Start with the kWh on your bill, under Electricity Charges, and compare it with the same month last year. Whether the kWh went up tells you which cause to look at.
Rates that went up
Xcel's electric rate case added about 4.77%, or $5 a month on the average residential bill, starting August 29, 2026. The fuel cost adjustment on the bill changes every quarter; on October 1, 2026 it went down a little. Over the year from October 2025, the average price of a kWh on Xcel's standard residential rate rose about 6%.
Air conditioning in summer
June to September, Xcel charges its higher summer rate, and AC runs hardest on hot afternoons. The kWh above a month you didn't heat or cool, often May, is mostly cooling. July 2026 had 34% more cooling demand than normal at Denver's airport, so many July bills were high for that reason alone.
Power used during peak hours
Since November 1, 2025, Xcel's on-peak hours are 5 to 9 p.m. on weekdays, all year. On the October 2026 rates, a winter kWh costs about 31¢ on-peak and 13¢ off-peak, before taxes and fees. An electric dryer or an EV charger that runs at 6 p.m. costs about two and a half times what it would after 9.
Base load that never stops
A second fridge in the garage, a chest freezer, a space heater, a dehumidifier or a hot tub can add more than the AC. If your usage graph is high in April and October too, look for these.
What to do
Shift laundry, dishes and charging out of 5 to 9 p.m., and set the thermostat back while you sleep. If the AC is old and the bill's summer kWh keep climbing, a heat pump replaces the AC and heats too. At current Xcel rates, heating with a heat pump costs more to run than a 95% gas furnace, so in a home heated with gas it's an equipment choice, not a bill fix. Send photos and we'll price it after rebates.
Common questions
Am I on time-of-use?
The Colorado PUC says time-of-use is the default for Xcel's residential customers. The rate name is in the Electricity Charges section of your bill.