Xcel Energy is proposing a $1.85 billion program to continue and expand its wildfire mitigation program through 2027.
It will ultimately cost the average residential customer about $8.88 per month by January 1, 2025. The bill increases will be incremental based on the progress Xcel makes with the program, and the amounts will change as part of the company’s quarterly cost adjustment filings with the Colorado Public Utilities Commission, according to Robert Kenney, president of Xcel Energy Colorado.
The plan includes investments for greater situational awareness, system resiliency, equipment repair and replacement, system hardening, and operational mitigations including tripling the size of its artificial intelligence camera system that rapidly detects smoke plumes so emergency responders can get there more quickly.
“Our 2025 to 2027 Colorado wildfire mitigation plan that we filed on June 27th is first and foremost our plan to protect the public safety from the risks associated with wildfire ignitions,” Kenney told The Denver Gazette.