USA Today reports that Americans’ household electric bills are going up and up and up. While Colorado’s residential rate is slightly below the national average of 11.54 cents per kilowatt hour, its higher than all neighboring states and second highest among the Mountain West states. Only Nevada has higher residential electric rates than Colorado. Most of the western states with the highest electric rates, also have the highest renewable energy mandates (Renewable Portfolio Standards or RPS).
Mountain West States Residential Electric Rates
| STATE | Residential price per kw | rank | RPS/Year |
| Nevada | 12.36 | 1 | 20%/2015 |
| Colorado | 11.04 | 2 | 30%/2020 |
| Arizona | 10.97 | 3 | 15%/2025 |
| New Mexico | 10.52 | 4 | 20%/2020 |
| Montana | 9.16 | 5 | 15%/2015 |
| Wyoming | 8.77 | 6 | N/A |
| Utah | 8.71 | 7 | voluntary |
| Idaho | 7.99 | 8 | N/A |
Colorado Residential Electric Rates versus Neighboring States
| STATE | Residential Price per kw | Rank | RPS/Year |
| Colorado | 11.04 | 1 | 30%/2020 |
| Arizona | 10.97 | 2 | 15%/2025 |
| New Mexico | 10.52 | 3 | 20%/2020 |
| Kansas | 10.03 | 4 | N/A |
| Oklahoma | 9.14 | 5 | N/A |
| Nebraska | 8.94 | 6 | N/A |
| Wyoming | 8.77 | 7 | N/A |
| Utah | 8.71 | 8 | voluntary |
