Pueblo City Council 'steadfast' in opposing Black Hills Energy rate increases

Pueblo City Council passed a resolution July 22 opposing Black Hills Energy's proposed 18% rate increases .

The resolution passed unanimously by council states that Pueblo residents have a history of paying significantly more for utilities than residents of other communities on Colorado's Front Range and that an increase would "place an even greater economic burden" on Pueblo residents.

Information from a Colorado Association of Municipal Utilities (CAMU) report was cited in the resolution. According to CAMU, the typical Black Hills Energy customer spent over $145 for 700 kilowatt hours while Xcel Energy customers spent about $100, Colorado Springs residents spent about $98, and Fort Collins residents spent about $84 for using the same amount of energy in January 2024.

"I thought it was very important at this time to make sure that the community knows that we are steadfast locally as the city council in opposing this increase," Pueblo City Council President Mark Aliff said prior to the resolution passing.

Black Hills proposed electric rate increases on June 14 while citing increased operational costs of its electric system serving communities in and near Cañon City, Pueblo, and Rocky Ford. Proposed increases would increase the average monthly bill by $20.14 for a residential customer using 600 kilowatt hours. Increases would generate an estimated $36 million for Black Hills Energy.

The rate increases, scheduled to take effect by March 2025, are pending review and approval by the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC).

Council's resolution will be sent to the PUC and join a slew of dissenting public comments from Pueblo ratepayers. The city also filed a "Joint Motion to Intervene" with Pueblo County government and the Pueblo Economic Development Corporation on July 12 — a day after Aliff, Pueblo Mayor Heather Graham and all three Pueblo County commissioners spoke against rate increases on the steps of the Pueblo County Courthouse.

All six members of Pueblo City Council present on July 22 voted "yes" on the resolution opposing Black Hills Energy rate increases. Councilwoman Sarah Martinez was on parental leave and not present at the meeting. At a work session prior to the meeting, Pueblo Energy Advisory Commission President Ken Danti also spoke against Black Hills Energy's proposed rate increases.

"Pueblo is a disproportionately disadvantaged community — a low-income community with a high energy burden," Danti said.

Black Hills officials have defended the rate increases in statements shared with the Chieftain. In one such statement on July 11, Black Hills Energy Vice President of Colorado Utilities Campbell Hawkins said the company is "committed to Pueblo and will continue to listen and support our city and county leaders, community partners and our customers as we proceed through this rate review process."

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Pueblo Chieftain reporter James Bartolo can be reached at JBartolo@gannett.com. Support local news, subscribe to The Pueblo Chieftain at subscribe.chieftain.com

This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Pueblo City Council 'steadfast' in opposing Black Hills Energy rate increases