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ElectricityRatePerKWh

Electricity Rate in Colorado (2026): 16.16c/kWh Average

The EIA residential electricity price in Colorado is 16.16 cents per kWh as of May 2026, 2.28c below the US average of 18.44c/kWh. The Colorado commercial rate is 13.13c/kWh and the industrial rate is 9.47c/kWh (EIA Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A).

Residential Rate
16.16¢
per kWh
vs US Avg
-12%
2.28c below
Avg Monthly Bill
$107
673 kWh
Provider Choice
No
Regulated monopoly

Colorado Electricity Rate: What You Need to Know

Colorado electricity averages 16.16 cents per kWh for residential customers as of May 2026, according to the EIA Electric Power Monthly. This is 2.28c below the US average of 18.44c/kWh. The average monthly bill for Colorado households is $107 based on typical usage of 673 kWh.

Colorado's 16.16c/kWh residential rate (May 2026) sits below the US average of 18.44c, and it has been rising. Xcel Energy (Public Service Company of Colorado) is the dominant regulated utility, serving about 1.6 million electric customers across the Front Range including Denver, Boulder, and the Colorado Springs suburbs; Black Hills Energy, the municipal Colorado Springs Utilities, and a network of rural cooperatives serve the rest. Colorado is a regulated market with no residential retail choice - households buy from the utility assigned to their territory, with rates set by the Colorado Public Utilities Commission. Xcel filed for a $356 million electric rate increase (about 9%) in November 2025, and in June 2026 reached a settlement cutting that to roughly $225 million, lifting the typical residential bill about $6 a month to near $111. The structural driver is Colorado's Clean Energy Plan: Xcel is retiring the coal-fired Comanche units in Pueblo (the state's largest power plant) while building out wind and solar, and those transition costs - plus wildfire mitigation and transmission investment - flow into rates. Wind already supplies roughly 30% of Colorado's electricity.

Generation mix: Natural gas 30%, wind 30%, coal 27%, solar 10%. The fuel mix is a primary driver of electricity rates - states with abundant hydro or nuclear tend to have lower rates, while states dependent on imported petroleum (Hawaii) or natural gas pay more.

Year-over-year change: Colorado rates rose 3.7% year-over-year as of May 2026. This compares to the US average increase of 6.2% over the same period.

Regulated: You Cannot Switch Electricity Suppliers

Xcel Energy operates as the regulated utility in Colorado. Retail electricity choice is not available for residential customers. Options for reducing your bill include: time-of-use rate optimization, energy efficiency upgrades, and rooftop solar.

Your Colorado Electricity Bill Components

Energy charge (673 kWh x 16.16c)$108.76
Fixed customer charge (estimated)~$10.00
Estimated monthly total$118.76
Colorado Rate by Sector - May 2026
Residential (US 18.44c)16.16c
Commercial (US 13.54c)13.13c
Industrial (US 8.71c)9.47c
Source: EIA Electric Power Monthly, Table 5.6.A.
Dominant Utility
Xcel Energy
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Adjacent States
Utah12.96c
Wyoming14.80c
Nebraska13.59c
Kansas15.13c
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Colorado Electricity: Frequently Asked Questions

What is the electricity rate in Colorado in 2026?+
The average residential electricity rate in Colorado is 16.16 cents per kWh as of May 2026, according to the EIA Electric Power Monthly. This is 2.28c below the US average of 18.44c/kWh (-12%). The average monthly electricity bill in Colorado is approximately $107 based on 673 kWh typical monthly usage.
What is the commercial electricity rate in Colorado?+
The average commercial electricity rate in Colorado is 13.13 cents per kWh as of May 2026, according to the EIA Electric Power Monthly (Table 5.6.A). That compares with the US commercial average of 13.54c/kWh. Commercial rates apply to businesses, offices, schools, and retail. They are usually lower per kWh than residential rates, but a commercial bill can still be much larger because of higher volume and demand charges.
What is the industrial electricity rate in Colorado?+
The average industrial electricity rate in Colorado is 9.47 cents per kWh as of May 2026, according to the EIA Electric Power Monthly (Table 5.6.A), versus a US industrial average of 8.71c/kWh. Industrial customers such as factories, manufacturers, and large facilities pay the lowest per-kWh price of the three EIA sectors because they buy power at high volume, often at higher voltage, under demand-based rate structures.
Can I switch electricity providers in Colorado?+
No - Colorado operates a regulated electricity market. Xcel Energy serves as the regulated monopoly utility. Customers cannot switch electricity generation suppliers. Options for reducing bills include time-of-use rate optimization (where available), energy efficiency upgrades, and solar installation.
What is the average monthly electricity bill in Colorado?+
The average Colorado household uses approximately 673 kWh per month. At 16.16c/kWh plus approximately $10 in fixed charges, the average monthly bill is $107. This varies by season (higher in summer for cooling-dominant states like Florida, higher in winter for heating-dominant states).
What is the primary electricity source in Colorado?+
Colorado's generation mix is primarily Natural gas 30%, wind 30%, coal 27%, solar 10%. This fuel mix is a key factor in the state's electricity rate - states relying on hydro or nuclear typically have lower rates, while states heavily dependent on natural gas or petroleum (like Hawaii) face higher costs.
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