Utilities

Metro Denver's utility rates are consistently among the lowest of any major city. In 2007, natural gas averaged $8.01 per Mcf in Colorado compared to the national average of $13.01 per Mcf.  The state's total energy expenditure per person ranks 48th in the nation. Colorado is an important contributor to the nation's energy supply, ranking seventh in the production of natural gas, 10th for crude oil, and 12th for coal. In November 2004, Colorado voters approved Amendment 37, legislation that requires the state's seven largest utilities to acquire a portion of their retail electricity sales from renewables. The requirement begins at 3 percent in 2007, climbing to 10 percent by 2015.

Metro Denver has a high concentration of energy companies. Four companies supply electricity and natural gas in the Metro Denver area.

Xcel Energy

Xcel Energy - doing business in Colorado as Public Service Co. of Colorado - is a major electricity and natural gas company, with operations in 11 western and Midwestern states. In Colorado, Xcel Energy provides a comprehensive portfolio of energy-related products and services to 3.3 million electricity customers and 1.8 million gas customers. Xcel Energy provides services to approximately 70 percent of Colorado, and its service territory encompasses more than 8,100 square miles, primarily in the more populous areas of the state including the Denver metropolitan area.

United Power

United Power today serves electricity to more than 63,000 meters throughout Colorado 's front range, representing approximately 125,000 people. The service territory extends from the mountains of Coal Creek Canyon and Golden Gate Canyon to the farmlands of Brighton, Hudson and Keenesburg. While the cities and counties served by United Power have grown, the heart of United Power remains rooted in the rural electric tradition.

Intermountain Rural Electric Association

With nearly 137,000 members, Intermountain Rural Electric Association is one of the largest and fastest-growing of more than 900 member-owned electric distribution cooperatives in the . Since there are no stockholders, monies earned by the cooperative are returned to members via capital credit refund checks that are mailed in February of each year. IREA's 5,000-square-mile Service Territory includes all or parts of ten counties to the east, west and south of the metro Denver area and west of Colorado Springs . IREA headquarters are located in Sedalia, Colorado, south of Littleton and north of Castle Rock.

Black Hills Energy (formerly Aquila)

Telecom

The Denver metropolitan area is a national center for the telecommunications industry, with companies such as Qwest Communications, Avaya Technologies, MCI/Verizon, Sprint, AT&T, and Level 3 Communications maintaining national and regional operations in the area. The metro area has an extensive fiber optic network, allowing voice and data traffic to flow at lower prices. The Denver metro area’s unique geographic location makes it the largest city in the U.S. to offer one-bounce satellite uplinks that provide real-time connections to six out of seven continents in one single business day.

Water

Most of the area's water is supplied from a network of reservoirs on the western slope of the Rocky Mountains, which in turn are supplied by the runoff from spring snowmelt. The Denver Water Board is the largest water provider, servicing the City and County of Denver and many of the suburban areas. Numerous municipal water systems and special water districts serve the remainder of the Southeast Denver area under the umbrella of the South Metro Water Supply Authority. Current storage capacity is anticipated to meet the area's needs well into the next century, and our network of partners works together to ensure exceptional service and reliability.  Please contact SEBP or any of these major providers with further questions.

East Cherry Creek Valley Water & Sanitation District

Pinery Water & Wastewater District

Centennial Water & Sanitation District

Parker Water & Sanitation District

Castle Rock Water Department

Arapahoe County Water and Wastewater Authority

Denver's utility rates are among the lowest in the nation. The following charts shows comparisons for commercial, industrial, and residential use.