City, Xcel Energy Seek Applicants for Partnership Advisory Panel

The city and Xcel Energy are seeking a representative group of community members to serve on the first Energy Partnership Advisory Panel. The panel will meet regularly to review and discuss energy issues and provide feedback on projects and programs that arise from the partnership.

The Advisory Panel will serve to connect the community to the new partnership by representing electricity and gas customers in Boulder in both residential and commercial sectors. The panel will review project proposals, gather perspectives on community impacts and make recommendations to the partnership’s Project Oversight team.

The application will close at 5 p.m. on Feb. 26.

The city manager, in coordination with Xcel Energy, will select up to 15 community members, with a focus on ensuring a representation of the broad energy interests in the Boulder community, including homeowners, renters, large and small commercial customers, the University of Colorado and other key stakeholders. Applicants need not be experts in energy or technology; the city and Xcel Energy are seeking participation from voices who can bring their perspective as Xcel Energy customers and Boulder community members.

The city and Xcel will appoint panel members for three-year terms, but the initial terms will be one-, two- or three-years so that no more than one-third of the terms of members of the Advisory Panel expire in the same year. Members may serve for up to two full terms. Members initially appointed for less than a three-year term may serve two full terms in addition to the initial term.

Other opportunities to participate in the City of Boulder – Xcel Energy Partnership

The city welcomes community members from all segments of Boulder to apply to the Advisory Panel, but it is not the only way for the public to participate in our community’s energy future. The city and Xcel Energy will create technical working groups, host public meetings and provide regular community updates to support the wide interest in this topic.

As needed, the city and Xcel Energy will stand up working groups to address specific issues and questions. These working groups will provide participation opportunities for Boulder’s community of energy experts. The community can stay informed on the status of these working groups via the city’s partnership website and climate and energy e-newsletter.

In addition, the city and Xcel Energy will host quarterly public meetings to share progress under the partnership and offer space for community comment and Q&A. The city will announce these meetings via press release and on the city’s website.

Finally, members of the public are always welcome to email their thoughts to City Council, city staff or Xcel Energy directly.

Partnership Overview

Voters approved a new franchise agreement with Xcel Energy in November 2020. By passing the franchise agreement, voters also approved a new partnership between the city and Xcel Energy. The partnership agreement seeks to make significant progress on Boulder’s clean energy and climate goals. Under the deal, the city and Xcel Energy are working together in a modern grid planning partnership, aimed at helping the city achieve 100% renewable electricity by 2030.

Learn more at on the city’s partnership webpage.