The City of Boulder and Xcel Energy are working together to accelerate the transition to clean energy, improve the reliability of our electric grid and ensure energy solutions are affordable and accessible for everyone who lives and works in Boulder.
This partnership helps us collaborate on shared goals, coordinate investments and bring community voices into decisions about Boulder’s energy future.
A simple, clear breakdown of what we’re striving for together:
Learn about the Partnership's progress, including total energy use, residential energy and commercial and industrial energy use.
Several groups, including the public, provide input and oversight into the partnership.
Duties: Responsible for oversight of the partnership agreement, including communication and collaboration between the city and Xcel to achieve the partnership's goals.
Meeting Frequency: The Executive Team meets several times per year to review progress and address any issues that might arise.
Members: Community members appointed to the Panel represent residents, businesses and the University of Colorado Boulder.
| CITY OF BOULDER | XCEL ENERGY |
|---|---|
City Manager, Nuria Rivera-Vandermyde Chris Meschuk, Deputy City Manager Sarah Huntley, Director of Communications and Engagement Carl Castillo, Chief Policy Advisor Jonathan Koehn, Director of Climate Initiatives | Robert Kenney, President of Xcel Energy - Colorado Hollie Velasquez-Horvath, RVP, State Affairs and Community Relations Rachel Nance, Senior Director of Customer Relations and Strategic Accounts |
Duties: The Project Oversight Team oversees the day-to-day activities of the partnership and ensures organizational accountability for delivering on projects and priorities.
Meeting Frequency: Monthly
Members
| CITY OF BOULDER | XCEL ENERGY |
|---|---|
Carolyn Elam, Senior Manager, Climate Initiatives Matthew Lehrman, Policy Advisor, Climate Initiatives Lex Telischak, Electrical Engineer, Climate Initiatives | Nick Cole, Area Manager, Community Relations-Boulder Region & Mountain Communities Susan Davis, Account Manager Cheriese Marczyk, Builder Developer Representative |
Duties: The Community Advisory Panel regularly reviews and discusses energy issues, including decarbonization of Boulder’s electricity supply and use energy efficiency and demand-side management programs for customers, and overall local and state-wide initiatives that are related to the goals of the partnership
Meeting Frequency: Quarterly
Members: The city and Xcel appointed 18 members of the community that represent residents, businesses and CU Boulder.
The partnership helps the city and Xcel Energy work together on clean energy, reliability, affordability and community engagement. It allows Boulder to help shape energy decisions that impact the community.
Yes. Boulder paused municipalization efforts in 2020 after reaching this long-term agreement with Xcel Energy. The partnership offers a collaborative path to meet Boulder’s climate goals without forming a separate electric utility.
Community members can participate in the advisory panel, attend public meetings, take part in surveys or sign up for updates. Contact us to learn more.
The City and Xcel Energy use shared metrics related to clean energy, grid performance, wildfire resilience, and program participation. The Partnership Agreement Progress page includes dashboard updates and milestone reports.
While the city doesn’t set electric rates, the partnership supports programs and investments that help lower costs over time, such as energy efficiency, electrification incentives and targeted system upgrades.
All advisory panel meetings, agendas, and summaries are available on the Community Advisory Panel page.
You should reach out to Xcel directly at 855-858-9037.
The city and Xcel Energy will work collaboratively to:
We also work with other partners like University of Colorado Boulder, federal labs and businesses to develop, test and promote new energy technologies.
Read the full Partnership Overview for a closer look at where the partnership is headed.
The partnership agreement includes provisions that set forth carbon emission reduction targets for Xcel Energy between now and 2030:
The Xcel Energy-City of Boulder partnership agreement includes provisions that set forth carbon emission reduction targets for Xcel Energy between now and 2030.
| Year | Emissions |
|---|---|
| 2005 | Baseline: 33.9 million tons emitted |
| 2019 | 42% reduction: 19.5 million tons emitted (actual) |
| 2022 | 52% reduction: 16.6 million tons emitted (target) |
| 2024 | 61% reduction: 13.6 million tons emitted (target) |
| 2027 | 67% reduction: 11.5 million toms emitted (target) |
| 2030 | 80% reduction: 6.9 million tons emitted (requirement) |
If Xcel does not achieve these targets, the city will have the opportunity to opt out of the franchise in 2023, 2025 and 2028.
The agreement includes a $33 million dollars investment in powerline undergrounding by Xcel Energy, with approximately half of the investment being made in the first five years of the franchise. Learn more about the city’s undergrounding work.
Under the potential agreement, the city and Xcel would work together to achieve Boulder’s renewable energy target: 100% by 2030. The city and Xcel would work together to update Boulder’s electric grid, share data and develop innovative demonstration projects under the guidance of a community board. The parties have also committed to work collaboratively to change current regulations that limit innovation and local renewable development:
Yes.
Most of the time, cities have franchise agreements with public utilities operating within their boundaries. Past franchise agreements between the city and Xcel Energy provided the company the right to use the city’s streets, public places and easements to serve Boulder customers. Franchise agreements dictate the long-term relationship between the utility and the city and can provide a platform for unique partnership opportunities that may help the city’s progress toward its energy goals.
Between 2010 and 2020, the city and Xcel operated without a franchise agreement while the city explored the creation of a city-run electric utility.
The new franchise agreement, approved by voters in 2020, allows the city to exit at certain times, listed in this table:
| Year | Reason to exit franchise agreement |
|---|---|
| 2023 | Failure to meet emissions standard |
| 2025 | Failure to meet emissions standard |
| 2025 | Any reason |
| 2028 | Failure to meet emissions standard |
| 2030 | Any reason |
| 2035 | Any reason |
| 2041 | End of franchise |
The agreement maintains the city’s ability to municipalize in the future if the community opts-out of the franchise. The potential agreement includes several items that preserve much of the city’s municipalization work to-date and remove potential future barriers to municipalization, including:
By going electric, you help build a cleaner, more efficient energy system.
Tip: Electric heat pumps for space and water heating and electric cooking equipment are great ways to reduce emissions and improve your indoor air quality. Check out available rebates here and keep a look out for new incentives by subscribing to our newsletter. Our partners at EnergySmart are available to offer advising services at no charge to you. Explore their website for more information.
Work at or own a business in Boulder? Check out city-supported energy efficiency rebates, incentives and resources for businesses.
