
Eligible System Size:
System must be sized to meet no more than 120% of the building's most recent 12 month demand
Equipment Requirements:
PV modules must be warranted for a minimum period of 20 years. All other components (with the exception of batteries), labor and installation must be warranted for a minimum period of 5 years. All equipment must be new, UL-listed, and meet IEEE standards.
Installation Requirements:
PV installations are subject to on-site supervision by a NABCEP certified professional to maintain a 3:1 ratio for the installation crew (one certified installer for every three solar installers)
Ownership of Renewable Energy Credits:
Black Hills Energy (in exchange for PBI payment)
Administrator:
Black Hills Energy
Applicable Sectors:
Commercial, Industrial, Local Government, Nonprofit, Residential, Schools, State Government, Federal Government
Start Date:
07/01/2006
Utility:
Black Hills/Colorado Elec.Utility Co. LP
Last Updated:
03/25/2016

Eligibility Criteria

EligibilitySectorsTechnologies
min kW0.5000
Commercial
Industrial
Local Government
Nonprofit
Residential
Schools
State Government
Federal Government
Solar Photovoltaics
max kW10.0000
Commercial
Industrial
Local Government
Nonprofit
Residential
Schools
State Government
Federal Government
Solar Photovoltaics
$/kWh (10 years)0.0500
Commercial
Industrial
Local Government
Nonprofit
Residential
Schools
State Government
Federal Government
Solar Photovoltaics
min kW10.0000
Commercial
Industrial
Local Government
Nonprofit
Residential
Schools
State Government
Federal Government
Solar Photovoltaics
max kW30.0000
Commercial
Industrial
Local Government
Nonprofit
Residential
Schools
State Government
Federal Government
Solar Photovoltaics
$/kWh (10 years)0.0500
Commercial
Industrial
Local Government
Nonprofit
Residential
Schools
State Government
Federal Government
Solar Photovoltaics
min kW30.0000
Commercial
Industrial
Local Government
Nonprofit
Schools
State Government
Federal Government
Solar Photovoltaics
max kW100.0000
Commercial
Industrial
Local Government
Nonprofit
Schools
State Government
Federal Government
Solar Photovoltaics
$/kWh (10 years)0.0800
Commercial
Industrial
Local Government
Nonprofit
Schools
State Government
Federal Government
Solar Photovoltaics

Summary

Note: As of December 15, 2015, the previous 5 kW cap for small systems (10 kW or less) has been removed. The change effects only reservations made on or after that date. Reservations in place now or in a queue as of December 15, 2015 are still subject to the limit on incentives up to 5 kW. 

Black Hills Energy has a performance-based incentive (PBI) for photovoltaic (PV) systems up to 100 kilowatts (kW) in capacity. In exchange for a PBI, Black Hills Energy earns the renewable energy credits (RECs) associated with the PV-generated electricity for a period of time.

All incentive payments are subject to the availability of funds and a pre-installation site inspection. Black Hills Energy has established participation caps for each tier. The status of funding availability for each tier is available on the website above. PV installations are subject to on-site supervision by a NABCEP-certified professional to maintain a 3:1 ratio for the installation crew (one certified installer for every three solar installers). See the program web site for complete details.