Overview
- A joint petition by Xcel Energy, the Colorado Energy Office and the Office of the Utility Consumer Advocate seeks to move Comanche 2’s retirement from Dec. 31, 2025 to the end of 2026.
- PUC staff support the request, and commissioners are expected to rule in roughly three to four weeks.
- The adjacent 415‑megawatt Comanche 3 unit has been offline since Aug. 12 and is not expected back until June 2026, reducing available generation.
- Xcel cites faster electricity demand growth, procurement delays and exposure to volatile wholesale prices, with data centers driving much of the projected load increase.
- Environmental groups warn of higher bills and more pollution, Pueblo leaders and unions support continued operations, and the UCA says shareholders should cover reliability failures unless regulators decide otherwise.