Who has the cheapest electricity in Colorado?

City of Fort Collins, at an average 13.2 cents per kWh for 2024 among Colorado utilities with at least 50,000 customers (EIA-861). The most expensive, Black Hills Colorado Electric, LLC, averaged 17.0 cents — a difference of about $415 per year at 10,800 kWh.

Can I choose my electric company in Colorado?

No. Colorado is a regulated retail market: your utility is set by address and there is no residential supplier shopping. Rates are set in state utility-commission proceedings (puc.colorado.gov).

Is gas or electric heat cheaper in Colorado?

Per million BTU of site energy, utility natural gas was $10.60 (Feb 2026) versus $49.21 for electric resistance heat. A heat pump delivering 2.5-3 units of heat per unit of electricity brings electric heating to roughly $16-20 per MMBTU.

What is the average electric bill in Colorado?

At Colorado's February 2026 average price of 16.79 cents/kWh and typical usage of 900 kWh per month, a household pays about $151 per month ($1813 per year) for electricity. Actual bills vary with usage, utility territory, and tariff.

Colorado Electricity Rates by Utility (2026): Cheapest Provider, Supplier Choice & Heating Costs

Colorado's average residential electricity price was 16.8¢/kWh in February 2026 — the 19th-highest price of the 51 states+DC (EIA). Across its major utilities in 2024, average all-in rates ranged from 13.2¢/kWh at City of Fort Collins to 17.0¢/kWh at Black Hills Colorado Electric, LLC — a spread worth about $415/yr at typical usage (10,800 kWh/yr). Colorado is a fully regulated market: households cannot choose their electricity or gas supplier. For home heating, utility natural gas was the cheapest fuel at $10.60 per million BTU vs $49.21 for electric resistance heat.

Residential rates by utility (EIA-861, average all-in ¢/kWh)

Colorado electric utilities (bundled service, ≥5,000 residential customers) — average residential price and annual cost difference vs the state average at 10,800 kWh/yr
Utility	2023 ¢/kWh	2024 ¢/kWh	Customers (2024)	Ownership	vs state avg, $/yr
City of Fort Morgan	7.89	6.97	5,999	Municipal	-$854
Holy Cross Electric Assn, Inc	12.14	12.04	49,982	Co-op	-$307
Poudre Valley REA, Inc	12.01	12.21	49,587	Co-op	-$288
City of Longmont	11.59	12.30	40,855	Municipal	-$279
City of Fort Collins	12.68	13.21	70,803	Municipal	-$181
City of Fountain	13.72	13.74	17,242	Municipal	-$123
Highline Electric Assn	13.21	14.12	5,047	Co-op	-$82
Morgan County Rural Elec Assn	13.59	14.37	5,825	Co-op	-$55
City of Loveland	13.46	14.40	37,007	Municipal	-$52
City of Colorado Springs	13.80	14.45	216,771	Municipal	-$46
Delta Montrose Electric Assn	14.80	14.97	32,575	Co-op	+$10
CORE Electric Cooperative	14.53	15.04	165,067	Co-op	+$18
Public Service Co of Colorado	14.34	15.05	1,365,053	Investor-owned	+$18
Empire Electric Assn, Inc	15.35	15.31	12,899	Co-op	+$46
Mountain View Elec Assn, Inc	15.76	15.52	59,789	Co-op	+$69
United Power, Inc	13.61	15.75	101,502	Co-op	+$94
Grand Valley Power	15.83	15.94	17,268	Co-op	+$115
Mountain Parks Electric, Inc	14.53	15.98	19,183	Co-op	+$119
San Miguel Power Assn, Inc	15.96	16.32	12,154	Co-op	+$156
La Plata Electric Assn, Inc	16.11	16.71	39,931	Co-op	+$197
Yampa Valley Electric Assn Inc	15.90	16.76	23,253	Co-op	+$203
Black Hills Colorado Electric, LLC	17.42	17.05	89,252	Investor-owned	+$234
Southeast Colorado Power Assn	16.84	17.22	8,148	Co-op	+$252
San Isabel Electric Assn, Inc	17.05	17.78	23,289	Co-op	+$314
San Luis Valley R E C, Inc	17.36	18.38	9,115	Co-op	+$378

Average price = residential revenue ÷ residential sales from each utility's federal EIA-861 filing (bundled service — supply + delivery + riders, not a quoted tariff rate). State average = 14.88¢/kWh, volume-weighted across these utilities (2024). Your distribution utility is fixed by address; these gaps measure what households in different territories actually paid. A further 8 competitive suppliers / solar lessors report energy-only or behind-the-meter sales in Colorado; their prices cover only part of the bill and are not comparable to the all-in figures above.

Can you choose your electric company in Colorado?

Electric supply choice: no · Gas supply choice: no

Fully regulated (Xcel / Black Hills).

Official rate information: puc.colorado.gov.

Heating: which fuel is cheapest per million BTU in Colorado?

Colorado residential energy prices normalized to $/MMBTU (site energy)
Fuel	Native price	As of	$ per MMBTU
Utility natural gas	$1.060 /therm	Feb 2026	10.60
Propane	$2.302 /gal	Mar 30, 2026	25.17
Electricity (resistance)	16.79 ¢/kWh	Feb 2026	49.21

Utility natural gas is the cheapest residential energy per BTU in Colorado at $10.60/MMBTU. Conversions: 1 kWh = 3,412 BTU; 1 therm = 100,000 BTU; heating oil 138,500 BTU/gal; propane 91,452 BTU/gal. Site-energy prices — appliance efficiency changes delivered-heat cost: a 95% AFUE gas furnace delivers heat near the gas figure, while a heat pump at seasonal COP 2.5–3 cuts the effective electric figure by 60–70%. (No EIA weekly heating-oil survey price for Colorado.)

Electricity price trend, last 12 months

Colorado's average residential price went from 15.08¢/kWh in Feb '25 to 16.79¢/kWh in Feb '26 — up 11% year-over-year. The 12-month peak was 16.79¢ in Feb '26.

Colorado average residential electricity price by month (EIA, ¢/kWh)
Month	Feb '25	Mar '25	Apr '25	May '25	Jun '25	Jul '25	Aug '25	Sep '25	Oct '25	Nov '25	Dec '25	Jan '26	Feb '26
¢/kWh	15.08	15.04	15.50	15.58	16.04	15.99	16.37	16.70	16.26	16.35	16.12	16.44	16.79

Head-to-head utility comparisons in Colorado

Public Service Co of Colorado vs City of Colorado Springs — who's cheaper?
Public Service Co of Colorado vs CORE Electric Cooperative — who's cheaper?
Public Service Co of Colorado vs United Power, Inc — who's cheaper?
Public Service Co of Colorado vs Black Hills Colorado Electric, LLC — who's cheaper?
Public Service Co of Colorado vs City of Fort Collins — who's cheaper?
Public Service Co of Colorado vs Mountain View Elec Assn, Inc — who's cheaper?
City of Colorado Springs vs CORE Electric Cooperative — who's cheaper?
City of Colorado Springs vs Black Hills Colorado Electric, LLC — who's cheaper?
City of Colorado Springs vs Mountain View Elec Assn, Inc — who's cheaper?
CORE Electric Cooperative vs United Power, Inc — who's cheaper?

Questions people ask

Who has the cheapest electricity in Colorado?: City of Fort Collins, at an average 13.2 cents per kWh for 2024 among Colorado utilities with at least 50,000 customers (EIA-861). The most expensive, Black Hills Colorado Electric, LLC, averaged 17.0 cents — a difference of about $415 per year at 10,800 kWh.
Can I choose my electric company in Colorado?: No. Colorado is a regulated retail market: your utility is set by address and there is no residential supplier shopping. Rates are set in state utility-commission proceedings (puc.colorado.gov).
Is gas or electric heat cheaper in Colorado?: Per million BTU of site energy, utility natural gas was $10.60 (Feb 2026) versus $49.21 for electric resistance heat. A heat pump delivering 2.5-3 units of heat per unit of electricity brings electric heating to roughly $16-20 per MMBTU.
What is the average electric bill in Colorado?: At Colorado's February 2026 average price of 16.79 cents/kWh and typical usage of 900 kWh per month, a household pays about $151 per month ($1813 per year) for electricity. Actual bills vary with usage, utility territory, and tariff.

About these numbers. Rates shown are averages computed from federal regulatory filings (EIA Form 861) and public tariff databases — confirm with your utility before making decisions; your actual rate depends on your tariff, usage, and riders. Distribution utility is determined by address and generally cannot be chosen; in retail-choice states you may choose your supplier for the supply portion of the bill. Savings figures use 10,800 kWh/yr (US average residential usage) and are estimates, not quotes. EnergySavings is an independent data project by CertiHomes and is not affiliated with any utility, supplier, or government agency.