When do Colorado HOA bans on plug-in solar become void?

On and after January 1, 2027, under C.R.S. 40-2-140(7) as added by HB26-1007.

Does Xcel Energy require approval for portable-scale solar?

Under HB26-1007, any Colorado retail electric provider, which includes Xcel Energy where it serves customers, may not require approval, a device fee, or extra controls beyond the device listing. The provider may require notice of the device and its size in kilowatts. We did not find a dedicated Xcel plug-in how-to page as of the check date; follow the statute and ask Xcel how they want notice.

Colorado plug-in solar under HB26-1007

The statute for portable-scale balcony kits: size limits, what utilities may ask, what HOAs lose on January 1, 2027, and which incentives we can actually document.

Days

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Countdown to January 1, 2027 (America/Denver), when unreasonable HOA covenant bans on qualifying portable-scale devices become void.

Not legal advice. Primary text: Session Laws Ch. 127 PDF. Overview: leg.colorado.gov. HOA summary: Division of Real Estate.

Effective dates

August 12, 2026: act effective.
January 1, 2027: HOA/covenant rules; sales of devices over 391 W must be UL labeled; device added to CCIOA energy-efficiency measures.

What counts (the 1,920 W rule)

A portable-scale solar generation device is a single PV system per address that supplies not more than 1,920 watts to the grid, is NRTL-listed, and includes anti-islanding. Do not connect more than one device to a single wall outlet per address.

Utilities: Xcel and everyone else

HB26-1007 applies to providers of retail electric service or wholesale energy statewide. That covers Xcel Energy customers in Denver, Boulder, Aurora, and much of the Front Range, plus municipal and co-op providers elsewhere.

Provider may not require approval before install/use, a device-related fee, or extra controls beyond the UL listing.
Provider may require notice of presence and size in kW.
Provider is not liable for damage or injury caused by a device.

We searched for a dedicated Xcel Energy Colorado plug-in how-to page on 2026-11-05 and did not find one. Until Xcel publishes one, treat the statute as the rule and ask Xcel how they want the notice filed.

Two Colorado co-ops already published member pages you can use as a model of how utilities are implementing the law:

Yampa Valley Electric Association – Plug in Solar: no interconnection agreement up to 1,920 W; notification form required; not net metered.
La Plata Electric Association – Plug-in / balcony solar: notify LPEA; not net metered; notes on 391 W vs larger systems and UL 3700 timing.

HOAs and limited common elements (Jan 1, 2027)

Unreasonable prohibitions are void. Owners may place a device on a limited common element balcony/patio/deck that solely serves the unit. Associations may still require reasonable notice, securing, and safety rules, and may shift related liability to the owner.

Colorado sun and altitude (what we will say, what we will not)

Denver’s “Mile High” elevation is 5,280 feet. High, dry Front Range air is why Golden hosts the National Laboratory of the Rockies, and why PVWatts documents use the Golden campus address as a worked example. For a production estimate at your condo or rental, run PVWatts with your street address. We are not publishing unverified city kWh tables in this build.

Incentives we can verify

Federal Residential Clean Energy Credit (25D): the IRS states the credit equals 30% of qualified costs for property installed from 2022 through December 31, 2025, and is not available for property placed in service after that date (IRS Residential Clean Energy Credit, page reviewed/updated July 4, 2026). A kit placed in service in late 2026 does not qualify under that text.
Colorado sales/use tax on renewable components: state exemption for components used to produce AC from renewable sources (solar modules, inverters, racks, wiring, and similar). Applies to state and certain special-district taxes (including RTD/CD/RTA). City/county taxes often still apply unless locally adopted. Home-rule cities set their own rules. Source: Colorado DOR SUTT and the October 2026 PDF (§ 39-26-724, C.R.S.). Energy storage devices are excluded from that exemption list.
Property tax: Colorado DOLA explains exemptions for qualifying residential renewable energy personal property / PV up to 100 kW AC under cited statutes. Confirm with your county assessor whether a portable plug-in kit is treated as exempt personal property in your case (DOLA property tax FAQs).
Utility rebates for plug-in kits: YVEA and LPEA pages above describe notification and net-metering limits; they do not advertise a plug-in-specific rebate on the pages we checked. Do not assume Solar*Rewards or similar rooftop programs apply to a portable-scale plug-in kit unless your utility says so in writing.

City pages

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