Xcel Spends To Oppose Boulder Forming Own Utility

DENVER (AP) - Xcel Energy Inc. says it has spent more than $438,000 on efforts to persuade voters in Boulder not to create a municipal utility.

The company had been seeking an agreement for Boulder to get its electricity from Xcel, but talks broke down this summer. The city's voters will decide in November whether Boulder should have the authority to form its own utility.

Xcel said Tuesday it has contributed $250,000 to the Boulder Smart Energy Coalition, whose members say voters should say no. It also has invested $188,954 in an educational campaign on the question. The utility says the spending for advertising, campaign events, consultants, employee time and expenses, and printing won't affect customers' rates.

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