Can households afford energy in Colorado?
47th of 51. All Colorado households: 1.7% ($1,932 of $112,059). Same income group, U.S.: 8.3%. Under 30% of median: 13.0% on $10,283. Renters 1.6%, owners 1.7%.
Colorado burden by income bracket
At or above 6% in Colorado: under 30%. Together 10% of homes (227,984 of 2,278,044).
Colorado burden, % of income
- 13.0Under 30%
- 4.730% to 60%
- 3.260% to 80%
- 2.680% to 100%
- 1.3Over 100%
Getting the average under-30% household in Colorado down to 6% takes $718 off its $1,335 energy cost, or $11,967 more income.
Colorado income, cost and burden
| Bracket | Colorado homes | Share | Colorado income | Electric | All energy | Colorado burden | U.S. burden |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Under 30% | 227,984 | 10% | $10,283 | $798 | $1,335 | 13.0% | 17.0% |
| 30% to 60% | 339,542 | 15% | $33,735 | $915 | $1,573 | 4.7% | 6.3% |
| 60% to 80% | 237,300 | 10% | $55,228 | $998 | $1,748 | 3.2% | 4.3% |
| 80% to 100% | 228,971 | 10% | $71,025 | $1,049 | $1,864 | 2.6% | 3.4% |
| Over 100% | 1,244,248 | 55% | $170,470 | $1,188 | $2,187 | 1.3% | 1.6% |
| All | 2,278,044 | 100% | $112,059 | $1,074 | $1,932 | 1.7% | 2.2% |
Renters, owners and fuel in Colorado
Renters pay $1,051 on $64,082 (1.6%); owners $2,382 on $136,579 (1.7%); U.S. 2.4% and 2.2%. Most common fuel: utility gas, 67% of homes. Heaviest burden: fuel oil, 4.4%.
| Colorado heating fuel | Homes | Share | Colorado income | All energy | Burden |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Electricity | 567,785 | 24.9% | $92,266 | $1,298 | 1.4% |
| Utility gas | 1,530,058 | 67.2% | $122,162 | $2,033 | 1.7% |
| Bottled gas (propane) | 108,846 | 4.8% | $97,564 | $3,528 | 3.6% |
| Fuel oil | 2,631 | 0.1% | $62,600 | $2,728 | 4.4% |
| Wood, coal, solar and other | 68,724 | 3.0% | $75,491 | $2,360 | 3.1% |
Your burden against Colorado
Help and shutoff rules in Colorado
FY2024 LIHEAP heating help: 85,488 homes, 15 per 100 under 60% of median.
FY2026 funding snapshot $55,507,474, $98 per such home.
Benefits listed: Heating: $200 minimum, $1,000 maximum Winter Crisis: $1,000 maximum.
Programs named for Colorado: Property Tax, Rent, and Heat Rebate; Search By Utility; Black Hills Energy; [Last updated: 04/20/2026].
- Colorado LIHEAP office, phone 1-866-432-8435
- Clearinghouse snapshot, Colorado
- Colorado help with your bill
Cold-weather clause: 3407(e)(VII)(A): utility must postpone discontinuance of residential service any day the NWS local forecast between 6 and 9 a.m. predicts 32F or lower at any time in the next 24 hours (or when utility personnel cannot restore service per rule 3409). No calendar-season ban.
Read: 4 CCR 723-3, rule 3407, checked 2026-10-02; some utilities only.
Not legal advice. Ask your Colorado utility.
Highest-burden Colorado counties
58 counties with 1,000+ homes; top: Costilla County at 7.0%, lowest of the 58: Denver County at 1.1%.
| Colorado county | Homes | Income | All energy | Burden | Under 60% |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Costilla County | 1,530 | $48,207 | $3,352 | 7.0% | 16.3% |
| Bent County | 1,808 | $53,887 | $3,103 | 5.8% | 11.4% |
| Prowers County | 4,507 | $64,572 | $3,654 | 5.7% | 12.9% |
| Saguache County | 3,071 | $62,006 | $3,361 | 5.4% | 13.0% |
| Conejos County | 3,087 | $58,383 | $3,065 | 5.2% | 11.6% |
| Otero County | 7,594 | $57,483 | $2,946 | 5.1% | 11.2% |
| Huerfano County | 2,877 | $60,245 | $2,946 | 4.9% | 11.4% |
| Crowley County | 1,315 | $53,867 | $2,589 | 4.8% | 9.8% |
Next to Colorado in the ranking
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Sources
DOE LEAD 2022; LIHEAP Clearinghouse; CSV.
Questions
How much of income do Colorado households spend on energy?
1.7% for all households ($1,932 of $112,059) and 6.1% under 60% of median income. U.S.: 2.2%, 8.3%.
Who is hit hardest in Colorado?
Households under 30% of median income: 13.0%, 227,984 homes spending $1,335 on $10,283.
How many Colorado homes get LIHEAP heating help?
85,488 in FY2024, 15 per 100 homes under 60% of median; not a take-up rate.
Is electricity the whole Colorado energy burden?
No: electricity is 1.0% of 1.7%; gas and other fuel are the rest.