It's up to Colorado to shield consumers from the price shock of Xcel Energy’s data center-related building boom

Xcel Energy's data center-related building boom in Colorado could lead to a 55% increase in electricity rates by 2029, according to a report by state regulators. Governor Jared Polis has urged coordination to maintain affordable energy costs. The report outlines challenges in meeting the new electricity demand, including uncertainty around data center load growth, and presents options to limit rate impacts, such as a 12% reduction in spending. Xcel Energy's profits could triple to $1.9 billion by 2031 as it invests $37 billion in new generation and transmission, raising concerns about the alignment between customer and utility interests.