Colorado's Largest Electric Utility Tripled Its Spending Since 2021 — Now It Hiked Rates by $157 M

Colorado PUC approved a $157 million revenue increase for Xcel Energy, raising average residential bills about $5/month (4.8%) and commercial bills about $7.29/month (4.6%); a separate $123 million gas utility increase is pending. Xcel Energy says the spending covers grid upgrades and reliability, and called the approved increase lower than it requested; opponents, including Libre Colorado's Angel Merlos, call it an unchecked monopoly hike. Xcel says Colorado residential rates rose 36.4% from 2019-2025, above the 31.5% national average over the same period. A new Colorado gun law took affect August 1. SB 25-003 requires safety training and certification to purchase semi-automatic firearms and rapid-fire devices; sponsor Sen. Tim Sullivan says it's meant to prevent mass shootings. The NRA and Colorado State Shooting Association are suing Gov. Jared Polis, AG Phil Weiser, and DA Michael Allen, seeking an injunction; the Second Amendment Foundation and Rocky Mountain Gun Owners also oppose it on constitutional grounds. Montezuma County Sheriff Stephen Nolan says his office will not enforce the certificate requirement, citing his oath to the Constitution. State Rep. Jarvis Caldwell and Rep. Rick Tagert raised concerns about the law's effectiveness and its unfunded cost to county sheriffs.