Electricity Rates in Colorado

Electricity Rates, Plans & Statistics

Electricity Companies & Statistics in Colorado

  • Population
    see rank
    5,812,069
  • Total Production
    see rank
    58,656,180 MWh / 10.09 MWh per capita
  • Total Consumption
    see rank
    57,371,205 MWh / 9.87 MWh per capita
  • Total Production from Renewable
    see rank
    20,798,896 MWh / 3.58 MWh per capita
  • CO2 Emissions from Consumption
    see rank
    29,167,750,785 kg / 5,018.48 kg per capita
  • Total Production from Non-Renewable
    see rank
    37,857,605 MWh / 6.51 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.
32nd14.35¢Average residential price per kWh in the state of Colorado
6th$103.09Average 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 2022 and 2021 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 2021 will be finalized in the fall of 2022. Until that time, some data may be incomplete. Data for 2022 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 2023 currently averages 14.35 cents per kilowatt hour while the national average price is 15.34 cents. Colorado ranks as the 32nd 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 58,656,180.01 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, 9.87 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 35.46% of their electricity from these renewable sources. Public Service Company of Colorado sells 28,838,112 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 ColoradoBUNDLED14.2188.059,890,0311,405,673,22322,960,538.03
Core Electric CooperativeBUNDLED14.33128.761,707,410244,748,000747,642.39
Colorado Springs UtilitiesBUNDLED15.0394.841,580,663237,617,9323,827,116
United PowerBUNDLED13.38114.19954,910127,813,405
Holy Cross EnergyBUNDLED11.65259.9656,70176,515,300239,054.67
Black Hills EnergyBUNDLED19.46116.74634,822123,520,3561,609,576
Mountain View Electric AssociationBUNDLED14.48133.58601,40087,059,800
Fort Collins UtilitiesBUNDLED11.9577.46541,44264,698,638
Poudre Valley REABUNDLED11.75111.99514,65960,477,2063,210
City of Longmont ElectricBUNDLED10.8177.69342,30037,000,100
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 ColoradoBUNDLED11.55558.5212,907,2141,491,395,94922,960,538.03
Colorado Springs UtilitiesBUNDLED11.85290.831,117,441132,405,5473,827,116
Black Hills EnergyBUNDLED14.35865.69888,379127,447,0761,609,576
Core Electric CooperativeBUNDLED11.99612.52848,465101,753,000747,642.39
United PowerBUNDLED11.08507.73607,22667,300,444
Holy Cross EnergyBUNDLED9.86381.24497,42349,034,200239,054.67
Fort Collins UtilitiesBUNDLED10.42469.61480,23250,041,894
Poudre Valley REABUNDLED11.29686.05338,28438,183,7323,210
City of Longmont ElectricBUNDLED9.10895.22337,31330,702,400
La Plata Electric AssociationBUNDLED12.22395.59260,88031,881,000
55 providers total

Power Plants in Colorado

PlantCity/CountyPrimary Fuel TypeProduction (MWh)Emission (KG)Emissions/MWh (KG/MWh)Toxic Chemical ReleaseClosing Date
Craig (CO)Tri State Generation (48.86%)Platte River Power Authority (12.11%)Salt River Project (19.51%)Public Service Company of Colorado (6.54%)PacifiCorp (12.97%)
Moffat County Coal 7,367,8647,473,935,627.981,014.412/2029
Comanche (CO)Public Service Company of Colorado (82.83%)Holy Cross Energy (4.12%)Core Electric Cooperative (13.05%)
Pueblo Coal 5,728,578.995,808,026,225.721,013.87
CherokeePublic Service Company of Colorado (100.00%)
North Washington CDP Natural Gas 3,463,1741,634,646,692.84472.01
Fort St VrainPublic Service Company of Colorado (100.00%)
Weld County Natural Gas 2,997,7651,301,112,540.98434.03
HaydenPacifiCorp (16.51%)Public Service Company of Colorado (49.92%)Salt River Project (33.58%)
Routt County Coal 2,930,9402,916,437,430.5995.0512/2028
Rocky Mountain Energy CenterPublic Service Company of Colorado (100.00%)
Weld County Natural Gas 2,576,7721,058,748,574.94410.88
PawneePublic Service Company of Colorado (100.00%)
Morgan County Coal 2,516,3272,759,002,531.571,096.44
Front Range Power PlantColorado Springs Utilities (100.00%)
El Paso County Natural Gas 2,303,474950,344,819.48412.57
Rush Creek WindPublic Service Company of Colorado (100.00%)
Elbert County Wind 2,232,934
RawhidePlatte River Power Authority (100.00%)
Larimer County Coal 2,224,285.992,112,138,314.19949.58
236 power plants total

Quick Facts

Emitting 29,167,750,785.06 kilograms of CO2 emissions during electricity consumption, Colorado is the 19th highest polluting state in the United States based on electricity emissions.

Colorado customers are faced with outages lasting on average 393.32 minutes per occurrence, with around 1.5 outages per year.

21,584,301.17 megawatt hours are generated from coal in the state of Colorado. With 5,812,069 citizens, this is 3.71 megawatt hours per person.

Colorado produces 64.54% of its electricity from non-renewable fuel sources, giving it a ranking of 28th worst for total electricity generation from non-renewable fuels.

Colorado has accomplished a 3.93% decline in CO2 pollution due to electricity use during the last year.

Colorado is the 38th highest producer of megawatt hours per capita, with a population of 5,812,069 and recent annual megawatt hour production of 58,656,180.01.

CountyPopulationProvidersPlantsResidential Rate (¢)Residential Avg. Electric Bill
Adams County514,96952313.95$122.45/mo
Alamosa County16,3773915.94$104.73/mo
Arapahoe County651,6213814.30$115.57/mo
Archuleta County13,267116.25$108.36/mo
Baca County3,5193216.74$123.13/mo
Bent County5,8614217.02$122.76/mo
Boulder County328,71361213.04$98.32/mo
Broomfield County72,697313.77$102.11/mo
Chaffee County19,4365316.91$102.64/mo
Cheyenne County1,6912113.19$133.91/mo
Clear Creek County9,4274214.17$97.62/mo
Conejos County7,5794214.82$93.96/mo
Costilla County3,517415.61$101.65/mo
Crowley County6,0182117.54$121.79/mo
Custer County4,720317.66$108.94/mo
Delta County31,133214.87$110.26/mo
Denver County706,7993914.10$91.55/mo
Dolores County2,288215.32$114.58/mo
Douglas County351,9294114.34$124.89/mo
Eagle County55,6934212.73$208.42/mo
El Paso County722,73661615.61$122.48/mo
Elbert County25,8972114.45$132.61/mo
Fremont County49,0076118.29$110.84/mo
Garfield County61,2215613.61$127.23/mo
Gilpin County5,812313.49$110.99/mo
Grand County15,6293314.58$114.30/mo
Gunnison County16,8513216.76$113.09/mo
Hinsdale County858416.68$114.57/mo
Huerfano County6,7872416.33$110.14/mo
Jefferson County580,1304614.20$111.40/mo
Kiowa County1,414116.76$123.84/mo
Kit Carson County7,0712513.04$134.30/mo
La Plata County55,6731316.25$108.36/mo
Lake County7,4173215.21$93.24/mo
Larimer County354,67051211.83$110.89/mo
Las Animas County14,5315218.81$175.25/mo
Lincoln County5,6303514.62$131.95/mo
Logan County21,76561213.44$116.81/mo
Mesa County154,6853913.86$108.63/mo
Mineral County794216.57$111.04/mo
Moffat County13,2403113.31$114.00/mo
Montezuma County25,9161214.99$104.95/mo
Montrose County42,3282815.36$120.18/mo
Morgan County28,8685513.76$138.15/mo
Otero County18,6654117.83$119.42/mo
Ouray County4,8501115.83$129.64/mo
Park County17,3843114.33$125.94/mo
Phillips County4,497313.20$119.43/mo
Pitkin County17,4715212.16$238.66/mo
Prowers County11,9664416.85$125.10/mo
Pueblo County167,45341117.70$115.32/mo
Rio Blanco County6,4952211.88$85.87/mo
Rio Grande County11,4763115.91$104.44/mo
Routt County24,8992114.77$127.69/mo
Saguache County6,3695215.94$103.74/mo
San Juan County698115.83$129.64/mo
San Miguel County8,0842115.75$127.25/mo
Sedgwick County2,4592113.20$119.36/mo
Summit County31,0424214.23$90.28/mo
Teller County24,607316.38$121.16/mo
Washington County4,834414.59$124.16/mo
Weld County322,42463013.56$119.15/mo
Yuma County9,944414.75$118.76/mo

Power Plant Fuel Types, Emissions & Pollution Factors

Colorado is home to 236 electricity producing plants, which is the 12th highest in the country and 20th most when counting plants per person. Power generating facilities in the state most often use Coal, which makes up 36.80% (or 21,584,301.17 megawatt hours) of the fuel types used for electricity generation in the state. Secondary fuels used during electricity generation include Wind at 28.25% and Natural Gas at 27.59% of generation. Colorado residents average 5,018.48 kilograms of CO2 emissions per resident from electricity consumption. This comes to a total pollution amount from electricity use of 29,167,750,785.06 kilograms of CO2 emissions.

COAL
Coal
Coal
Coal
Coal
36.80%
WIND
Wind
Wind
Wind
28.25%
NATURAL GAS
Natural Gas
Natural Gas
Natural Gas
27.59%
SOLAR
Solar
4.17%
CONVENTIONAL HYDROELECTRIC
Conventional Hydroelectric
2.76%
OTHER
Other
0.43%

Colorado Net Metering

Of the 55 electricity suppliers in Colorado, 38 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 3.76%. This includes data from 24 companies, including Public Service Company of Colorado, Core Electric Cooperative, and Fort Collins Utilities. With a United States average of 2.45%, Colorado is the 34th 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 36.80% of the fuel used in the state. The second and third most used fuel types are Wind and Natural Gas, which account for 28.25% and 27.59% 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 2023 is 14.35 cents.

What is the average electric bill in Colorado?

The Colorado average electricity bill is $103 so far in 2023.

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 Utilities6.927,002
2Moon Lake Electric8.482,257
3Fountain Electric Utilities9.0317,686
4Yuma Electric Service10.341,715
5City of Longmont Electric10.8142,558
6Gunnison Electric11.154,538
7Granada, Colorado Electric Utility11.20260
8Holy Cross Energy11.6535,274
9Glenwood Springs Electric11.706,611
10Poudre Valley REA11.7550,364

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 236 active power plants generating electricity for the state.

Ginalyn Gelera
Last Reviewed By: Ginalyn Gelera
Published: 2022-10-18