Commercial Rates

This rate applies to commercial accounts with average monthly demand of less than 25 kilowatts (kW). 

During summer months (June-September), we charge higher rates for energy (kWh) to cover costs of purchasing power from Platte River Power Authority, our wholesale electricity provider.

E200-E204, E240 are the rate codes printed on the monthly bill. Rate codes may also begin with the letter A or B for service in annexed areas where additional Rural Electric Association service rights fees apply. Fees equal to 5% are added to A rates and 25% service rights fees are added to B rates.

Small Commercial Net Metering

If you have solar at your commercial property, Utilities will credit you for excess energy your system produces and delivers to the grid. The current rate for the credit is 7.30 cents per kilowatt-hour.

This rate applies to commercial accounts with monthly average electric demand between 25 and 49 kilowatts (kW). 

During the summer months (June-September), higher rates for energy (kWh) will be charged to cover the costs of purchasing power from Platte River Power Authority, the City's wholesale electricity provider.

Base Charge

A fixed charge for metering and billing.

Electric Demand Charge

The cost per kW during the highest 15-minute demand timeframe during the billing period.

Energy Charge

The cost of energy per kilowatt-hour.

E251-E254 is the rate code printed on the monthly bill. Rate codes may also begin with the letter A or B for service in annexed areas where additional Rural Electric Association service rights fees apply. Fees equal to 5% are added to A rates and 25% service rights fees are added to B rates.

Net Metering

If you have solar at your commercial property, Utilities will credit you for excess energy your system produces and delivers to the grid. The current rate for the credit is 7.30 cents per kilowatt-hour.

This rate applies to commercial accounts with average monthly demand between 50 and 749 kilowatts (kW).

Rates include:

• Fixed Charge: Generally $33.96 per month, per account. The additional charge per meter is $28.42.

• Energy Charge: Energy costs 5.66 cents per kWh year-round.

• Facility Demand: This is your facility's highest one-hour demand during the billing period, or 70% of the highest demand for the previous 11 months. The charge is $12.76 per kW. That covers the cost of operating, maintaining, and replacing our electric distribution system. The greater the demand each customer requires, the greater the cost. 

• Net Metering: If you have solar at your commercial property, Utilities will credit you for excess energy your system produces and delivers to the grid. The current rate for the credit is 5.34 cents per kilowatt-hour. 

Coincident Peak Demand Charge

Your facility's demand during the time when electricity demand systemwide is highest.

You can find your rate code on your monthly bill. Codes begin with letter "E", plus the number representing the commercial rate class (e.g., E200, E250, E300 or E400). They also may begin with letter "A" or "B" for service in an annexed area where additional Rural Electric Association service-rights fees apply. We add 5% fees to "A" rates, while we add 25% service-rights fees to "B" rates. E400-E420+ are the rate codes printed on your monthly bill.

Shed the Load

For facilities with rate codes in the E300 and E400 series, 12 one-hour periods per year usually determine over 23% of annual electric bills due to Coincident Peak charges. 

Load management means controlling your facility's demand, or rate of energy use. The most cost-effective way is to reduce your demand during the peak hour of each month. We can't predict exactly when the peak hour will occur, but \we identify about 10 possible peak hours each month. Our load management tool helps you make informed decisions about your facility's energy use based on Platte River Power Authority's load status. It tells you when to shed load to reduce your Coincident Peak charges. 

The tool shows Platte River's month-to-date data, a 24-hour profile with details of the past two hours, updates every five minutes and shows one-minute resolution data. It also displays potential peak hours and a summary table of current electric load.

Get Started

• View peakload status here.

• Load management activities, like adjusting your thermostat and shifting energy-intensive work to morning hours, can help trim energy use during peak hours and save your facility money. 

• Contact the Utilities Business Resource Team at UBRT@fortcollins.gov or 970-416-4268 to sign up and receive customized advice on what strategies you should implement in your facility. 

Shed the Load

For facilities with rate codes in the E300 and E400 series, 12 one-hour periods per year usually determine over 23% of annual electric bills due to Coincident Peak charges. 

Load management means controlling your facility's demand, or rate of energy use. The most cost-effective way is to reduce your demand during the peak hour of each month. We can't predict exactly when the peak hour will occur, but we identify about 10 possible peak hours each month. Our load management tool helps you make informed decisions about your facility's energy use based on Platte River Power Authority's load status. It tells you when to shed load to reduce your Coincident Peak charges. 

The tool shows Platte River's month-to-date data, a 24-hour profile with details of the past two hours, updates every five minutes and shows one-minute resolution data. It also displays potential peak hours and a summary table of current electric load.

Get Started

• View peakload status here.

• Load management activities, like adjusting your thermostat and shifting energy-intensive work to morning hours, can help trim energy use during peak hours and save your facility money. 

• Contact the Utilities Business Resource Team at UBRT@fortcollins.gov or 970-416-4268 to sign up and receive customized advice on what strategies you should implement in your facility.

Average small business electric bill, based on 2,000 kilowatt-hours + 10 kW of use (as of July 2025):

Average large business electric bill, based on 45,000 kilowatt-hours + 130 kW of use (as of July 2025):

Average industrial business electric bill, based on 1.9 million kilowatt-hours + 3,000 kW of use (as of July 2025):

Commercial customers experience a seasonal increase in rates. The volume charge is 25% higher during lawn-watering months (May-October) than in the other months (November-April).  

See City Code 26-127 for High Volume Industrial Rate (average daily demand exceeding 2 million gallons)

Wastewater volume charges are based on your average water use from December, January and February. This is called your winter quarter average (WQA). The charge per thousand gallons is $4.395. In addition to the monthly use charge, each account has a base charge, as outlined below.

Wastewater rates for most commercial customers are based on monthly water use ("S" rate code). Charges are rounded to the nearest cent. Actual costs vary due to rounding. Rates do not include the commercial surcharges for high-strength effluent. Surcharges for wastewater strength may apply to commercial accounts.

Stormwater rates help pay for construction and maintenance of our stormwater system, which helps protect residents and businesses during storms and floods. All developed properties within city limits pay stormwater rates. They are based on:

• Lot Size: Lot area in square feet, plus your share of open space in the development, if applicable 
• Runoff Factor: Based on the percentage of impervious surfaces like roofs, driveways, and paved areas
• Per Square Foot Charge: $0.00541
• Estimated Monthly Rate Formula: Monthly Rate = Lot Size x $0.00541 x Rate Factor

For most services, rates include both base charges and usage charges. Base charges cover fixed costs like maintenance and system readiness, while usage charges are for the service you consume.

Payment in lieu of taxes (PILOTs) are payments our utilities make to the City's general fund, similar to the taxes and fees a private utility company would pay. PILOTs are already built into your electric, water, and wastewater rates, so there’s nothing extra to calculate or pay. PILOTs help fund important City services that benefit the whole community.