City staff brief board on Xcel Energy franchise, opt-out window and undergrounding costs

City climate staff on March 5 told the Environmental Advisory Board that Boulder’s 20‑year franchise with Xcel Energy remains on track to reduce grid emissions but that the city will use the first five‑year anniversary to evaluate the partnership and give Council options, including an opt‑out.

Carol Neland, senior manager for energy systems in the Department of Climate Initiatives, said the franchise—approved after the 2020 vote to pause municipalization—includes performance milestones for grid emissions and a five‑year review point the city can use to notify Xcel if it intends to end the franchise. “These milestones present a great opportunity for us to pause and reflect on what were the goals of our partnership and how have we been doing,” Neland said.

The nut graf: council will hold a study session on March 13 to review progress and decide whether to ask voters or act itself on continuing the arrangement. Staff framed the March meeting as an update and a chance to collect questions from council and the broader community before any formal decision.

City staff summarized three separate legal…