Fort Collins Utilities regularly reviews its rates and makes adjustments to reflect the costs of providing reliable and quality electric, water, wastewater and stormwater services to our customers. We realize rate increases impact our customers and work diligently to manage costs and the financial integrity of each utility. City Council approves rates by ordinance in November and new rates go into effect in January.

  • Electric: average increase of 3.45 percent (exact rate increases will vary among rate classes), with 2.2 percent for operational improvements to generation and transmission facilities through Platte River Power Authority, our wholesale electricity provider, and 1.25 percent for additional solar incentives and energy efficiency programs as well as capital infrastructure investments within our community.

The Colorado Association of Municipal Utilities (CAMU) compares electric rates among municipalities, as well as investor-owned and cooperative utilities. Of the 58 utilities surveyed in July 2016, Fort Collins Utilities is ranked 8th lowest in the state for residential, 10th lowest for small commercial, 9th lowest for large commercial and 7th lowest for overall industrial rates statewide.

  • Water: 3-5 percent across all rate classes. This increase will support improvements from source of supply to tap, including new infrastructure and upgrades to aging facilities throughout Fort Collins. Utilities’ staff is recommending 5 percent increase to City Council in order to meet the intended timeline for infrastructure improvement projects.
  • Wastewater: 3 percent across all rate classes. This increase will allow for infrastructure improvements for wastewater treatment and the replacement of aging pipes throughout the collection system.
  • Stormwater: 3-5 percent across all rate classes. This increase will allow the Stormwater Utility to complete the list of identified infrastructure improvements over the next 15 years, rather than the current estimated timeline of 25 years. Utilities’ staff is recommending 5 percent increase to City Council in order to meet the intended timeline for infrastructure improvement projects.

Utilities offers many programs and services to help customers offset costs and lower monthly bills. Learn more at fcgov.com/business-efficiency, email [email protected] or call 970-212-2900 to talk to a commercial accounts representative. Additional rates information is available at fcgov.com/commercial-rates.

NOTE: The chart below shows the estimated 5-year forecast for all utilities.

Electric
Overall
Water
Overall
Wastewater
Overall
Stormwater
Overall
2017 3.45% 3-5% 3% 3-5%
2018 1.8% 5% 3% 0%
2019 3 – 5% 0 – 5% 0 – 3% 0 – 3%
2020 3 – 5% 0 – 5% 0 – 5% 0 – 5%
2021 3 – 5% 0 – 5% 0 – 5% 0 – 5%