Local measure · Denver County
City and County of Denver 2KXcel Energy franchise agreement (20 years)
In plain words
- Would approve a 20-year franchise with Xcel Energy through 2047, beginning Jan. 1, 2027; the current franchise expires Dec. 31, 2026.
- Covers undergrounding of power lines, infrastructure safety, emergency-management coordination, and payments for use of city rights-of-way and property.
- The Gazette reports about $34.3 million in franchise fees in 2027 (mostly to the General Fund), about $150 million per year in utility relocation benefits, and $10 million per year for undergrounding.
- Without a franchise, the city would have to pay Xcel to relocate lines for city capital projects (per Gazette).
Cost: About $34.3 million in franchise fees to the city in 2027 (revenue to the city, per Denver Gazette).
Our summary of the official materials and local reporting.
What your vote means
YES
Approves the 20-year Xcel franchise agreement starting Jan. 1, 2027.
NO
Rejects the agreement; the current franchise expires Dec. 31, 2026.
Our plain-words summary.
Why people want it, and why others object
Why supporters want it
No public statement found.
Why opponents object
- Denver DSA (an advocacy group, recommends No) argues the 20-year term locks in Xcel's monopoly, cites climate risk, rate increases and service, and says the city should negotiate a shorter term with more benefits and explore a public utility. source: denverdsa.org
Who backs each side
- No committee or campaign finance information found. source: denvergazette.com
In each side's own words where we could find them, quoted or summarized with a link to the source. We don't endorse either side.
Official ballot wording
Official ballot wording, word for word (tap to open)
Word for word from the Denver County sample ballot.
Referred Question 2K
Shall the City and County of Denver approve the terms of a twenty-year franchise contract, starting January 1, 2027, with Public Service Company of Colorado (Xcel Energy) to continue its program for undergrounding overhead electrical lines, maintaining infrastructure safety, and partnering with the City for emergency management coordination, and to require that Xcel Energy continue to pay the City for reasonable use of public rights-of-way and other City property necessary to provide safe and reliable utility services for the benefit of the City, its residents, and its businesses?
- YES/FOR
- NO/AGAINST
Latest news
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What people are saying
Official campaign accounts on each side, and public posts. Links only: nothing here loads from social media sites. We link to posts; we don't endorse them.
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