Fremont County adopts resolution opposing Colorado PUCclean-heat electrification mandate

Fremont County commissioners on Wednesday unanimously adopted Resolution No. 21, Series of 2025, formally opposing the Colorado Public Utilities Commission's (PUC) clean heat electrification mandate and affirming residents' right to choose their home energy sources.

The board's resolution, read in full by the chair, cites the PUC action on Dec. 3, 2025, and expresses concern that compliance could force homeowners to retrofit heating and appliances at high cost. The resolution states utilities' filings estimate retrofitting an existing home for all-electric heating and appliances can exceed $20,000 before incentives and warns residential bills could rise ‘‘especially in rural and mountain communities.'

Why it matters: Commissioners and public commenters said the policy risks shifting large costs to consumers and straining grid reliability in rural areas. The county requested the PUC, state legislature and utilities provide transparent cost and reliability reporting and asked for a flexible, locally sensitive approach rather than a statewide mandate.

Commissioner discussion and public comment centered on affordability and grid capacity. Commissioner [name as recorded in roll call] said the PUC's 41% emissions target for 2035 and goal of decarbonization by 2050 represent a series of policy "goalposts' that will increase construction and operating costs. Resident John Hamrick told the board: "This clean heat plan is a Dear John letter to your furnace and your wood stove," arguing the plan is detached from practical rural energy realities and warning of sharply higher bills.

The resolution directs the county clerk to forward copies to the Colorado PUC, the governor, the Colorado General Assembly and relevant utility providers and affirms support for voluntary clean-energy measures while rejecting mandatory retrofit requirements. Commissioners said they will also inform constituents how to contact the PUC if they wish to register concerns.

The vote: The board approved the resolution on roll call with all commissioners recorded as voting "Aye." The county did not adopt any implementing ordinance or regulatory change; the action is a formal statement of county policy and a request for state-level reconsideration.

Next steps: The county will transmit the resolution to state authorities and utilities and said staff would provide contact details for PUC comment and additional guidance on where to send inquiries.