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Investor-owned utility

Black Hills Energy (Colorado) interconnection application

Black Hills Energy (Colorado) is an investor-owned utility serving 97,888 residential customers in Colorado (EIA-861, 2025). Applications: Own online portal (Black Hills Energy Colorado online interconnection application portal (web-based, since July 2019)). Gridpol files Black Hills Energy (Colorado) interconnection applications for licensed installers – solar, storage and EV chargers – with single-line diagram and site plan, unlimited for $500 a month.

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Partly researched from official sources. blackhillsenergy.com refuses connections from our server; facts taken from search-index excerpts of official pages. Verify on first project: portal URL, document list, storage rules, review timelines, current fees.

Black Hills Energy (Colorado) at a glance

Utility

Black Hills Colorado Electric, LLC (Black Hills Corp)

Type

Investor-owned utility

EIA utility ID

56146

Residential customers

97,888 (EIA-861, 2025)

Net-metered residential customers

9,803 (EIA-861, 2025)

Service territory

7 counties in Colorado

How to apply

Own online portal – Black Hills Energy Colorado online interconnection application portal (web-based, since July 2019)

Who submits

Solar developer/installer submits the application via the online portal; customer must have an active Black Hills (Southern Colorado) electric account at the site.

Export compensation

NEM – Net metering (Colorado solar program)
Production meter and net meter installed; excess energy banked for future months.

Documents Black Hills Energy (Colorado) asks for

  • Interconnection application formOnline application; fee due at submission Gridpol prepares this.
  • UL 1741 / IEEE 1547 certificationEquipment must meet UL 1741 and IEEE standards
  • Interconnection agreementInterconnection agreement issued to qualified applicants; do not install before approval and agreement
  • Final inspection sign-offFinal documentation uploaded via portal after construction; inspection/approval within 12 months of application acceptance
  • Other utility-specific documentSupplemental documentation reviewed with expected energy consumption; exact list not retrievable (site blocks automated access)

How the Black Hills Energy (Colorado) process runs

  1. Developer submits application and fee via online portal
  2. Approval/denial based on supplemental documentation review and expected consumption
  3. Interconnection agreement issued and signed
  4. Construction
  5. Final documentation uploaded via portal for review
  6. Meters (net + production) installed; permission to operate

Fees

FeeApplies toNote
$380Systems <= 25 kWNon-refundable, per Black Hills solar project fee page (search excerpt)
$760> 25 kW up to 2 MW ACNon-refundable
$250Pre-application reportListed on Black Hills interconnection compliance page
$400Optional production meter for systems <= 10 kW

Utility fees are paid by the installer or customer; they are not part of the Gridpol plan.

Size levels and limits

LevelUp toNote
Tier 125 kWfee tier
Tier 22000 kWfee tier, AC

System size capped at 200% of expected annual consumption. CO PUC interconnection rules (4 CCR 723-3, Rules 3850 ff.) apply.

Sources

Colorado interconnection rule

Commission

Colorado Public Utilities Commission

Interconnection rule

4 CCR 723-3, Rules 3850-3859 (Interconnection Procedures and Standards) – Rules Regulating Electric Utilities - Interconnection Procedures and Standards · source

Applies to

PUC-regulated (investor-owned) utilities - Xcel Energy (PSCo) and Black Hills Colorado Electric - for non-FERC-jurisdictional interconnection of retail renewable DG and other DER incl. storage. Cooperatives must comply with the PUC interconnection standards and insurance requirements per C.R.S. 40-9.5-118(2)(d); municipal utilities adopt functionally similar standards.

Application form

Standard interconnection application form prescribed in the rule (Level 1 application/agreement text in Rule 3854); fees set in each utility's interconnection tariff

Timelines

Receipt notice 3 business days; completeness notice 10 business days (applicant has 10 business days to cure); Level 1 screens 10 business days and approval 10 business days; Level 2 initial review 15 business days; customer signs agreement within 30 business days, utility countersigns within 2; Level 1 witness test/inspection within 10 business days of certificate of completion; operational approval letter 3 business days after successful commissioning; pre-application report 20 business days.

Fees

Processing fee/deposit as specified in the request and the utility's Commission-approved interconnection tariff; no other fees unless the procedures specify. Customer pays upgrades, interconnection facilities, interconnection metering and Level 2/3 commissioning witness costs.

Insurance

Level 1: interconnection customer not required to provide general liability insurance (Rule 3854(c)(VII)).

Export compensation

NEM – C.R.S. 40-2-124(1)(e); 4 CCR 723-3-3664
IOUs: no fixed kW cap; Rule 3664 limits system to 120% of average annual consumption and service entrance capacity (statute as amended allows retail DG up to 200% of expected consumption). Excess kWh carried forward 1:1 monthly; paid at average hourly incremental cost within 60 days of year-end unless customer elects indefinite rollover.

Not bound by the rule

Cooperatives (C.R.S. 40-9.5-118): must offer net metering at least 10 kW residential / 25 kW commercial, 1:1 monthly carryforward, annual excess handled as co-op decides, must comply with PUC interconnection standards and insurance requirements (may reduce/waive insurance). Municipal utilities with >=5,000 customers (C.R.S. 40-2-124(7)): net metering at least 10 kW residential / 25 kW C&I, must adopt and post functionally similar small-generator interconnection standards; written explanation required for denials.

Other utilities in Colorado

All Colorado utilities →

Gridpol Unlimited

$500 / month

Unlimited interconnection applications. 12-month agreement, signed online. The agreement starts the day you sign; first invoice right away, then monthly.

  • Unlimited interconnection applications
  • Single-line diagram and site plan for every application
  • Pre-submission check against the utility’s requirements
  • Homeowner e-signature link for the authorization
  • Filing in your utility portal accounts or by the utility’s method
  • Utility questions, corrections and resubmissions
  • Follow-up through approval, inspection and PTO
  • Customer list, exports, API and webhooks
Get started

Applications are typically submitted within 2 business days after complete documents. Utility review times are set by each utility.

Get started – $500/month unlimited