Independent resource. Not affiliated with any utility or energy provider. Data sourced from the U.S. Energy Information Administration.Verified May 2026

Colorado Electricity Cost 2026: 15.10¢/kWh

Colorado residential electricity rates average 15.10 cents per kWh in 2026, -16.3% vs the 18.05¢ US national average. The state operates a regulated retail market with natural gas/wind as the primary generation source.

State Rate

15.10

cents/kWh

Monthly Bill

$134

at 886 kWh

vs National

-16.3%

national avg 18.05¢

Rank (cheapest first)

32/50

YoY change +4.5%

Market Type

Regulated

Supply rate set by state PUC

Primary Generation

Natural Gas/Wind

per EIA State Energy Profile

Annual Bill (avg usage)

$1,605

vs national $1,919

Colorado electricity market

Regulated state served by Xcel Energy (the dominant utility serving the Denver metro and northern Colorado) and Black Hills Energy (southeastern Colorado), plus a network of municipal utilities and rural cooperatives. Generation mix is shifting fast from coal to wind, with the Comanche 3 coal plant scheduled for early retirement.

Where Colorado residents save

Xcel offers a residential TOU pilot and an EV-specific overnight rate. Solar+battery is increasingly economic given the strong solar resource and net-metering structure. Weatherization Assistance Program serves low-income households.

Primary utilities

  • Xcel Energy
  • Black Hills Energy
  • Tri-State Generation

Colorado bill estimates by usage

Home ProfileMonthly kWhMonthly BillAnnual Bill
Apartment500$76$906
Small house750$113$1,359
Average household886$134$1,605
Large house1200$181$2,174
Large house + EV1500$227$2,718

Estimates use the Colorado state-average rate of 15.10¢/kWh from EIA data. Your actual bill includes delivery charges, customer-service fees, and state/local taxes already blended into this retail rate, plus any locality-specific surcharges not captured at the state-average level.

Related

National context. US average residential rate 2026: 18.05¢/kWh. Cheapest state: Idaho at 10.65¢. Most expensive: Hawaii at 43.18¢. Source: U.S. Energy Information Administration. See /methodology for sourcing and limitations.

Updated 2026-05-11