Xcel Energy filed a plan with state regulators Thursday that would force large electricity users, such as data centers, to pay the full cost of the power plants, substations and transmission lines they need, rather than passing those billions in new expenses on to Colorado families and small businesses.
The power demands of data centers could otherwise end up raising monthly bills for the average household, the utility and consumer advocates warn. One data center can use as much electricity as a small city, and the boom is expected to drive a big share of new demand in coming years.
Xcel submitted its Large Load Tariff proposal to the Colorado Public Utilities Commission on April 2. If approved, it would apply to new customers or major expansions using 50 megawatts or more…