Colorado Electricity Rates & Average Electricity Bills

Electricity Rates in Colorado

Electricity Rates, Plans & Statistics

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Electricity Companies & Statistics in Colorado

  • Population
    see rank
    5,839,926
  • Total Production
    see rank
    57,240,063 MWh / 9.8 MWh per capita
  • Total Consumption
    see rank
    56,402,390 MWh / 9.66 MWh per capita
  • Total Production from Renewable
    see rank
    21,187,994 MWh / 3.63 MWh per capita
  • CO2 Emissions from Consumption
    see rank
    26,905,553,094 kg / 4,607.17 kg per capita
  • Total Production from Non-Renewable
    see rank
    36,079,884 MWh / 6.18 MWh per capita
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Average Residential Electricity Bills & Rates in Colorado

Colorado residential electric rates are highest in January and the highest average bill is in July.

Historical Electricity Rates:

Price Per kWhAverage Bill$0.151/kWh$0.115/kWh$139.71/mo.$66.17/mo.
27th14.33¢Average residential price per kWh in the state of Colorado
3rd$98.34Average residential monthly electricity bill for Colorado Residents

Colorado Electricity Fuel Mix

MonthlyWe report production data as it is published. Due to reporting methods and timing, data from 2023 and 2022 may be incomplete. Data is released in full each fall for the previous calendar year. For clarification on any data points, please contact our team.
AnnualAnnual data for 2022 will be finalized in the fall of 2023. Until that time, some data may be incomplete. Data for 2023 is a summation of all information released to date, which may only represent a portion of the actual production that has occurred. For clarification on any data points, please contact our team.

Colorado's Electricity Prices and Usage

The Colorado residential electricity rate in 2024 currently averages 14.33 cents per kilowatt hour while the national average price is 16.01 cents. Colorado ranks as the 27th lowest priced state in the United States based on average electric rate. Consumers in the state don't have much choice in their electricity company due to the fact that Colorado has a regulated electricity market based on the resident's home address. The state produces 57,240,062.58 megawatt hours from its power plants, which is the 30th highest total generation for a state in the US. Citizens in the state consume, on average, 9.66 megawatt hours of electricity each, which is the 39th largest amount of electricity use per capita in the country. The state is ranked 15th in the country for percentage of electricity produced from renewable fuel sources, creating 37.02% of their electricity from these renewable sources. Public Service Company of Colorado sells 28,035,392.82 megawatt hours in the state per year, more than any other electricity supplier.

Residential Electricity Providers in Colorado

ProviderService TypeResidential Rate (¢)Residential Average Bill ($)Residential Sales (MWh)Residential Revenues ($)State Production (MWh)
Public Service Company of ColoradoBUNDLED14.3483.859,458,867.621,355,930,64324,839,591.27
Core Electric CooperativeBUNDLED14.52121.141,622,083235,595,000861,033.03
Colorado Springs UtilitiesBUNDLED13.8184.531,546,997.09213,574,9473,302,544
United PowerBUNDLED13.71108.55921,570.86126,337,586
Holy Cross EnergyBUNDLED12.05140.32688,85883,033,100275,151.95
Mountain View Electric AssociationBUNDLED14.56131.32609,38488,750,800
Black Hills EnergyBUNDLED13.7577.45600,36982,551,6041,948,313
Fort Collins UtilitiesBUNDLED12.5176.55515,191.3664,427,724
Poudre Valley REABUNDLED12.02108.31507,967.161,071,8903,083
City of Longmont ElectricBUNDLED11.0978.01337,38437,432,700
55 providers total

Commercial Electricity Providers in Colorado

ProviderService TypeCommercial Rate (¢)Commercial Average Bill ($)Commercial Sales (MWh)Commercial Revenues ($)State Production (MWh)
Public Service Company of ColoradoBUNDLED11.73551.4912,584,271.661,476,426,82524,839,591.27
Colorado Springs UtilitiesBUNDLED10.27235.551,084,568.09111,398,7893,302,544
Black Hills EnergyBUNDLED8.77511857,25975,180,7221,948,313
Core Electric CooperativeBUNDLED12.12586.08808,26297,982,000861,033.03
United PowerBUNDLED11.27517.65613,606.5469,147,145
Holy Cross EnergyBUNDLED10.18406.49519,27152,885,400275,151.95
Fort Collins UtilitiesBUNDLED10.80476473,426.6751,114,819
Poudre Valley REABUNDLED11.16731.21377,279.7142,115,6033,083
City of Longmont ElectricBUNDLED9.61952.61340,91932,750,600
La Plata Electric AssociationBUNDLED12.23395.71262,39632,100,000
55 providers total

Power Plants in Colorado

PlantCity/CountyPrimary Fuel TypeProduction (MWh)Emission (KG)Emissions/MWh (KG/MWh)Toxic Chemical ReleaseClosing Date
Comanche (CO)Core Electric Cooperative (12.76%)Holy Cross Energy (4.03%)Public Service Company of Colorado (83.21%)
Pueblo Coal 6,746,997.036,441,063,496.17954.66
Craig (CO)Tri State Generation (50.07%)Platte River Power Authority (11.83%)Salt River Project (19.05%)Public Service Company of Colorado (6.39%)PacifiCorp (12.67%)
Moffat County Coal 4,818,4765,225,410,307.241,084.4512/2029
Fort St VrainPublic Service Company of Colorado (100.00%)
Weld County Natural Gas 4,087,9401,614,163,251.26394.86
CherokeePublic Service Company of Colorado (100.00%)
North Washington CDP Natural Gas 3,469,7451,384,416,581.8399
PawneePublic Service Company of Colorado (100.00%)
Morgan County Coal 2,735,7893,214,085,717.481,174.83
Rocky Mountain Energy CenterPublic Service Company of Colorado (100.00%)
Weld County Natural Gas 2,457,402998,551,898.82406.34
HaydenPacifiCorp (17.56%)Public Service Company of Colorado (53.29%)Salt River Project (29.15%)
Routt County Coal 2,447,785.992,451,457,074.391,001.512/2028
Front Range Power PlantColorado Springs Utilities (100.00%)
El Paso County Natural Gas 2,132,902864,012,219.98405.09
Rush Creek WindPublic Service Company of Colorado (100.00%)
Elbert County Wind 2,105,011
Cheyenne Ridge Wind FarmPublic Service Company of Colorado (100.00%)
Cheyenne County Wind 1,845,185
259 power plants total

Quick Facts

Colorado is the 20th worst polluting state in the nation based on electricity related pollution, emitting 26,905,553,094.31 kilograms of CO2 emissions.

With 5,839,926 citizens within its borders and 57,240,062.58 megawatt hours produced a year, Colorado had a megawatt hour per capita production of 9.8 megawatt hours. This is the 37th largest megawatt hour per capita total in the nation.

Within the previous 12 months, the state of Colorado has seen a 8.34% drop in CO2 emissions on account of electricity consumption.

Almost 2.36% of the state of Colorado's electricity comes from hydroelectric power plants, making them 23rd highest in the country for total hydroelectric production.

Colorado consumes only 98.54% of the electricity produced in the state, meaning they can store or export the unused 1.46%.

Colorado generates 0.65 megawatt hours per capita per year from solar energy sources, giving the state a rank of 9th in the nation.

CountyPopulationProvidersPlantsResidential Rate (¢)Residential Avg. Electric Bill
Adams County527,57552813.99$119.40/mo
Alamosa County16,3773916.47$106.49/mo
Arapahoe County655,80831114.46$108.43/mo
Archuleta County13,267116.24$108.37/mo
Baca County3,5193216.74$125.30/mo
Bent County5,8614216.47$121.42/mo
Boulder County327,46861213.72$88.95/mo
Broomfield County76,121314.00$97.14/mo
Chaffee County19,4365317.00$101.61/mo
Cheyenne County1,6912113.29$130.69/mo
Clear Creek County9,4274214.31$91.77/mo
Conejos County7,5794215.09$91.88/mo
Costilla County3,517416.05$102.16/mo
Crowley County6,0182115.86$112.13/mo
Custer County4,720316.83$102.38/mo
Delta County31,133214.76$109.99/mo
Denver County713,25231014.25$87.16/mo
Dolores County2,288215.30$114.59/mo
Douglas County375,9884114.51$118.15/mo
Eagle County55,6934213.01$133.72/mo
El Paso County740,56761714.56$113.60/mo
Elbert County25,8972114.56$129.12/mo
Fremont County49,0076116.05$94.55/mo
Garfield County61,2216913.81$101.59/mo
Gilpin County5,812313.79$105.52/mo
Grand County15,6294314.55$109.04/mo
Gunnison County16,8513216.90$116.36/mo
Hinsdale County858416.87$116.91/mo
Huerfano County6,7872416.37$109.51/mo
Jackson County1,3751114.54$108.64/mo
Jefferson County576,1434614.38$105.52/mo
Kiowa County1,414116.72$126.25/mo
Kit Carson County7,0712613.14$130.84/mo
La Plata County55,6731316.24$108.37/mo
Lake County7,4173215.32$90.12/mo
Larimer County366,77861213.18$107.63/mo
Las Animas County14,5315218.45$204.40/mo
Lincoln County5,6303514.69$130.31/mo
Logan County21,76561613.19$118.60/mo
Mesa County158,6363814.75$114.42/mo
Mineral County794217.01$113.87/mo
Moffat County13,2403113.73$123.16/mo
Montezuma County25,9161314.99$105.47/mo
Montrose County42,3282915.28$119.53/mo
Morgan County28,8685813.48$140.76/mo
Otero County18,6654115.44$104.16/mo
Ouray County4,8501115.79$128.84/mo
Park County17,3843114.51$118.52/mo
Phillips County4,497312.86$122.28/mo
Pitkin County17,4715212.58$135.54/mo
Prowers County11,9664416.80$127.44/mo
Pueblo County169,54441315.21$98.00/mo
Rio Blanco County6,4952211.69$89.55/mo
Rio Grande County11,4763116.43$106.10/mo
Routt County24,8993114.79$134.24/mo
Saguache County6,3695116.30$104.94/mo
San Juan County698115.79$128.84/mo
San Miguel County8,0842115.71$126.57/mo
Sedgwick County2,4592112.85$122.18/mo
Summit County31,0425214.41$92.91/mo
Teller County24,607314.17$101.56/mo
Washington County4,834414.36$127.79/mo
Weld County350,17663413.86$118.54/mo
Yuma County9,944414.53$122.84/mo

Power Plant Fuel Types, Emissions & Pollution Factors

Colorado is home to 259 electricity producing plants, which is the 10th highest in the country and 19th most when counting plants per person. Power generating facilities in the state most often use Coal, which makes up 32.89% (or 18,823,850.03 megawatt hours) of the fuel types used for electricity generation in the state. Secondary fuels used during electricity generation include Natural Gas at 29.97% and Wind at 27.82% of generation. Colorado residents average 4,607.17 kilograms of CO2 emissions per resident from electricity consumption. This comes to a total pollution amount from electricity use of 26,905,553,094.31 kilograms of CO2 emissions.

COAL
Coal
Coal
Coal
Coal
32.89%
NATURAL GAS
Natural Gas
Natural Gas
Natural Gas
29.97%
WIND
Wind
Wind
Wind
27.82%
SOLAR
Solar
6.60%
CONVENTIONAL HYDROELECTRIC
Conventional Hydroelectric
2.36%
OTHER
Other
0.41%

Colorado Net Metering

Of the 55 electricity suppliers in Colorado, 41 of them report that they offer net metering. The state has favorable net metering and feed in tariffs that make solar and other types of electricity generation more affordable.

Energy Loss

The average energy loss for electricity companies in Colorado is 4.18%. This includes data from 25 companies, including Public Service Company of Colorado, Colorado Springs Utilities, and Core Electric Cooperative. With a United States average of 2.87%, Colorado is the 39th best state in the country.

Solar Taxes And Rebates

In order to encourage personal solar, all a state needs to do is pass legislation with solar related tax and rebate incentives. Colorado, unfortunately, has no tax credits offered to residents who install solar panels. The state offers limited local rebates rather than a statewide rebate program. Colorado citizens have the ability to apply a 100% property tax exemption for the purchase of solar, which is better than almost all other states. There is currently a 100% sales tax exemption in place for the purchase of solar panels.

State Level Initiatives

Whether a consumer is able to easily purchase electricity plans with renewable fuel sources is at least partially determined by statewide initiatives. Renewable Portfolio Standards (RPS) encourage or require electric providers to generate a percentage of their electricity using green fuel types. Colorado has made strong efforts to create an RPS plan that requires at least 25% of electricity production to be fueled by renewable fuels. In addition, there are currently no low income solar programs to assist low income families to install solar panels.

Learn about going solar in Colorado, find out which system size is best for you, compare local installers and see which incentives are available in your area.

FAQ: Common Questions About Electricity in Colorado

Where does Colorado get its electricity?

The main fuel type used for electricity generation in Colorado is Coal, making up 32.89% of the fuel used in the state. The second and third most used fuel types are Natural Gas and Wind, which account for 29.97% and 27.82% of total production respectively.

Does Colorado have a deregulated electricity market?

No, the state has a regulated market, where citizens' electricity supplier choices are often determined by their location or state legislation.

How much does electricity cost in Colorado?

The average rate per kilowatt hour of electricity in Colorado in 2024 is 14.33 cents.

What is the average electric bill in Colorado?

The Colorado average electricity bill is $98 so far in 2024.

How many electric companies offer service in Colorado?

Colorado has 55 electricity companies operating in the area.

What is the cheapest electricity company in Colorado?

Residential Rate RankProviderResidential Rate (¢)State Customers
1Fort Morgan Utilities7.047,066
2Yuma Electric Service8.421,605
3Moon Lake Electric9.072,237
4Gunnison Electric10.864,553
5City of Longmont Electric11.0942,863
6Granada, Colorado Electric Utility11.30281
7Glenwood Springs Electric11.826,674
8Julesburg, Colorado Electric Utility11.94931
9Poudre Valley REA12.0252,515
10Holy Cross Energy12.0560,174

What power companies offer service in Colorado?

What electricity company is the largest provider in Colorado?

The largest electricity provider in Colorado by megawatt hours sold is Public Service Company of Colorado.

How many power plants are in Colorado?

Colorado has 259 active power plants generating electricity for the state.

Ginalyn Gelera
Last Reviewed By: Ginalyn Gelera
Published: 2024-03-29