Solar Panels in Windsor, CO: Cost, Payback & Savings

A typical 5.2 kW home solar system in Windsor costs about $18,720 and pays for itself in about 12.3 years, saving roughly $24,543 over 25 years at Colorado's average electricity price of 16.7¢/kWh.

Solid long-term investmentpayback 12.3 years
System size
5.2 kW
13 × 400 W panels
Upfront cost
$18,720
at US median $3.60/W
First-year savings
$1,353
about $113/month
25-year net savings
$24,543
after paying for the system
Production
8,091 kWh/yr
100% of a typical home's use
Peak sun hours
5.5/day
1,556 kWh per kW per year

Monthly solar production in Windsor

Estimated output of a 5.2 kW south-facing roof system. Jun is the strongest month (847 kWh); Dec the weakest (441 kWh).

02004006008001,000Jan: 483 kWhJanFeb: 519 kWhFebMar: 751 kWhMarApr: 774 kWhAprMay: 822 kWhMayJun: 847 kWhJunJul: 810 kWhJulAug: 788 kWhAugSep: 726 kWhSepOct: 612 kWhOctNov: 518 kWhNovDec: 441 kWhDec

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

Solar payback calculator for Windsor

Pre-filled with Windsor'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 Windsor 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 Windsor, CO?

For a typical home, a solar system pays for itself in about 12.3 years and then keeps saving money. Over 25 years the estimated net savings are $24,543. 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 Windsor, CO?

A home using 674 kWh a month (the Colorado average) needs about 13 panels of 400 W — a 5.2 kW system — to cover its annual use. Divide your own yearly kWh by 1,556 to get the kW you need.

How much do solar panels cost in Windsor, CO?

At 3.60 dollars per watt, a 5.2 kW system costs about $18,720 before any state or utility incentives. There is no federal tax credit for systems installed in 2026.

How much sun does Windsor get?

Windsor averages 5.5 peak sun hours per day, so each kilowatt of panels produces about 1,556 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