Expensive and concerning new energy mandate from Colorado’s PUC

By Anthony Hartsook

Once again, bureaucrats are setting unrealistic energy policies that will negatively impact consumers and businesses in Colorado with higher electric rates, unreliable energy generation and fewer choices.

The Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) recently updated emissions targets under Colorado’s first-in-the-nation “clean heat plan” law. The ruling requires Xcel Energy and other natural gas utilities to cut carbon emissions from heating systems by 41% over the next decade, with a goal of Colorado fully powered by electric energy by 2050.

This will require homeowners, landlords and businesses to replace gas heating with electric heat pumps and appliances powered by renewables like wind and solar. These costs will ultimately be borne by consumers.

Renewables are intermittent and don’t produce consistently year-round. In 2024, Colorado’s wind fleet operated at about a 38% capacity factor, and utility-scale solar averaged around 24%. A rapid, statewide switch to electric heat would sharply increase electricity demand, especially during winter peaks, straining the grid and raising the risk of outages, brownouts and higher prices — particularly in rural and mountain communities with older infrastructure. Natural gas and coal currently amount to roughly 60% of Colorado’s electricity generation statewide.

Xcel Energy, the state’s largest electricity provider, warns that a “historic shift in electric use” will require massive upgrades to grid transmission and distribution systems.

“… we are concerned about the pace of our existing regulatory processes and how that intersects with the reality of meeting customer and system needs,” Xcel leaders said in a statement. “Our ability to reliably serve customers is not only an economic lynchpin for the state and citizens alike but also a central public safety requirement, whether in summer or in winter.”

Electric heating is already more expensive for households: Atmos Energy found it costs about 40% more annually than gas, over $1,100 more in Canon City and over $1,400 in mountain towns. Building an all-electric home adds roughly $15,000 to construction costs, reducing mortgage eligibility for thousands of Coloradans.

This mandate will seriously strain a grid that is not ready for rapid electrification. Without careful planning and upgrades, this threatens energy reliability and stability across Colorado. I am committed to ensuring safe, affordable, and reliable energy for Coloradans and their families.

In addition, Colorado is home to several military installations and national security assets. Fort Carson Army Base; Pueblo Chemical Depot Army Base; Peterson Space Force Base, which is home to North American Aerospace Defense Command, U.S. Northern Command, U.S. Space Command, and Space Operations Command; Cheyenne Mountain Space Force Station; Schriever Space Force Base; Buckley Space Force Base; and the U.S. Air Force Academy. 

These installations house and employ tens of thousands of military and civilian personnel, and every base requires extensive and reliable electricity to accomplish its mission. The mission-critical components have backup diesel generators, but they should also have reliable electricity from the grid. The PUC’s adoption of unrealistic energy policies places undue risks on our military personnel, their missions, and our national security. This is unacceptable.  

As stated in a Dec. 3, 2025, letter from the House Republicans, this electrification mandate hurts the people of Colorado, especially those who live in rural areas or are blue-collar workers. 

“Colorado families deserve better than a policy that ignores the realities of where we live and what we can safely support,” our letter states. “We urge you to reverse course immediately and stop forcing Colorado families to pay the price for decisions made without regard for their daily reality.”

I stand with the Colorado House Republicans in condemning this action, and we will continue to fight for a solution that works for Colorado.

Anthony Hartsook is a Colorado state representative and the minority caucus chair. He served with honor and distinction during a 26-year career as an intelligence officer in the U.S. Army.

_{*The opinions expressed in this column are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of EnergyPlatform.News.}