Colorado has seen an increasing number of solar installations throughout the state, with Xcel Energy being one of the power companies to facilitate the transition. However, recently there have been allegations that the process of installing meters and approving interconnection requests have been lagging, with Colorado residents and solar installers accusing Xcel Energy of having a “no urgency” attitude.
Xcel Energy has committed to helping make Colorado a leader in solar energy. But the long waiting times for installations and approvals have caused distress for both residential and commercial solar customers. Several solar installers have reported that their requests took longer than the usual 30-day period. Some have even had to wait up to four months before receiving approval.
These delays have led many to question Xcel Energy’s commitment to solar energy in the state. Some have even gone so far as to accuse Xcel Energy of purposely slowing down the process to discourage further solar energy adoption. Homeowners even accuse the company of dragging solar installations to protect its profits.
On the other hand, Xcel blames the delays on the high demand for solar installs, claiming a 34% increase last year. But the delays have been going on for over a year. Mike Kruger of Colorado Solar and Storage Association links the installation issues to a problematic new portal Xcel launched last year, which caused massive project losses, delays, and errors.
Solar installation delays: recurring issue for Xcel Energy?
Critics have repeatedly called out Xcel for delays in installing solar panels. In 2021, they failed to meet the deadlines of over 300 solar projects, leaving Minnesota with a backlog of applications. One Xcel customer argued they would have to wait 15 years for the company to review their application to connect a 9.5 kW rooftop system to the utility’s distribution grid.
Installers are missing hundreds of thousands of dollars because most aren’t paid for installations until energy flows through the system. Xcel has denied the allegations. But the delays are causing many customers to cancel their solar systems and businesses to struggle. In 2021, the Public Utilities Commission fined Xcel Energy $1 million for the delays in connecting community solar gardens to the electricity grid. Minneapolis Climate Action, the nonprofit that built the solar garden, says they’re growing increasingly frustrated by how long it takes Xcel Energy to connect the panels since they were installed two years ago. Critics accuse Xcel of not being financially motivated to activate solar panels built by outside parties, which Xcel won’t profit from.
Xcel Energy promises to solve the solar interconnection issues
Xcel said they are in the process of hiring more crews. It claimed it has processed more than 18,000 applications to connect solar to the grid in 2022. It also adopts the Public Utilities Commission’s recommendation to require developers to participate in cluster or group studies and to allow it to reserve capacity on its system for smaller solar installations.
Xcel also plans to pay up to $15,000 for Solar Rewards residential customers to cover distribution energy upgrades. Solar installers and customers will also need to follow the three-step process for connecting solar to the grid. This includes submitting an interconnection application. With all the resolutions to resolve the interconnection issues, it remains to be seen whether this plan will be appropriate and enough. Colorado residents and solar installers continue to express their frustration over Xcel Energy’s current solar interconnection issues.