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

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.