Parker city reference
Solar in Parker, checked against utility math.
A city-level guide for Douglas County homeowners comparing quotes, system size, incentive timing, and CORE Electric Cooperative billing assumptions.
- Reference ZIP
- 80134
- Utility
- CORE
- Focus
- Net metering + Solar*Rewards
Parker is a town of roughly 58,700 residents in Douglas County, Colorado, served by CORE Electric Cooperative. Its housing stock skews relatively new, with a median year built of 2003, a median home value of about $573,000, and owner-occupants in roughly 74 percent of homes. Per PVWatts, a 7 kW system in Parker is modeled to generate about 1,628 kWh per kW installed, or roughly 11,400 kWh annually. Because CORE Electric Cooperative is a member-owned cooperative rather than an investor-owned utility, its net metering terms should be confirmed against the current CORE residential tariff.
Local numbers
The Parker baseline
A 7 kW south-facing system in Parker produces about 11,400 kWh/year per NREL PVWatts. Pre-incentive install cost runs $18,900 to $21,000, with cash payback around 10 years before financing markup.
11,400 kWh/year
Annual production
PVWatts v8, 7 kW south-facing.
~$18,900 to $21,000
Net cash cost
After incentives, before financing.
10 years
Cash payback
No dealer-fee markup.
15 to 19 years
Financed payback
With typical dealer fees.
Diagnostic path
Check the Parker quote from four angles.
Start with fit, then pressure-test price, incentives, and installer risk before a homeowner signs.
- 01 Is it worth it? → Diagnostic: how to know if your Parker home is a good fit for solar, and what to verify before signing. Real production numbers, current rates, no inflated assumptions.
- 02 Typical cost and payback → Sized for a Parker median home, with CORE Electric Cooperative-adjusted production from NREL PVWatts and current Standard retail-rate net metering + Solar*Rewards production incentive rates.
- 03 Incentives → Solar*Rewards values plus CORE Electric Cooperative programs. Federal credit context after the December 2025 expiration.
- 04 How to pick an installer → Educational buyer's guide for Parker: red flags, what to verify, questions to ask before signing.
Utility context
The bill rules are local.
Most of Parker is served by CORE Electric Cooperative. Net metering, rate trajectory, and program timing differ by utility; the Colorado state hub covers the cross-utility picture.