Xcel Energy is asking Colorado regulators for roughly $355 to $356 million in new annual electric revenue, a move that would raise the average residential electric bill about 9.9%, or roughly $9.94 a month, starting in August 2026. Regulators have already been warned that when this proposal is stacked on top of other recent changes and riders, customers could end up with bills roughly one-third higher than three years ago if every pending request is approved. The utility and the Colorado Public Utilities Commission will trade testimony and public comment over the next two months.
What the company filed
Public Service Company of Colorado, the Xcel Energy unit that serves the state, filed the electric case as docket No. 25AL-0494E and is asking regulators for about $356 million in base revenue. The Colorado Public Utilities Commission says that works out to an average residential increase of about 9.9% (around $9.94 a month). According to the Colorado PUC newsletter, the filing details the company’s plan to recover recent investments in poles, distribution, and generation, and could take effect in August 2026 if the commission signs off as requested. Xcel’s full public filing, including dozens of exhibits and bill-impact tables, is posted on Xcel’s rate-case page.
Staff numbers and the riders that matter
In filings and during the commission’s review, PUC staff told commissioners that customers’ bills would rise about 33.1% over three years if Xcel’s full request and associated riders are approved, a calculation first reported by The Denver Post. The Post also reported that three riders assessed as a percentage of total revenue would add roughly $11 million to the company’s base request, pushing the total toward about $367 million. Xcel’s SEC filing shows that the Office of the Utility Consumer Advocate recommended disallowances in the proceeding of up to about $138 million, a potential haircut that parties say could meaningfully trim the amount Xcel ultimately recovers.
What Xcel says the money will pay for
Xcel says the higher revenue would help pay for the replacement of poles and transformers, new substations, and other system upgrades aimed at improving reliability and cutting wildfire risk. In its corporate materials, the company also argues that Colorado residential bills remain well below the national average; Xcel’s May investor presentation put the company’s average residential electric bill at roughly 29% below the national figure and said the increase would keep energy costs near 1.27% of household income. For more details from the company, see Xcel’s investor presentation and local coverage, such as Denver7.
Hearings and timeline
The PUC has scheduled remote public comment hearings for Tuesday, May 19, and Tuesday, June 16, and expects to take final action on the case in the third quarter of 2026, according to the commission’s newsletter. Members of the public can submit written comments to docket No. 25AL-0494E through the commission’s e-filing system or sign up to speak at the hearings. Registration links are included in the Colorado PUC newsletter, and the full schedule is posted on the PUC calendar.
Reaction from advocates and customers
Consumer advocates and community groups are already gearing up for a fight. AARP Colorado has formally intervened in the case, and community organizations told reporters they are frustrated with what one watchdog dubbed an “ever-growing pancake stack” of rate requests. Reporting from Denver7 and advocacy filings highlight affordability as a central concern as the commission moves toward evidentiary hearings.
How to follow and weigh in
To track the case or submit comments, reference No. 25AL-0494E on the PUC’s e-filing site or visit the commission’s Electric Rate Cases page for step-by-step instructions. For help navigating the process, you can reach the PUC’s consumer assistance line at 303-894-2070 or Xcel customer service at 1-800-895-4999.
