Menu

Xcel Energy rates and bills in Colorado

Xcel Energy's 1,379,910 residential customers in Colorado paid an average of 15.90¢ per kWh in 2025, for an average bill of $92.91 a month on 584 kWh.1 Over the last 12 months (Sep 2025–Aug 2026) the average was 16.82¢, and 18.03¢ in August 2026.2

EIA-861 2025 final (released October 7, 2026) and EIA's monthly utility survey through August 2026 (preliminary); next monthly update expected November 24, 2026. Averages are revenue divided by kWh, all charges included: not the rate printed in a tariff.

56 of 64 Colorado counties served (EIA-861 2025)

Xcel Energy's Colorado utility has almost all its homes on time-of-use pricing (99.6%5 in 2025) and the smallest average bill of Xcel's five state utilities, $92.91 a month, because its customers use the least electricity. Its average price per kWh is close to the Colorado average and has been rising: +5.6%1 from 2024 to 2025, and +4.0%2 in August 20263 against a year earlier.

Xcel's Colorado price per kWh, three ways

Xcel Energy delivered and sold electricity to 1,379,910 Colorado homes in 2025, more than half the state's residential customers (54.5%1). Which price is "the" Xcel rate depends on the period:

  • 2025 average: 15.90¢ per kWh1, from EIA's annual survey of every utility.
  • Last 12 months (September 2025 to August 2026): 16.82¢ per kWh, from EIA's monthly sample; 2026 months are preliminary.
  • Latest month (August 20263): 18.03¢ per kWh2, preliminary, and a summer month.

Each is average revenue per kWh: what residential customers paid in total, including fixed charges, fuel recovery and riders, divided by the kWh they used. It is not a line on the tariff, and under a time-of-use rate no household pays a single price per kWh.

In 2025 the Xcel average was 1.3% above the Colorado average and the 9th highest of the 20 Colorado utilities with 10,000 or more residential customers. Against investor-owned utilities nationally it was 10.6% below the national average for investor-owned utilities, and among the 177 large US utilities it ranked 75th highest of 177, above their median of 15.07¢ per kWh1.

Xcel Energy: residential price each month, Jan 2025 to Aug 2026
Xcel Energy: residential price each month, Jan 2025 to Aug 202612¢14¢16¢18¢20252026

Source: EIA-861M monthly sales and revenue by utility; EIA, Electric Power Monthly / EIA-861M sales and revenue by state. Residential revenue divided by kWh in each month, as reported to EIA's monthly survey (EIA-861M; months since January 2026 preliminary).

Show the numbers
MonthXcel Energy (¢/kWh)kWh per customerBill per customer
January 202514.71¢683$100.43
February 202514.60¢552$80.57
March 202514.67¢546$80.04
April 202515.39¢459$70.58
May 202515.23¢493$75.09
June 202516.66¢590$98.31
July 202516.96¢808$137.07
August 202517.34¢757$131.14
September 202517.38¢532$92.51
October 202515.82¢499$78.90
November 202515.68¢492$77.18
December 202515.47¢601$93.02
January 202616.12¢617$99.48
February 202616.38¢505$82.71
March 202616.59¢514$85.24
April 202616.30¢439$71.56
May 202616.28¢499$81.22
June 202617.96¢627$112.69
July 202617.96¢923$165.82
August 202618.03¢861$155.24

The increases: 2025 and the latest months

The annual average rose from 15.05¢ per kWh in 2024 to 15.90¢ per kWh in 2025, up 5.6%. The average bill rose less, from $90.26 to $92.91 (+2.9%), because use per home fell from 600 kWh4 to 584 kWh1 a month.

The monthly data point higher again for 2026. The 12-month average to August 2026 was 16.82¢ per kWh, above the 2025 figure, and the August 20263 average of 18.03¢ per kWh was +4.0%2 against August 2025. These monthly figures are preliminary; EIA's annual survey for 2026 is due in August 2027.

People searching for a "Public Service Company of Colorado rate case" are looking for the same utility: Public Service Company of Colorado is Xcel's Colorado company. Its rate changes are decided by the Colorado Public Utilities Commission, whose proceedings are filed under that legal name. The guide to rate increases explains how a commission decision reaches the bill.

Time-of-use on almost every meter

EIA counted 1,375,000 Xcel residential customers enrolled in time-of-use pricing in 2025, 99.6% of the homes on its wires. Advanced meters, which record when electricity is used, were installed at 99.1% of residential meters. Among Xcel's other utilities the share on time-varying rates was 1.6% in Minnesota and 3.2% in Wisconsin, so Colorado is the exception within the company. It is also unusual among Colorado's large utilities: 5.1%5 of Colorado Springs Utilities' customers were on such a rate.

What this changes for a household: two homes using the same kWh in a month can pay different bills, depending on how much of that use falls in Xcel's peak hours. The peak hours and the price of each period are set in Xcel's Colorado tariff; the averages on this page blend all hours together. The time-of-use guide shows how such a rate changes a bill.

July use is double April's

Over the last 12 months, the average Xcel home used 439 kWh in April 2026 and 923 kWh in July 2026. The average bill moved from $71.56 to $165.82, more than twice as much. Price per kWh moves too: the August 20263 average (18.03¢ per kWh) was above the 12-month one (16.82¢ per kWh2), so a summer month is a poor guide to the year.

Xcel Energy: average residential use and bill by month

Source: EIA-861M monthly sales and revenue by utility. kWh per residential customer in each month (EIA-861M; months since January 2026 preliminary). The table adds the average bill and price for the month.

Show the numbers
MonthkWh per customerBill per customer¢/kWh
September 2025532$92.5117.38¢
October 2025499$78.9015.82¢
November 2025492$77.1815.68¢
December 2025601$93.0215.47¢
January 2026617$99.4816.12¢
February 2026505$82.7116.38¢
March 2026514$85.2416.59¢
April 2026439$71.5616.30¢
May 2026499$81.2216.28¢
June 2026627$112.6917.96¢
July 2026923$165.8217.96¢
August 2026861$155.2418.03¢

Winter does not produce a second peak of the same size. Colorado's winters are cold (6,6086 heating degree days a year, 2016–2025, NOAA), but only 24.6%7 of Colorado homes heat mainly with electricity (Census, 2025), so most heating does not run through the electric meter.

The smallest bill among Xcel's five utilities

Xcel Energy has 5 state utilities with pages here: Colorado, Minnesota, New Mexico, Texas, Wisconsin. Colorado is not the cheapest of them per kWh, but its homes use the least, so its bill is the lowest.

Xcel utilityAverage price, 2025Use per homeAverage bill
Colorado15.90¢ per kWh584 kWh$92.91
Minnesota17.07¢ per kWh615 kWh$104.99
Wisconsin15.56¢ per kWh726 kWh$112.86
Texas13.94¢ per kWh937 kWh$130.54
New Mexico12.86¢ per kWh973 kWh$125.111
Average monthly residential bill, 2025: Xcel Energy's five state utilities
Xcel Energy (CO)$92.91
Xcel Energy (MN)$104.99
Xcel Energy (WI)$112.86
Xcel Energy (NM)$125.11
Xcel Energy (TX)$130.54

Source: EIA-861 annual electric power industry report, 2025 final. EIA-861 2025 final. Average revenue per kWh is all charges divided by kWh; it is not a tariff rate.

Show the numbers
Utilityaverage monthly residential bill
Xcel Energy (CO)$92.91
Xcel Energy (MN)$104.99
Xcel Energy (WI)$112.86
Xcel Energy (NM)$125.11
Xcel Energy (TX)$130.54

Xcel Energy in Texas and in New Mexico are one company, Southwestern Public Service Company, with lower average prices than Colorado's but much higher use per home, and so larger bills. Xcel in Minnesota had the highest average price of the five. The Xcel Energy page compares all of them.

Among Colorado's utilities

Inside Colorado, Xcel's average was above both the cooperatives' and the city and other public utilities': in 2025 Colorado's cooperatives averaged 15.51¢ per kWh, its public power utilities 14.71¢ per kWh and its 2 investor-owned utilities 16.07¢ per kWh. Colorado Springs Utilities, the second-largest, averaged 15.43¢ per kWh and a bill of $92.911.

Xcel reports residential service in 56 counties, from the Denver area to the San Luis Valley. In 558 of them at least one other utility also reports customers, so the county alone does not tell you whether a home is on Xcel's wires; the utilities' own service maps decide by address.

Counties where Xcel Energy reports customers in Colorado
Counties where Xcel Energy reports customers in ColoradoCrowley County: Xcel Energy reports service, with 3 other utilitiesPhillips County: not served by Xcel EnergySedgwick County: not served by Xcel EnergyBaca County: Xcel Energy reports service, with 3 other utilitiesEl Paso County: Xcel Energy reports service, with 7 other utilitiesKit Carson County: not served by Xcel EnergyMorgan County: Xcel Energy reports service, with 4 other utilitiesBent County: Xcel Energy reports service, with 3 other utilitiesAdams County: Xcel Energy reports service, with 4 other utilitiesArapahoe County: Xcel Energy reports service, with 3 other utilitiesLincoln County: not served by Xcel EnergyOtero County: Xcel Energy reports service, with 4 other utilitiesTeller County: Xcel Energy reports service, with 3 other utilitiesCheyenne County: not served by Xcel EnergyRio Blanco County: Xcel Energy reports service, with 5 other utilitiesWashington County: Xcel Energy reports service, with 5 other utilitiesLake County: Xcel Energy reports service, with 2 other utilitiesKiowa County: Xcel Energy reports service, with 3 other utilitiesAlamosa County: Xcel Energy reports service, with 1 other utilityConejos County: Xcel Energy reports service, with 1 other utilitySan Juan County: not served by Xcel EnergyGilpin County: Xcel Energy reports service, with 1 other utilityArchuleta County: Xcel Energy reports service, with 1 other utilityGunnison County: Xcel Energy reports service, with 5 other utilitiesMontezuma County: Xcel Energy reports service, with 2 other utilitiesRio Grande County: Xcel Energy reports service, with 2 other utilitiesCuster County: Xcel Energy reports service, with 4 other utilitiesBoulder County: Xcel Energy reports service, with 6 other utilitiesBroomfield County: not served by Xcel EnergyLogan County: Xcel Energy reports service, with 5 other utilitiesMoffat County: Xcel Energy reports service, with 4 other utilitiesClear Creek County: Xcel Energy reports service, with 2 other utilitiesFremont County: Xcel Energy reports service, with 5 other utilitiesProwers County: Xcel Energy reports service, with 5 other utilitiesSaguache County: Xcel Energy reports service, with 5 other utilitiesSummit County: Xcel Energy reports service, with 2 other utilitiesElbert County: Xcel Energy reports service, with 2 other utilitiesYuma County: Xcel Energy reports service, with 5 other utilitiesDolores County: Xcel Energy reports service, with 3 other utilitiesHinsdale County: Xcel Energy reports service, with 3 other utilitiesMineral County: Xcel Energy reports service, with 2 other utilitiesDenver County: Xcel Energy reports service (no other utility reported)La Plata County: Xcel Energy reports service, with 2 other utilitiesChaffee County: Xcel Energy reports service, with 3 other utilitiesGarfield County: Xcel Energy reports service, with 6 other utilitiesPueblo County: Xcel Energy reports service, with 5 other utilitiesEagle County: Xcel Energy reports service, with 2 other utilitiesPark County: Xcel Energy reports service, with 1 other utilityMesa County: Xcel Energy reports service, with 4 other utilitiesDelta County: Xcel Energy reports service, with 4 other utilitiesJackson County: not served by Xcel EnergyMontrose County: Xcel Energy reports service, with 3 other utilitiesLas Animas County: Xcel Energy reports service, with 4 other utilitiesCostilla County: Xcel Energy reports service, with 2 other utilitiesOuray County: Xcel Energy reports service, with 3 other utilitiesDouglas County: Xcel Energy reports service, with 3 other utilitiesSan Miguel County: Xcel Energy reports service, with 3 other utilitiesHuerfano County: Xcel Energy reports service, with 1 other utilityGrand County: Xcel Energy reports service, with 3 other utilitiesPitkin County: Xcel Energy reports service, with 2 other utilitiesRoutt County: Xcel Energy reports service, with 4 other utilitiesLarimer County: Xcel Energy reports service, with 7 other utilitiesWeld County: Xcel Energy reports service, with 7 other utilitiesJefferson County: Xcel Energy reports service, with 3 other utilities

Source: EIA-861 2025, service territory; Census Bureau, Cartographic boundary file, counties. EIA-861 2025 service territory: 56 counties. Counts whole counties even where the utility serves only part of one; check the utility's own service-area map for an address.

Show the numbers
CountyOther utilities reporting service
Adams CountyCORE Electric Cooperative, United Power, Morgan County Rural Electric Association, WAPA-- Western Area Power Administration
Alamosa CountySan Luis Valley R E C
Arapahoe CountyCORE Electric Cooperative, Mountain View Electric Association, Morgan County Rural Electric Association
Archuleta CountyLa Plata Electric Association
Baca CountySoutheast Colorado Power Association, City of Springfield, Tri-County Electric Cooperative
Bent CountySoutheast Colorado Power Association, City of Lamar, City of Las Animas
Boulder CountyUnited Power, Poudre Valley REA, City of Longmont, Town of Estes Park, Town of Lyons, WAPA-- Western Area Power Administration
Chaffee CountyCORE Electric Cooperative, Sangre De Cristo Electric Association, WAPA-- Western Area Power Administration
Clear Creek CountyCORE Electric Cooperative, WAPA-- Western Area Power Administration
Conejos CountySan Luis Valley R E C
Costilla CountySan Isabel Electric Association, San Luis Valley R E C
Crowley CountyBlack Hills Colorado Electric, Mountain View Electric Association, Southeast Colorado Power Association
Custer CountyBlack Hills Colorado Electric, San Isabel Electric Association, Sangre De Cristo Electric Association, WAPA-- Western Area Power Administration
Delta CountyDelta Montrose Electric Association, Grand Valley Power, City of Delta, WAPA-- Western Area Power Administration
Denver Countynone
Dolores CountyEmpire Electric Association, San Miguel Power Association, WAPA-- Western Area Power Administration
Douglas CountyCORE Electric Cooperative, Mountain View Electric Association, WAPA-- Western Area Power Administration
Eagle CountyHoly Cross Electric Association, Yampa Valley Electric Association
El Paso CountyColorado Springs Utilities, CORE Electric Cooperative, Black Hills Colorado Electric, Mountain View Electric Association, City of Fountain, Southeast Colorado Power Association, WAPA-- Western Area Power Administration
Elbert CountyCORE Electric Cooperative, Mountain View Electric Association
Fremont CountyCORE Electric Cooperative, Black Hills Colorado Electric, San Isabel Electric Association, Sangre De Cristo Electric Association, WAPA-- Western Area Power Administration
Garfield CountyHoly Cross Electric Association, Grand Valley Power, City of Glenwood Springs, White River Electric Association, Moon Lake Electric Association, WAPA-- Western Area Power Administration
Gilpin CountyUnited Power
Grand CountyYampa Valley Electric Association, Mountain Parks Electric, WAPA-- Western Area Power Administration
Gunnison CountyHoly Cross Electric Association, Delta Montrose Electric Association, Gunnison County Electric Association., City of Gunnison, WAPA-- Western Area Power Administration
Hinsdale CountyLa Plata Electric Association, Gunnison County Electric Association., San Luis Valley R E C
Huerfano CountySan Isabel Electric Association
Jefferson CountyCORE Electric Cooperative, United Power, WAPA-- Western Area Power Administration
Kiowa CountySoutheast Colorado Power Association, K C Electric Association, Wheatland Electric Cooperative
La Plata CountyLa Plata Electric Association, WAPA-- Western Area Power Administration
Lake CountySangre De Cristo Electric Association, WAPA-- Western Area Power Administration
Larimer CountyCity of Fort Collins, Poudre Valley REA, City of Loveland, Mountain Parks Electric, Town of Estes Park, High West Energy, WAPA-- Western Area Power Administration
Las Animas CountySan Isabel Electric Association, Southeast Colorado Power Association, City of Trinidad, Southwestern Electric Cooperative
Logan CountyMorgan County Rural Electric Association, Highline Electric Association, High West Energy, Town of Fleming, WAPA-- Western Area Power Administration
Mesa CountyHoly Cross Electric Association, Grand Valley Power, San Miguel Power Association, WAPA-- Western Area Power Administration
Mineral CountyLa Plata Electric Association, San Luis Valley R E C
Moffat CountyYampa Valley Electric Association, White River Electric Association, Moon Lake Electric Association, WAPA-- Western Area Power Administration
Montezuma CountyEmpire Electric Association, WAPA-- Western Area Power Administration
Montrose CountyDelta Montrose Electric Association, San Miguel Power Association, WAPA-- Western Area Power Administration
Morgan CountyMorgan County Rural Electric Association, City of Fort Morgan, Highline Electric Association, WAPA-- Western Area Power Administration
Otero CountyBlack Hills Colorado Electric, San Isabel Electric Association, Southeast Colorado Power Association, City of La Junta
Ouray CountyDelta Montrose Electric Association, San Miguel Power Association, WAPA-- Western Area Power Administration
Park CountyCORE Electric Cooperative
Pitkin CountyHoly Cross Electric Association, City of Aspen
Prowers CountySoutheast Colorado Power Association, City of Lamar, Town of Holly, Town of Granada, Wheatland Electric Cooperative
Pueblo CountyBlack Hills Colorado Electric, Mountain View Electric Association, San Isabel Electric Association, Southeast Colorado Power Association, WAPA-- Western Area Power Administration
Rio Blanco CountyYampa Valley Electric Association, White River Electric Association, Moon Lake Electric Association, Deseret Generation & Tran Cooperative, WAPA-- Western Area Power Administration
Rio Grande CountySan Luis Valley R E C, City of Center
Routt CountyYampa Valley Electric Association, Mountain Parks Electric, Town of Oak Creek, WAPA-- Western Area Power Administration
Saguache CountySangre De Cristo Electric Association, Gunnison County Electric Association., San Luis Valley R E C, City of Center, WAPA-- Western Area Power Administration
San Miguel CountyEmpire Electric Association, San Miguel Power Association, WAPA-- Western Area Power Administration
Summit CountyMountain Parks Electric, WAPA-- Western Area Power Administration
Teller CountyColorado Springs Utilities, CORE Electric Cooperative, Black Hills Colorado Electric
Washington CountyMountain View Electric Association, Morgan County Rural Electric Association, Highline Electric Association, Y-W Electric Association, WAPA-- Western Area Power Administration
Weld CountyUnited Power, Poudre Valley REA, City of Longmont, Morgan County Rural Electric Association, Highline Electric Association, High West Energy, WAPA-- Western Area Power Administration
Yuma CountyHighline Electric Association, Y-W Electric Association, City of Yuma, City of Wray, WAPA-- Western Area Power Administration

Rooftop solar

Xcel's Colorado customers had 121,127 net-metered residential solar installations in 2025, with 720.3 megawatts of capacity: 87.8 per 1,000 residential customers. That rate was several times the company's other utilities (22.1 in New Mexico, 13.0 in Minnesota, 3.55 in Wisconsin). The net metering guide explains how the credits work.

Outages: most minutes came on major event days

Xcel's Colorado customers averaged 360 minutes without power in 2025 counting all events, more than the Colorado average of 274 minutes, and 1.58 interruptions each. Excluding major event days, the days the IEEE 1366 standard sets apart as unusually severe, the figure was 149 minutes. So more than half the outage time fell on major event days. The cooperatives show the same pattern: CORE Electric Cooperative recorded 381 minutes in all and 52 minutes without major events, United Power 303 minutes and 90 minutes. Colorado Springs Utilities reported 41 minutes10.

Minutes without power per customer, 2025, including major event days
Colorado Springs Utilities (CO)41
United Power (CO)303
Xcel Energy (CO)360
CORE Electric Cooperative (CO)381

Source: EIA-861 2025, reliability. EIA-861 2025 final. Average revenue per kWh is all charges divided by kWh; it is not a tariff rate.

Show the numbers
Utilityoutage minutes per customer (all events)
Colorado Springs Utilities (CO)41
United Power (CO)303
Xcel Energy (CO)360
CORE Electric Cooperative (CO)381

Business customers

Xcel's 225,020 commercial customers paid 12.49¢ per kWh on average in 2025, with an average monthly bill of $577.92, and its 315 industrial customers 8.12¢ per kWh. Across all 1,605,246 customers the average was 12.72¢ per kWh1.

Households behind on bills can apply for federal energy assistance: Colorado received $55.5 million11 from LIHEAP for fiscal 2026, and the help paying guide lists the programs. For the statewide picture, see electricity in Colorado.

Xcel Energy Colorado questions

How much does Xcel Energy charge per kWh in Colorado?

Xcel's Colorado residential customers paid an average of 15.90¢ per kWh1 in 2025 and 16.82¢ per kWh2 over the last 12 months (September 2025 to August 2026, preliminary for 2026). Those are averages of everything billed divided by kWh used, across all hours of the time-of-use rate; the tariff's on-peak and off-peak prices are separate lines, and Xcel publishes them.

What is the average Xcel Energy bill in Colorado?

$92.91 a month in 2025 for 584 kWh1, and $99.66 over the last 12 months (September 2025 to August 2026). The monthly average ranged from $71.56 in April 2026 to $165.82 in July 20262.

Is Public Service Company of Colorado the same as Xcel Energy?

Yes. Public Service Company of Colorado is the legal name of Xcel Energy's Colorado operating utility. EIA reports it under that name, and it appears on regulatory filings such as rate cases.

Can I buy electricity from someone other than Xcel in Colorado?

No. 0.0%1 of Colorado's residential customers bought from a competitive supplier in 2025. The utility that serves your address sells you the electricity.

Related pages

Sources

  1. EIA-861 annual electric power industry report, 2025 final; table Sales_Ult_Cust_2025; 2025, final; released October 7, 2026. www.eia.gov
  2. EIA-861M monthly sales and revenue by utility; table sales_ult_cust_2025 and _2026; released October 23, 2026. www.eia.gov
  3. EIA, Electric Power Monthly / EIA-861M sales and revenue by state; table sales_revenue.xlsx (EPM Table 5.6.A); January 2001 to 2026-08; months since January 2026 preliminary; released October 23, 2026. www.eia.gov
  4. EIA-861 annual electric power industry report, 2024 final; table Sales_Ult_Cust_2024; 2024, final (file updated December 3, 2025); released December 3, 2025. www.eia.gov
  5. EIA-861 2025, advanced meters, dynamic pricing and net metering; table Advanced_Meters, Dynamic_Pricing, Net_Metering 2025; 2025, final; released October 7, 2026. www.eia.gov
  6. NOAA, Climate Prediction Center population-weighted degree days by state; table daily state files, base 65°F; 2016-2025 annual sums; 1981-2010 CPC normals; released November 13, 2026. ftp.cpc.ncep.noaa.gov
  7. Census Bureau, American Community Survey 2025 1-year estimates, house heating fuel, table B25040; 2025; released October 29, 2026. data.census.gov
  8. EIA-861 2025, service territory; table Service_Territory_2025; 2025, final; released October 7, 2026. www.eia.gov
  9. Census Bureau, Cartographic boundary file, counties; table cb_2025_us_county_5m; cb_2021_us_county_5m; 2025 (2021 for Connecticut). www.census.gov
  10. EIA-861 2025, reliability; table Reliability_2025; 2025, final; released October 7, 2026. www.eia.gov
  11. HHS, LIHEAP funding releases to states; table FY2027 first release; FY2026 final; FY2027 first release (October 9, 2026); FY2026 total; released October 9, 2026. acf.gov

Margins of error (±) are at the 90% confidence level. A difference is called significant only when it passes the Census Bureau's test at that level. How every figure is built: methodology. Found an error? Write to [email protected]; corrections are listed on the updates page.