By: Deborah Grigsby | The Denver Gazette
This November, Denver voters will decide whether to renew the city’s longstanding franchise agreement with Xcel Energy.
Members of the Denver City Council approved on Monday sending a proposed 20-year franchise agreement with Xcel that would deliver more than $180 million a year in franchise fees, infrastructure relocation savings and other undergrounding funds to the ballot.
The vote was 10-2 with Councilmembers Shontel Lewis and Sarah Parady holding the two dissenting votes.
“Denver has negotiated the strongest energy partnership agreement in the history of Colorado, and importantly, the benefits of this agreement and of being a franchisee extend far beyond any of the individual listed improvements and accomplishments,” said Jonathan Rogers, deputy director of Denver’s Climate Office.
Additionally, Denver would get “strong standing, oversight and negotiating power” at the Public Utilities Commission, according to city officials.
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