Solar Panels in Ken Caryl, CO: Cost, Payback & Savings

A typical 5.6 kW home solar system in Ken Caryl costs about $20,160 and pays for itself in about 12.5 years, saving roughly $25,772 over 25 years at Colorado's average electricity price of 16.7¢/kWh.

Solid long-term investmentpayback 12.5 years
System size
5.6 kW
14 × 400 W panels
Upfront cost
$20,160
at US median $3.60/W
First-year savings
$1,436
about $120/month
25-year net savings
$25,772
after paying for the system
Production
8,590 kWh/yr
106% of a typical home's use
Peak sun hours
5.4/day
1,534 kWh per kW per year

Monthly solar production in Ken Caryl

Estimated output of a 5.6 kW south-facing roof system. May is the strongest month (872 kWh); Dec the weakest (524 kWh).

02004006008001,000Jan: 529 kWhJanFeb: 634 kWhFebMar: 779 kWhMarApr: 800 kWhAprMay: 872 kWhMayJun: 827 kWhJunJul: 823 kWhJulAug: 771 kWhAugSep: 754 kWhSepOct: 674 kWhOctNov: 604 kWhNovDec: 524 kWhDec

Solar production (kWh) Typical home use, 674 kWh/month

Solar payback calculator for Ken Caryl

Pre-filled with Ken Caryl's sunshine and Colorado's average electricity price. Enter your own bill and an installer's price per watt to see your payback.

Leave export credit blank where the utility offers full net metering. Where exports earn less, solar used at home as it's produced is worth the full price and the rest earns the export credit.

System
Cost
Year-1 savings
Payback
25-yr net savings

How Ken Caryl compares

Net metering, tax credits and incentives in 2026

Colorado offers net metering: power you send to the grid is credited at or near the retail price, so every solar kWh is valued at 16.7¢ here.

There is no federal tax credit for buying home solar installed in 2026. The 30% Residential Clean Energy Credit (Section 25D) ended for systems placed in service after December 31, 2025, so the costs and paybacks on this page include no federal credit.

Colorado and local utilities may still offer rebates, performance payments, property-tax or sales-tax exemptions. Search the DSIRE incentives database for Colorado and ask installers which programs they apply for you.

Frequently asked questions

Is solar worth it in Ken Caryl, CO?

For a typical home, a solar system pays for itself in about 12.5 years and then keeps saving money. Over 25 years the estimated net savings are $25,772. Verdict: solid long-term investment. Your own payback depends on your roof, your bill and the quotes you get.

How many solar panels do I need in Ken Caryl, CO?

A home using 674 kWh a month (the Colorado average) needs about 14 panels of 400 W — a 5.6 kW system — to cover its annual use. Divide your own yearly kWh by 1,534 to get the kW you need.

How much do solar panels cost in Ken Caryl, CO?

At 3.60 dollars per watt, a 5.6 kW system costs about $20,160 before any state or utility incentives. There is no federal tax credit for systems installed in 2026.

How much sun does Ken Caryl get?

Ken Caryl averages 5.4 peak sun hours per day, so each kilowatt of panels produces about 1,534 kWh a year.

Does Colorado have net metering?

Yes. Power sent back to the grid is credited at or near the retail price (16.7¢ per kWh on average).

How much does electricity cost in Colorado?

Residential electricity in Colorado averages 16.7¢ per kWh, and a typical home uses 674 kWh a month (EIA).

Solar payback in nearby places

Solar guides