Do I really need a battery with solar in Colorado?

Short answer: no, most Colorado homeowners do not *need* a battery to benefit from solar. Batteries make sense for specific goals — backup during outages, self-consumption if net-metering terms weaken, or shifting usage on a time-of-use rate — but the standard grid-tied solar system on Xcel or CORE runs fine without one. Things to consider before adding a battery: cost (typically several thousand dollars per usable kWh installed), how often your area actually loses power, and whether your utility has a program that changes the math (currently limited in Colorado but worth checking). If a proposal bundles a battery without explaining the specific reason for your household, ask the installer to break out the battery separately so you can decide independently.