Free money, courtesy of Colorado’s Amendment 37, is the driving factor for an increase in new PV (photo voltaic) installations. Xcel Energy’s solar-electric rebates total $4.50 per installed watt. Once new panels are operating, one can get over $10,000 back from Xcel. There is also a federal tax credit of 30 percent of installation costs, up to $2,000. The money comes from Xcel’s entire customer base. Per Amendment 37 and related regulations, Xcel will charge all its customers an extra 1 percent on top of regular bills to cover program costs, so subsidize your own system.