# Colorado: what a 50 MW connection costs under Xcel Energy (Public Service Co. of Colorado)

URL: https://open-factory.com/power/colorado/
Data as of: 2026-08-21
Publisher: Open Factory, https://open-factory.com

**What does a 50 MW connection cost in Colorado?** In Colorado, Xcel Energy (Public Service Co. of Colorado) connects a 50 MW load under Large General Service - Transmission large-load tariff (proposed), docket CPUC 26AL-0137E (filed 2026-04-02; pending). Minimum bill: 80% of contracted power over the term plus a minimum monthly bill. Term: 15 years. Realistic energization: 2029 to 2030. Open Factory's Large-Load Cost Table, as of August 21, 2026.

## Facts

- Market: Colorado, CO (Xcel (non-RTO; SPP RTO West pending))
- Utility: Xcel Energy (Public Service Co. of Colorado)
- Tariff or rule: Large General Service - Transmission large-load tariff (proposed)
- Docket: CPUC 26AL-0137E (filed 2026-04-02; pending)
- Status: pending
- Large-load threshold: 50 MW
- Study fee: $120,000 deposit plus load and transmission studies; about $600,000 upfront
- Security or collateral: security deposit equal to six months of operations
- Minimum bill: 80% of contracted power over the term plus a minimum monthly bill
- Contract term: 15 years
- Ramp: not published
- Exit fee: sum of all remaining minimum monthly bills
- CIAC exposure: customer pays 100% of new generation it requires and the transmission to connect; prorated monthly fee for shared upgrades
- Realistic energization, 50 MW: 2029 to 2030
- Verification: PARTIAL (all seven cells reported by Colorado Sun from the filing; docket documents not opened)
- Data as of: August 21, 2026

## Questions

### What does a 50 MW connection cost in Colorado?

Xcel Energy (Public Service Co. of Colorado): study fee $120,000 deposit plus load and transmission studies; about $600,000 upfront; collateral security deposit equal to six months of operations; minimum bill 80% of contracted power over the term plus a minimum monthly bill; term 15 years.

### When can a 50 MW load be energized in Colorado?

2029 to 2030. PSCo needs 950 MW of new generation for large loads within five years; CO PUC approved 6 GW of a 14 GW resource request; Xcel targets 6 GW more of data center contracts by end-2027; no JLL figure.

### Which tariff applies to large loads in Colorado?

Large General Service - Transmission large-load tariff (proposed); docket CPUC 26AL-0137E (filed 2026-04-02; pending); status: pending.

### Is this rate proposed or approved?

Not yet final: pending. The table carries the filed terms and the docket to watch.

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## Sources

- [Open Factory Large-Load Cost Table](https://open-factory.com/models/large-load-cost-table/)
- [coloradosun.com (2026-04-02)](https://coloradosun.com/2026/04/02/data-centers-xcel-energy-colorado-rate-tariff-consumers/)
- [eta-publications.lbl.gov (Appendix 1)](https://eta-publications.lbl.gov/sites/default/files/2026-08/rate_designs_large_loads_2026.08.10.pdf)
- [utilitydive.com (2026-05-06)](https://www.utilitydive.com/news/xcel-energy-ceo-google-deal-sets-template-for-large-load-tariff-strategy/819409/)

Model: https://open-factory.com/models/large-load-cost-table/
Calculator: https://open-factory.com/tools/interconnection-cost/