What We Do#
Above and Beyond Basic Services#
Fort Collins Utilities is a community-owned utility that manages four essential services for the City of Fort Collins – Light & Power, Water, Wastewater and Stormwater – serving more than 75,000 customers. While utility services are often considered basic needs, there is nothing basic about providing high-quality, reliable services year-round.
Utility services are always on, even when the faucets or light switches are off. We operate 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year to the highest of standards.
When winter storms, driving rains or damaging winds hit, Utilities crews are available day or night. If an electric or water outage occurs, crews are on scene and in many emergencies, they are the first responders, ensuring a safe and quick resolution. On-call procedures are in place for all utilities, and certain operations, like the water and wastewater treatment plants and power operations, do not shut down on the weekends, over holidays, for blizzards or during pandemics.
We are committed to providing ‘round-the-clock, world-class service to our community.
Replacing overhead powerlines with underground.
Repairing a water main on a cold, winter night.
Clearing a stormwater inlet of debris during a storm.
Benefits of Being Community-Owned#
As a community-owned utility, we don’t have investors or shareholders to answer to and we are not motivated by profit generation. Some of the benefits of being a municipal utility include:
- Lower rates and revenues that stay in Fort Collins
- Local decision-making to determine how services are provided
- Not-for-profit operations that ensure customer payments are reinvested directly in Utilities
- Focus on responsive customer service and community values
Leading the Way#
Fort Collins Utilities staff continually look for innovative ways to improve our services and help the community. We strive to meet and exceed benchmarks and rank above most utilities in water treatment and power reliability.
We are very fortunate that our predecessors planned so well for our future. Because of their foresight, we have an underground power supply resulting in relatively few and shorter outages, improved floodplains reducing flood risk to residents and businesses, and a vast water rights portfolio to ensure enough water for our city. Our community benefits every day from this good planning.
We have a long-term vision for the future of our utility. Quality, reliability and the best solutions for our customers drive our decisions.
What's In the Works: Projects and Improvements#
Learn more about infrastructure improvements, system upgrades, capital projects and routine maintenance.
History#
Photo courtesy of Fort Collins Museum of Discovery - H01459
Since before the 1900s, our predecessors planned and set the foundation for the remarkable electric, water, wastewater and stormwater systems we have in place today.
Policies and Plans#
Water Supply and Demand Management Policy
The Water Supply and Demand Management Policy was originally adopted by City Council in December 1988 to help direct the acquisition, development and management of the City's water supplies since that time. Since its inception, the policy has gone through several updates, the most recent of which was in 2012.
Water Shortage Action Plan
The Water Shortage Action Plan (WSAP), previously known as the Water Supply Shortage Response Plan, establishes conditions and restrictions to manage Utilities' water supply in the event of projected water shortages as established by City Code Section 26-167(a).
2015 Water Efficiency Plan
This Water Efficiency Plan (WEP) is an update to the Water Conservation Plan approved by the Colorado Water Conservation Board in 2010. This updated Plan proposes a new goal of 130 gallons per capita per day (GPCD) by 2030.
Drinking Water Quality Policy
The Drinking Water Quality Policy was adopted by City Council in 1993. The policy outlines guidelines to provide water services that meet or exceed customer expectations for quality, quantity and reliability.
Our Climate Future Plan
This OCF Plan is about the future of everyone in Fort Collins in these times of climate change, and it is our community guide to creating the carbon-neutral, zero waste, and 100% renewable electricity future we desire.
Electric Service Standards
This policy, and the regulations it implements, are authorized by Section 26- 463 of the Code of the City of Fort Collins. This policy applies to all construction, new development, redevelopment or remodeling.
Advisory Boards#
Energy Board
The Energy Advisory Board advises City Council regarding energy policy issues, including implementation of the City’s Energy Policy and the incorporation of energy conservation and efficiency, carbon emissions reduction, and renewable energy into the development and provision of City utility services.
Water Commission
The City of Fort Collins Water Board advises the City Council regarding water, wastewater and stormwater policy issues, such as water rights, planning, acquisition and management, conservation and public education, floodplain regulations, storm drainage and development design criteria.
Did You Know?
You can save water when washing fruits or vegetables by filling the sink with water instead of running the faucet.
Cleaning your dryer filter regularly prevents lint build ups that can reduce airflow resulting in clothes not drying completely.
Only pee, poo and toilet paper should be flushed. Everything else should be thrown in the trash.