Help paying utility bills in Colorado

Colorado utilities covered by PUC rules

The Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) regulates investor-owned utilities, and its consumer pages name Xcel Energy (Public Service Company of Colorado), Black Hills Energy, Atmos Energy and Colorado Natural Gas. The protections below apply to those companies. Many Coloradans buy power from a city utility or a rural electric cooperative, and water and sewer service is usually run locally, so confirm with your provider whether PUC rules cover your account. Before any shutoff, a regulated utility sends a late payment notice and then a written final shutoff notice at least 12 business days ahead. At least 24 hours before disconnecting, it must make a reasonable attempt to reach you in person or by phone, with one more attempt at least 72 hours ahead when the shutoff is done remotely.

Weather, weekday and small balance limits

Colorado limits when regulated utilities can disconnect. Disconnections are postponed on days when the forecast calls for extreme cold of 32 degrees or lower or extreme heat of 95 degrees or higher. Service cannot be shut off when the amount owed is less than $50. The PUC's bill help page also says there are no disconnections on Fridays, Saturdays, Sundays or federal holidays. People who apply for the Low-income Energy Assistance Program (LEAP) get a 60-day hold on disconnection, which is one more reason to apply the moment money gets tight. Xcel Energy adds its own protections, including a 30-day hold for customers receiving bill assistance from Energy Outreach Colorado.

Medical certificates and stopping a shutoff

If a physician or licensed health care practitioner certifies that a shutoff would be especially dangerous to the health or safety of you or a permanent resident of the home, the utility cannot shut off service for 90 days from the certificate date. The certificate can delay disconnection no more than 90 days in any 12-month period. Keep paying current bills during that time, and call the utility before the certificate runs out to arrange the balance. Without a certificate, you can still stop a pending shutoff by paying at least one-tenth of the amount on the notice, setting up an installment plan for the rest and paying future bills on time. You should receive a written copy of any plan within seven days.

LEAP and Energy Outreach Colorado

LEAP is a federally funded program, run through the Colorado Department of Human Services, that helps with winter heating costs. Applications are open November 1 to April 30, and the PUC says approval for LEAP gives the fastest access to other programs. Outside that window, or when LEAP is not enough, Energy Outreach Colorado provides emergency help with past-due energy bills all year for income qualified residents. Its payments go to the utility or fuel provider, and you reach it through local agencies listed in its agency finder. Apply to LEAP as early in the season as you can, and keep copies of every application and approval letter, since they unlock the protections and caps described here.

The Percentage of Income Payment Plan

The Percentage of Income Payment Plan (PIPP) is regulated by the PUC and run by Xcel Energy, Black Hills Energy, Atmos Energy and Colorado Natural Gas. It limits a customer's electric or gas bills to a maximum of 6% of yearly income through a fixed credit for 24 months, and it includes assistance or forgiveness for what you already owe. Household income must fall within one of three limits: 60% of state median income, 80% of area median income or 200% of the federal poverty level. You do not apply to the utility directly. You qualify through LEAP, Energy Outreach Colorado bill assistance or the Weatherization Assistance Program, which refers you, and the utility should send a letter within 30 days.

Weatherization and PUC complaints

The Colorado Weatherization Assistance Program offers free home energy upgrades to qualified households, and it can also refer you to PIPP. For a dispute, call the utility's toll-free number first. If that does not settle it, file an informal complaint with the PUC online, in writing or by phone through its consumer staff. A formal complaint leads to a hearing before a judge, and you can ask that the shutoff be delayed until after the hearing, though the PUC may require a deposit or bond and payment of charges you do not dispute. Keep each notice, the dates you called and the names of the people you spoke with, because the PUC will ask what the utility already told you.

Settlemont next to LEAP and PIPP

Settlemont works alongside LEAP, PIPP and a payment arrangement rather than in place of them. It is a for-profit company offering bill payment technology for Utility, Medical and Education bills. A Colorado bill owner fills in six private fields (first name, email, state, category, amount and due date) and uploads no statement. A one-time private access code follows, and you name the utility in a separate private step so staff can verify it, you and the current balance. Public pages carry only your first name, Colorado, the category and the verified amount. Supporters pick a bill and an amount, Settlemont confirms the balance and contacts them, and the support is applied directly to the utility. A bill counts as paid only after a reviewer records the utility's confirmation and a zero balance.

Sources

• Colorado Public Utilities Commission: Energy Bill Help
• Colorado Public Utilities Commission: Know Your Rights
• Colorado Public Utilities Commission: Percentage of Income Payment Plan
• Colorado Public Utilities Commission: Home

Facts checked November 2026. Rules change, so confirm with the agency or utility before relying on a protection.

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