Utility Accountability
Take immediate action right now: join our YOU-tilties Campaign and tell Colorado Springs Utilities and Xcel Energy to prioritize ratepayers and clean energy. Now learn more about this below!
Most Coloradans are stuck with one utility provider. We don't get to shop around or pick from any real choices. Even worse, many of these monopolies are for-profit corporations, focused on increasing their bottom line. They raise rates time and again, delay clean energy projects, and invest in expensive fossil fuel infrastructure, all while raking in record profits year after year. When bills go up or pollution goes unchecked, we are told it's necessary and that there's nothing we can do.
We know that is not true.
Cities and state regulators like the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) have real authority to oversee most utilities, especially those that are for-profit. Regulators are meant to ensure utilities serve the public interest, not just shareholders. We know public pressure can change outcomes and shift decisions which is why participating in utility accountability gives us the opportunity to fight for the energy future we want for our city and state.
Opposition & Obstacles
In November 2025, 27,010 Colorado households were behind on utility bills. Why?
Our grid is old, and it costs a lot of money to build, maintain, and operate it to match demand. Demand is up, mainly due to the rise of AI and data centers. The US has failed to invest proactively in cheaper renewable energy sources and chooses to relying on dirty, expensive coal. Utilities are supposed to work for us, the people who keep the lights on and pay the (ever-rising) bills. Instead, for-profit utilities like Xcel Energy are padding shareholder pockets while forcing Coloradans to bankroll dirty, risky fossil gas projects. Every month, your energy bill covers more than your electricity or heat. It’s funding a pipeline of bad math, pollution, and corporate greed.
Xcel’s CEO made $21 million in 2023.
As our energy bills continue to rise, the company took home $1.2 billion in profits last year.
Xcel is a for-profit, Monopoly utility. Despite years of public demand for cleaner, cheaper energy, Xcel’s latest plans ask regulators and lawmakers for permission to build more gas plants and pipelines, backslide on pollution safeguards, and raise costs on ratepayers for big tech and shareholder $$$. When Xcel prioritizes profits, it locks communities into decades of outdated and deadly fossil fuels because customers foot the bill, just is really just bad service. Coloradans want affordable bills and clean air, and we have the right to demand better.
Tell Xcel to prioritize ratepayers, not shareholders. Sign our petition and Raise your Voice
Colorado Springs residents deserve energy that is affordable, reliable, and better for our health and future. Right now, Colorado Springs Utilities (CSU) is trying to delay the retirement of the Ray Nixon coal plant without a real plan to replace it. At the same time, growing corporate energy demand (i.e. data centers coming to CO) threatens to increase energy bills and our fossil fuel dependence. It doesn't have to be that way.
When CSU prioritizes fossil fuels over affordable, clean energy, it locks communities into decades of outdated fossil fuel infrastructure. Coloradans deserve better service and stronger leadership. We want affordable bills, clean air, and climate resilience, not higher energy bills and more fossil fuel pollution.
Sign the Petition:Clean Energy for CSU
Misinformation
Utilities and fossil fuel interests continue to manufacture doubt and delay action on a just clean energy transition. Investors like BlackRock and Vanguard hold massive stakes in fossil companies therefore tying utility decisions to broad industry interests. Clean energy is frequently the target of misleading rhetoric (exaggerating costs, questioning reliability, ignoring the benefits, and downplaying the harms of fossil fuels). The culture war narratives are intentionally deployed on this topic to divide public support.
Inaccessibility
The Public Utilities Commission (PUC) proceedings can be wonky, technical, and less than exciting to engage in for the general public. For example, what even is the PUC? The PUC is a state-level regulatory agency responsible for ensuring that residents receive safe, reliable, and reasonably priced utility services. It's meant to ensure utilities serve the public interest, not just shareholders. We engage at the PUC to secure tangible wins and encourage participation in local action working on decarbonization and accountability!
All of the above is why we have started YOU-tilities, a campaign meant to flip the script: to educate, empower, and remind people that we do have the power to hold utilities accountable. We’re organizing locally to win cleaner energy, lower bills, and real accountability.
YOU-tilities is decentralized and volunteer-powered, combining:
- Civic engagement at the Public Utilities Commission (PUC)
- Municipal-level advocacy and local policy change
- Grassroots pressure on for-profit utilities like Xcel Energy
A Campaign Anyone Can Join
We want to connect local, volunteer-led groups with technical experts, policy support, and experienced organizers. We’re ready to collaborate with local elected officials, city sustainability councils, and ambitious businesses to bring proven model policies, education, and community support.
Our hope is to make utility accountability:
- Accessible, not wonky or intimidating
- Engaging, not extractive or destined for burnout
- Community-driven and built for the long-term
Our impact will be measured by:
- No new gas
- New strong regulations on utilities and their gas expansion
- Hold utilities to their coal plant retirement commitments
- Highlight utility greed
- Advance stronger clean energy standards
- ...and so much more!
If you are feeling frustrated, confused, tired of high bills, and tired of being told there is nothing you can do, you are in the right place.
You may be stuck with your utility.
But you are not stuck with their decisions.
Let’s build back people power, together. Fill out our volunteer interest form to join us!