Electricity cost in Colorado, 2026
Homes in Colorado paid an average of 16.72¢ per kWh from January–July 2026 — 8% below the U.S. average of 18.19¢, and up 8.0% from the same months of 2025. That ranks 30th cheapest of the 50 states and DC.
$45.14a month (30 days)
- Per hour of use
- $0.25
- Per day
- $1.50 · 9.00 kWh
- Per month
- 270.0 kWh
- Per year
- $549.25 · 3,285 kWh
Wattage on the nameplate is the maximum. Thermostat-controlled appliances (fridges, heaters, AC) cycle, so their real cost is usually lower; a plug-in meter tells you exactly.
What appliances cost to run in Colorado
At 16.72¢/kWh, 30-day month. Your utility's rate and fixed charges will differ; your bill's total divided by its kWh is your real price.
| Appliance | Watts | h/day | Per month | Per year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Refrigerator (modern, ENERGY STAR) | 150 | 10 | $7.52 | $91.54 |
| Central AC, 3 ton | 3,500 | 8 | $140.45 | $1,709 |
| Window AC, 10,000 BTU | 900 | 8 | $36.12 | $439.40 |
| Space heater | 1,500 | 6 | $45.14 | $549.25 |
| Electric water heater | 4,500 | 3 | $67.72 | $823.88 |
| Electric clothes dryer | 5,400 | 0.75 | $20.31 | $247.16 |
| Dehumidifier | 785 | 12 | $47.25 | $574.88 |
| 55" LED TV | 100 | 5 | $2.51 | $30.51 |
| Desktop computer | 120 | 8 | $4.82 | $58.59 |
| Gaming PC under load | 450 | 3 | $6.77 | $82.39 |
| Wi-Fi router + modem | 25 | 24 | $3.01 | $36.62 |
| Level 2 EV charging, 32 A | 7,680 | 1.50 | $57.78 | $703.04 |
Colorado compared with its neighbors
Colorado is in the EIA's Mountain region. July's price (17.00¢) ran above the year-to-date average, the usual summer peak. In the same region, Idaho paid 12.96¢.
| State | ¢/kWh 2026 YTD | Change vs 2025 | National rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Idaho | 12.96 | +12.0% | 3 of 51 |
| Utah | 13.16 | +3.4% | 4 of 51 |
| Nevada | 13.53 | +2.6% | 6 of 51 |
| Montana | 13.95 | +11.3% | 10 of 51 |
| Wyoming | 13.95 | +7.8% | 11 of 51 |
| New Mexico | 15.08 | +2.8% | 18 of 51 |
| Arizona | 15.44 | +0.9% | 24 of 51 |
| Colorado | 16.72 | +8.0% | 30 of 51 |
Charging an EV in Colorado
At this price, a car that goes 3.5 miles per kWh costs about $5.31 per 100 miles charged at home (counting 10% charging losses). A 40-mile daily commute adds about $63.70 a month to the bill. Size the circuit with the EV charger calculator.
Solar panels in Colorado
NREL's PVWatts model puts a south-facing, 20° roof array in Denver at about 1,595 kWh per kW of panels a year (5.7 peak sun hours a day). Covering the average US home's 899 kWh a month takes about 6.8 kW, or 17 panels of 400 W; at 16.72¢/kWh that power is worth about $1,813 a year. Output peaks in Jun (160 kWh per kW) and bottoms out in Dec (96). Run your own numbers in the solar panel calculator.
Running backup power instead
A 7.5 kW portable generator at half load burns about 0.75 gallons of gasoline an hour, roughly 3.75 kWh. At $3.20 a gallon that is about 64¢ per kWh — 3.8 times Colorado's grid price. Generators are for outages, not savings. Compare with the fuel consumption calculator.