[{"_1":2,"_99":-5,"_100":-5},"loaderData",{"_3":4,"_26":27},"root",{"_5":6,"_17":10,"_18":19,"_20":21,"_22":10,"_23":-5,"_24":-5,"_25":10},"user",{"_7":8,"_9":10,"_11":10,"_12":-5,"_13":-5,"_14":15,"_16":-5},"roles",[],"isAuthenticated",false,"isPremium","planName","subscriptionStatus","featureFlags",{},"insightsBudget","isDevelopmentHost","userPreferences",{},"recaptchaSiteKey","6LcvOJcUAAAAAHsB-gPGfGktcRlKpH7OTIU_dMTD","isImpersonating","impersonation","affiliateStatus","isFreedomPortal","routes/v2/article/layout",{"_28":29,"_30":31},"notFound",true,"relatedArticles",[32,75,87],{"_33":34,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":40,"_41":42,"_43":44,"_45":46,"_47":48,"_49":50,"_51":52,"_53":54,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":60,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":66,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},"mediaId",6611203,"mediaKeyId","2898827-2856735cad90e9e24462e0d3239f61c1","parentId",2898827,"title","Bring Power Home urges off‑ramp vote, cites Aug. 12, 2025 franchise deadline and high Black Hills rates","audioSeconds",746,"startMs",6259000,"endMs",7005000,"viewUrl","/Search/View?dp=1&key=2898827-2856735cad90e9e24462e0d3239f61c1&start=6259&end=7005","thumbnailUrl","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2898827-2856735cad90e9e24462e0d3239f61c1/thumbnail_6259000.jpg","articleUrl","/articles/6611203/Pueblo-City/Pueblo-County/Colorado/Bring-Power-Home-urges-offramp-vote-cites-Aug-12-2025-franchise-deadline-and-high-Black-Hills-rates","mediaUrl","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6611203-1c946c77882d57f4b102d7486cf5c0d1/orig.mp4?Expires=1771155298&Signature=V6meDmbEMvsUCNiFzIrn7Ci2VDOCXEyKIqRKeb9-z480fC0rkLwxysYEmoAQFp4bh8vCsi-adRX~Cwv4XuPoDRtoGKsFcxWwhu4QisbEOhgJlXnGYwitXfsHx0snWnwByT72L31VG0hCTo4-W5daUnSJppF2su2azebjtkDkJ7r3IA0T0jXuJ~kbblf5t6rVNfj4MU6P45dTCKmXsGsU-ZAMFquhV2jxFtvrDq~2V-2A7HuvV57h~vSVuQLix2gRZ1fEfpaw8G7k-Pki4gr6OaYS4Cp9O4-E4O69F-GKOiKMlg67FcSz8zPNm8o5Pe-5k5sW0HStWsA1vWp0YmcZcw__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","author","Pueblo City, CO","date","2025-04-08T16:28:09.387Z","article","Members of Bring Power Home presented to City Council on April 7, 2025 and urged support for the ballot language authorizing an off‑ramp from the franchise agreement with Black Hills Energy. The group’s presentation framed the May ballot as an opportunity to allow the city to explore alternatives without committing to immediate municipalization or condemnation.

Diane Dante, a Bring Power Home representative, said the off‑ramp vote would let the city terminate the franchise and “study your options,” and that taking the off‑ramp would not immediately cut electric service. “The city is able to take the off ramp without municipalization per a vote, and it would be the simplest and easiest and first step with departing from Black Hills Energy,” Dante said. The presenters repeatedly urged a “yes” vote in May to preserve the city’s options.

The group cited provisions of the franchise agreement and a Colorado statutory citation and said the franchise contains a 20‑year initial term and that the city’s deadline to act is Aug. 12, 2025. The presenters also presented claimed company compensation figures and other statistics to argue that investor‑owned costs and executive compensation are among the factors driving high local customer rates; those numbers were presented by Bring Power Home as part of their advocacy slides and are reported here as claims made by the presenters.

City councilors and staff sought legal and factual clarifications during the presentation. City legal advisors and city staff reiterated that (1) terminating the franchise does not automatically create a new operator and (2) if the city ultimately pursues ownership or service outside the city limits, the Public Utilities Commission and state‑court condemnation processes would be involved. Outside counsel and staff explained that condemnation is a legal mechanism available if a willing seller cannot be found, and councilors asked whether alternatives to condemnation exist; an outside legal consultant said a voluntary bilateral sale would be required absent condemnation.

Bring Power Home also reviewed the group’s earlier 2020 campaign experience — the 2020 municipalization initiative failed — and urged renewed voter action. Presenters said a larger, territory‑wide acquisition would likely be the most viable approach and urged the council to use the May vote to preserve the city’s ability to explore those options.

Ending — Council members asked staff to publish the pending consultant report and to continue public outreach. The Bring Power Home presenters asked voters to support the ballot item in May.","mediaType","Video","parentTitle","City Council Work Session - April 07, 2025","oneSentenceSummary","Members of Bring Power Home urged Pueblo City Council on April 7, 2025 to support a May ballot question authorizing an early termination (an “off‑ramp”) of the city’s franchise agreement with Black Hills Energy, saying the off‑ramp would allow the city to study alternatives without forcing immediate municipalization.","taxTitle","Pueblo City, Pueblo County, Colorado","taxId",4964,"location","headline","","shortSummary",{"_33":76,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":77,"_41":78,"_43":79,"_45":80,"_47":81,"_49":82,"_51":83,"_53":84,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":85,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":86,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6611206,"Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region reports nearly 8,000 animals taken in at Pueblo campus in 2024; expands wellness and spay/neuter services",450,3299000,3749000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2898827-2856735cad90e9e24462e0d3239f61c1&start=3299&end=3749","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2898827-2856735cad90e9e24462e0d3239f61c1/thumbnail_3299000.jpg","/articles/6611206/Pueblo-City/Pueblo-County/Colorado/Humane-Society-of-the-Pikes-Peak-Region-reports-nearly-8000-animals-taken-in-at-Pueblo-campus-in-2024-expands-wellness-and-spayneuter-services","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6611206-d83567b70632b1889a56f74a32a550b4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771155298&Signature=g8RhPh0yOAZJfktza7r0fTc74thGFgtguz05IN4LG1cwGZqPb-HTFHYOkJrq3Uiiyha38YWDI1rMxEBFlbKPiOphLlfxh1QaRp64LbmMy8lQV6FtkjRpoHYsdkPaFpRlTlYAU5nFuhqJ1Nf5Kn-LoVTP5T0Tn~FC79WdwEXYsr0XZjFrJLk8jyUUEmyjUwYGnoifrdg0aYLe6~iVlCeqSQqwX2HEEw6OnJ4fq9H0QvmTC62gcg-Y0iQJQLorkSkMTqXj-a6Bgb8uyPlJWpu1Ev5JDm1cY9fKwsnFf4koT9b1pNaTxf7KQb67WCpnENslUssdm5OWf3ggP~pUhX36Jg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","Representatives of the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region briefed Pueblo City Council on April 7, 2025 about the shelter’s history in Pueblo and its 2024 operations, including intake, rehoming and clinic activity.

Julie Justman, vice president of operations, summarized the organization’s contractual relationship with the city and county and recalled that the Humane Society reentered service agreements with the City of Pueblo after a prior operator relinquished the facility in early 2019. The Humane Society noted community and county support for a new shelter facility and said the county continues to maintain the building grounds under a local agreement.

Erin Van Duzeren, director of shelter operations for the Pueblo campus, presented key 2024 statistics: the Pueblo location received more than 8,000 animals in 2024 and adopted out 2,704 animals. The shelter transferred roughly 2,600 animals to partner agencies across Colorado to increase rehoming opportunities and reunited about 1,500 lost pets with their owners. Van Duzeren also said the region‑wide total spay/neuter count for the Humane Society in 2024 exceeded 15,000 animals.

The presentation highlighted the local Pueblo wellness clinic and spay/neuter work. Van Duzeren said Pueblo Wellness Clinics increased public spay/neuter capacity by 359% year‑over‑year, increased low‑cost vaccination capacity by 12%, and increased veterinary wellness appointments by 6%. The shelter reported spaying/neutering and vaccinating more than 1,300 community cats in 2024; the group said about 1,000 of those came from community colony managers.

Lindsey Vigna, assistant director of animal law enforcement for Pueblo, reviewed enforcement and community‑engagement activity for 2024: roughly 16,000 calls for service handled across jurisdictions HSPPR serves, more than 1,600 responses to dangerous‑animal incidents, nearly 600 calls regarding injured animals, 262 court appearances (municipal, county and district levels), and more than 3,200 cruelty‑investigation responses. Vigna also noted proactive patrols and a high level of public events and outreach; HSPPR’s Pueblo team won a local Parade of Lights award for its animal‑themed float.

Justman and Van Duzeren described recent program developments: a PetSmart Charities grant of $100,000 awarded in December 2024 for an incubator project focused on the Pueblo Eastside neighborhood; an on‑site wellness clinic partnership with PetSmart (wellness and spay/neuter services at a former Banfield clinic inside a PetSmart store); and growth in volunteer hours and early 2025 service counts (more than 1,600 animals taken in during Q1 2025).

Councilors did not take formal action on the presentation; the briefing provided councilmembers with current operational metrics, program updates and requests for continuing cooperation among the Humane Society, city and county.

Ending — The Humane Society asked the council to continue coordination on building operations, community outreach and support for the Pueblo wellness and spay/neuter programs.","Representatives of the Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region briefed Pueblo City Council on April 7, 2025 about the shelter’s history in Pueblo and its 2024 operations, including intake, rehoming and clinic activity.",{"_33":88,"_35":36,"_37":38,"_39":89,"_41":90,"_43":91,"_45":92,"_47":93,"_49":94,"_51":95,"_53":96,"_55":56,"_57":58,"_59":97,"_61":62,"_63":64,"_65":98,"_67":68,"_69":70,"_71":68,"_72":73,"_74":73},6611211,"Consultants say municipal takeover of Black Hills assets inside Pueblo city limits is not economically feasible now",1263,447000,1710000,"/Search/View?dp=1&key=2898827-2856735cad90e9e24462e0d3239f61c1&start=447&end=1710","https://assets.pipeline.soar.com/2898827-2856735cad90e9e24462e0d3239f61c1/thumbnail_447000.jpg","/articles/6611211/Pueblo-City/Pueblo-County/Colorado/Consultants-say-municipal-takeover-of-Black-Hills-assets-inside-Pueblo-city-limits-is-not-economically-feasible-now","https://secure.pipeline.soar.com/6611211-3ad6a8fef594e6c89aa06fc426951ad4/orig.mp4?Expires=1771155298&Signature=ZN303whI4RNH9mxCD4QHBKt1R-tLtxWx1VLLXyZOW42p-wMOznQqP-g7gELqPHX~L86DEhhzrc2ma7wOn0sUUpX3Sb~BNn~7hPQvFBNxyTPi6Qvder9ldMzZv0AWarKLVhKajx0RLUJsk~tFVncbY1NgZ4En0apkCEPZlADFAtDZ6p4I7qQhQKJHoOZfZRx7aD43h2-bRRRXdWIfBGE40BWrlkln0PIR2BTUd40g0wEe5-ZnSDwPeoi~zgwZWSBPUkpBTvfxm4I3CbUmiNNJD1cPrKRuPQVKlVfy6N~zRhzDSUcAT-RCtMeMI-6G3~fYmMbj99lXtvb4dFSsFKdgNg__&Key-Pair-Id=KUT5TJCACFTXG","At a City Council meeting on April 7, 2025, consultants from GDS Associates presented a preliminary feasibility assessment finding that acquiring Black Hills Energy’s electric distribution assets located solely within the City of Pueblo would not be economically feasible under the study’s base-case assumptions.

The finding matters because Pueblo voters will decide in May whether to authorize city officials to pursue an early termination (an “off‑ramp”) of the franchise agreement with Black Hills. City staff and consultants told council that the study does not rule out other options — including a larger regional acquisition, different valuation methods, or competitive power‑supply procurements — and that those alternatives could change the economics.

GDS principal Matthew Butler said the study’s screening metric compared forecasted retail rates under a municipal utility with Black Hills’ approved rate forecast. Butler said the analysis focused on three principal drivers: Black Hills’ retail rate forecast, the method used to value the assets acquired, and the cost of power supply. “The base case utilizes an average of book value and reproduction cost new less depreciation,” Butler said. He added that as Black Hills’ forecasted rates rise, the case for municipalization improves.

Garrett Cole, vice president at GDS, said wholesale energy and capacity costs have risen substantially since a prior study in 2019. “We’re seeing a much more constrained capacity market, and those costs are reflected in a more significant manner here in 2025,” Cole said, noting increased forward market prices and higher resource‑adequacy (capacity) prices as major upward pressures on power supply costs.

GDS showed sensitivity testing indicating that, under the consultants’ assumptions, roughly a 20% increase in Black Hills’ retail rates (above the current forecast) would be enough to move the city‑only scenario toward breakeven. The consultants also said their base case assumed no stranded‑asset credits and used publicly available maps to define the city boundary acquisition.

Councilors pressed the consultants on next steps and timing. Andrew Hayes, the city’s public works director, and GDS explained the final written report would follow in about seven to 10 days; Hayes said the presentation tonight summarized the same broad findings the forthcoming report will document. Mark Davis of Fairfield and Woods, the city’s outside counsel on utility issues, and other legal advisers were present to answer procedural questions.

GDS recommended a range of follow-up actions if council wished to continue: (1) expand the analysis to a larger territory or “system‑wide” acquisition, (2) adjust assumptions about Black Hills’ future retail rates, (3) run an RFP to obtain firm power‑supply offers from market counterparties, and (4) consider franchise‑agreement renegotiation or targeted legislative advocacy. The consultants said those steps could materially change the economic screening but were outside the scope of the city‑only base case presented tonight.

Councilors repeatedly raised the meeting calendar and public‑education timeline: staff confirmed the final consultant report would be released in the coming week or so and noted the city faces an August 2025 deadline for exercising an off‑ramp provision in the existing franchise agreement. Several councilors said voters’ May direction would not by itself compel a council action in August; Council would still have to determine feasibility before taking an off‑ramp.

What council heard tonight: the preliminary, staff‑commissioned economic screen indicates an acquisition limited to assets inside Pueblo city limits is not financially feasible under the consultants’ base assumptions. The report highlights specific variables that, if they change, could alter that conclusion and lists additional studies and procurement steps the city could pursue before any decision to proceed.

Quotes in this article are taken from the meeting transcript and are attributed to speakers listed below.

Ending — The consultant report will be published to the city in the coming days. Council members said they expect additional public briefings and time to review the final document before any ordinance or formal action on the franchise off‑ramp.","At a City Council meeting on April 7, 2025, consultants from GDS Associates presented a preliminary feasibility assessment finding that acquiring Black Hills Energy’s electric distribution assets located solely within the City of Pueblo would not be economically feasible under the study’s base‑case assumptions.","actionData","errors"]

Article not found

Bring Power Home urges off‑ramp vote, cites Aug. 12, 2025 franchise deadline and high Black Hills rates

Humane Society of the Pikes Peak Region reports nearly 8,000 animals taken in at Pueblo campus in 2024; expands wellness and spay/neuter services

Consultants say municipal takeover of Black Hills assets inside Pueblo city limits is not economically feasible now