Pueblo Declines Municipal Utility, Ballot on Alternatives

A study commissioned by the City of Pueblo and conducted by GDS Associates found that municipalizing the city's electric utility by acquiring Black Hills Energy's assets is currently unfeasible due to high costs and economic challenges, with a separate study by the Brattle Group estimating the acquisition cost at over $1 billion. Despite these findings, Pueblo officials are considering alternative options, such as forming a regional cooperative utility in collaboration with other regions served by Black Hills Energy. This comes amidst community concerns over high electric rates and limited local oversight. While the city has decided not to pursue municipalization at this time, the upcoming ballot question on May 6 will address potential alternative strategies. Pueblo remains focused on controlling its energy future and providing residents with more reliable and affordable energy options.