Fort Collins Approves 9% Utility Rate Increases
City Council approved increases across electricity, water, stormwater and wastewater rates for 2027 at its November 3 meeting.
Updated on Nov. 7, 2026 in Utilities
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Fort Collins City Council approved utility rate increases of about 9% across four utilities for 2027 during its November 3 meeting. The increases cover electricity, water, stormwater and wastewater service.
Why it matters
Electric rates are rising with wholesale power prices from Platte River Power Authority and planned infrastructure upgrades, while water and wastewater costs reflect rising water main breaks and aging treatment infrastructure. Residents and businesses across Fort Collins will see higher monthly bills as these costs are passed through.
The increases affect about 81,000 electric customers and 35,000 water customers, with the average residential bill rising $18.86 per month and commercial bills rising $116 per month. Rates are estimated to rise by similar amounts again in 2028, and the Drake facility's capital needs remain unfunded in the source data.
The players
Fort Collins City Council
The elected governing body of Fort Collins, Colorado, which holds final authority over city utility rates and approved the 2027 increases.
Fort Collins Utilities
The municipal utility that provides electricity, water, stormwater and wastewater services to Fort Collins residents and businesses.
Platte River Power Authority
A wholesale electricity provider whose power prices are a primary driver of Fort Collins' electric rate increases.
The details
Fort Collins Utilities electricity, water, stormwater and wastewater rates will increase in 2027 after the council's approval. The increases were discussed publicly for several months as part of planned capital project discussions, and the city also plans to launch a one-time emergency fund for customers in 2027 without income qualifications.
Timeline
November 3, 2026: City Council approved the utility rate increases.
2027: Rate increases take effect and the emergency fund program launches.
2028: Rates are estimated to increase by the same amounts again.
Market Landscape
The approved increases follow several months of public discussion over planned capital projects, reflecting a pattern in which municipal utilities pass through wholesale power costs and aging infrastructure needs to ratepayers. Fort Collins' rates are being compared against nearby peer cities including Loveland, Greeley, Longmont, Boulder and Colorado Springs as part of the city's rate justification.
Average residential customers can expect bills to rise about $18.86 per month under the approved increases, and commercial customers face an estimated $116 monthly increase. Households and businesses should plan budgets for similar increases again in 2028, when rates are estimated to rise by the same amounts.
The takeaway
Budgeting for steady utility increases is now part of living in Fort Collins, as rates are projected to climb again in 2028. Reviewing usage and checking the city's emergency fund and existing payment assistance programs can help manage the impact.
Further reading
For more on how local infrastructure costs shape rates, see Utilities coverage.
Source note: This article includes information reported by The Coloradoan.
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Do you support Fort Collins raising utility rates about 9% to fund infrastructure?
