By planning ahead, monitoring markets closely and using our resources wisely, we help keep energy costs stable for our community.
As of April 1, a fuel rate decrease is in effect for residential customers. The average household will see a reduction of nearly $10/month. This decrease reflects lower-than-expected natural gas supply costs and the steps we take to manage expenses before they reach customer bills.
Planning ahead saves money
We forecast fuel and power costs far in advance so we can act early. By using long-term plans like buying natural gas and propane when it's cheaper and leveraging our underground natural gas storage, we protect customers from unexpected cost increases.
Prepay agreements
Prepay agreements, in which we prepay for natural gas many years in advance, help balance market prices and can provide discounts. They are especially valuable during winter storms, when prices can rise quickly.
Watching the weather and markets
Our energy supply team closely tracks weather forecasts and constantly monitors our regional market, helping us anticipate changes in demand and price to make informed decisions. An example of these efforts was during Winter Storm Fern in January 2026, where close monitoring of the markets saved our customers about $2.9 million during the four-day storm event.
Propane Air Plant
During periods of peak demand, we use our Propane Air Plant to reduce our use of higher‑priced natural gas supplies. Smart use of this plant has saved about $845,000 during Winter Storm Fern alone.
Buying and selling at the right time
We buy propane and natural gas when prices are typically lowest, often in the spring and summer, and store it for later use. This approach helps avoid higher winter prices.
Electricity prices change throughout the day. We buy and sell power hourly based on market conditions, which allow us to optimize our power generating plants.
When we have extra power, we are able to sell the excess to our neighboring utilities that may need it and when lower‑cost power is available, we buy the power instead of generating our own.
These decisions help lower overall costs.
Using our resources when it makes sense
We rely on a diverse mix of energy resources. By choosing the most cost‑effective option at the right time, we make the most of our system and deliver savings for our customers.
Millions in savings make a big difference
We remain focused on delivering safe, reliable service at competitive prices. As of Jan. 1, 2026, our electric rates are 13% cheaper and our natural gas rates 14% cheaper compared to neighboring Front Range communities.
