Latest news with #BallotInitiative2A
Yahoo
07-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Pueblo votes to stay with Black Hills in another landslide. Nearly 78% say 'no' on 2A
For the second time since May 2020, voters emphatically opposed a city of Pueblo attempt to cancel its franchise agreement with Black Hills Energy. The Pueblo County Elections Department counted 16,005 votes against and 4,557 votes for Ballot Initiative 2A by 10 p.m. on May 6, 2025, according to unofficial results. The initiative asked voters if the city should cancel the agreement and acquire the "generation, transmission and distribution assets" of Black Hills, if "determined feasible." While nearly 78% of voters shot down Ballot Initiative 2A in 2025, a similar measure put out to voters in 2020 failed with over 75% of votes against it. Pueblo Mayor Heather Graham speaks in opposition to Black Hills Energy rate increases outside the Pueblo County Courthouse on Thursday, July 11, 2024 Pueblo mayor: Community 'obviously supports' Black Hills "The community obviously supports Black Hills Energy and is okay with the extreme rate increases and high price of their electricity," Pueblo Mayor Heather Graham told the Chieftain on May 7. "When you have millions of dollars to campaign to make sure that stays in place, it's really hard to challenge that situation." A 6.7% electric rate increase on Black Hills' Colorado ratepayers was approved by the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) and went into effect on March 22. Prior to the increase, a January 2024 survey from the Colorado Association of Municipal Utilities (CAMU) demonstrated that Black Hills customers were already paying higher rates than customers of any other utility in Colorado. Black Hills Energy Service Center located at 105 S. Victoria Ave. Over $1.5 million campaign aides in defeat of Ballot Initiative 2A No on 2A, a campaign against the city's efforts to leave Black Hills, spent over $1.51 million between March 4 and May 2 with over $1,600 remaining on hand, according to the Pueblo City Clerk's office. Contributions received by No on 2A included $1.5 million from Black Hills Colorado Electric, LLC. and $30,000 from Edison Electric Institute, Inc. — an association representing electric utility companies throughout the U.S. Expenditure statements from the city clerk's office show money spent by No on 2A going toward TV media services, online campaigning, mailers, polling, bank fees and other voter outreach services. Campaign materials from No on 2A argued that a city-run or regional electric utility would be more costly to ratepayers than continued operation by Black Hills. The over $30 million spent by the city of Boulder in a decade-long attempt to municipalize its utility, and a Brattle Group Study showing municipalization would cost $1 billion in Pueblo, were often referenced by No on 2A to support its arguments. Black Hills 'delighted' at special election result "We simply asked voters a series of questions and we trusted the answer... Do you want to be Boulder? Do you want to go $1 billion in debt? Do you think the city can handle this? What happens if there's a cyber attack? We just ask questions and let voters kind of come to their own conclusion about those things," No on 2A spokesperson Steve Welchert told the Chieftain. James Williams, a regional manager of public affairs for Black Hills Energy, shared a statement with the Chieftain and other media outlets about an hour and a half after the first batch of Ballot Initiative 2A election results dropped, at which point 13,800 of 17,504 total counted had been cast opposing 2A. "We're delighted that Pueblo voters overwhelmingly said no to an attempted government takeover of our electric system, for the second time in five years," Williams said in the statement. "Voters know the city's own study showed that a billion-dollar takeover in Pueblo simply isn't feasible, and there's no practical path for an estimated $4 billion region-wide takeover effort, which would be highly complex and unlikely to succeed." What's next for the city of Pueblo and Black Hills? Despite the outcome of the $100,000 special election, Graham told the Chieftain that Pueblo City Council will still be voting on whether or not to take the 2025 off-ramp with Black Hills in August. The city's franchise agreement with Black Hills expires in 2030. "Over the next five years, we'll continue to work on a plan to hopefully find another energy provider or create our own so that we can provide our cost-effective rates to the community," Graham said. Pueblo County Senior Public Information Officer Anthony Mestas told the Chieftain that "all ballots received were counted" as of the night of May 6. The only remaining ballots include those requiring signature cures and overseas ballots. The deadline for cures and overseas ballots is May 14 at midnight. "Once those are processed, an update will be released on May 15, 2025, by end of day," Mestas said. Rattlesnakes in Pueblo: Rattlesnakes are emerging in Colorado. Here's how to stay safe Pueblo Chieftain reporter James Bartolo can be reached at JBartolo@ Support local news, subscribe to the Pueblo Chieftain at This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Pueblo special election: Bid to leave Black Hills fails in landslide
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
What to know about Pueblo's special election after city-owned utility deemed unfeasible
The city of Pueblo purchasing Black Hills Energy's assets and operating a city-owned electric utility may not be feasible, but a special election is still slated for May 6. Language on the special election's Ballot Initiative 2A asks voters if Pueblo should "cancel its franchise agreement" with Black Hills and acquire the investor-owned utility's "generation, transmission and distribution assets ... if determined feasible." Despite two studies — one commissioned by the city and another commissioned by Black Hills — determining municipalization is not feasible, the city still intends to move forward with the special election at a cost of approximately $100,000. Pueblo Director of Public Works Andrew Hayes told the Chieftain that municipalization is not the only way the city could acquire Black Hills' assets and a "yes" vote on 2A would signal to the city that voters are willing to continue exploring alternative ways to leave Black Hills to lower the price ratepayers pay for electricity. "Citizens voting yes doesn't mean that on May 7, the city owns the utility," Hayes said. "There's a long transition process even from that point. There will continue to be more study, there will continue to be more looks into the information to determine what options are feasible, and ultimately to identify the best possible course of action." Black Hills Energy is located at 105 S. Victoria Ave. What options does the city have outside municipalization? In his conversation with the Chieftain, Hayes outlined three alternatives to municipalization; one would involve operating a utility outside of city limits, another would involve the city joining other municipalities within Black Hills' Colorado service area to operate the electric utility, and a third would explore the possibility of another utility company acquiring Black Hills' Pueblo assets. The city has not yet concluded which of the three options would be the most feasible. However, Hayes acknowledged that the city condemning and acquiring Black Hills' assets outside city limits has the potential to impact multiple stakeholders and presents a challenge "on a number of fronts." "The city believes that, under statute, it has the ability to acquire assets outside of city limits for public purposes," he said. "Now, again, there's other limitations there, so we want to make sure we're talking through those options and picking strategic partners that will be in alignment with that vision." Additional options, which Hayes referred to as "smaller steps," include lobbying at the Colorado Legislature to give local jurisdictions more control over utility-related issues. The city could also negotiate, extend, or enter into a new franchise agreement with Black Hills. "There's all kinds of options on the table, but we just need to look at all those things and make sure we're prepared for making the best decision possible," Hayes said. Chavez Huerta: 'Let Us Go': Why Chavez Huerta is demanding to be released from Pueblo D60 Pueblo Chieftain reporter James Bartolo can be reached at JBartolo@ Support local news, subscribe to the Pueblo Chieftain at This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: What Pueblo is voting for in the May 7 special election
Yahoo
06-05-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Pueblo 2A special election: Will voters opt to leave Black Hills?
For the second time in a little over five years, city leaders are asking voters if they should cancel Pueblo's franchise agreement with Black Hills Energy. For the special election on May 6, city of Pueblo residents are weighing in on Ballot Initiative 2A — a question asking whether the city should cancel its franchise agreement and "acquire the generation, transmission and distribution assets" of Black Hills, if "determined feasible." A similar election took place on May 5, 2020. Then, voters were asked if the city should cancel the agreement to authorize the formation and operation of a publicly-owned electric utility through the Pueblo Board of Water Works. The 2020 question was resoundingly rejected by voters: over 75% voted against the measure. Will 2025 be any different? It's up to voters to decide. Pueblo City Council President Mark Aliff speaks in opposition to Blacks Hills Energy rate increases on June 11, 2024. What are the arguments for and against 2A in 2025? Opponents of 2A have pointed to a pair of Black Hills Energy-commissioned studies conducted by the Brattle Group that conclude it is too costly for the city of Pueblo to purchase all Black Hills assets within the city and also too expensive for the city to form a regional co-op with other communities paying Black Hills' electric rates. A city-commissioned study also concluded that a city-only utility is not feasible. Proponents of 2A have ruled out the possibility of the city purchasing assets alone, but have not ruled out the chance of garnering regional or statewide support to explore all possibilities. Those supporting 2A in 2025 are distraught by Black Hills' recent rate increase and a study demonstrating that — even before the rate increase — Black Hills customers were paying higher rates than anyone else in the state. A 24 hour ballot drop off box outside the Colorado State Fairgrounds on Prairie Avenue. How and where to vote on 2A in Pueblo Ballots featuring Ballot Initiative 2A were mailed to active voters starting April 14. It's too late to return a ballot by mail, so those seeking to vote in the election must turn in their ballot at a designated drop-off location by 7 p.m. on May 6. Drop-off locations within the city of Pueblo include the following locations: Pueblo County Election Office: 201 W. 8th St., on the east side of the building Pueblo County Courthouse: 215 W. 10th St., on the west side of the building Colorado State Fair: 950 S. Prairie Ave., outside gate along Prairie Avenue Barkman Branch Library: 1300 Jerry Murphy Rd. Lamb Branch Library: 2525 S. Pueblo Blvd., behind the building Routt Ave MV Drive Thru: 1228 Routt Ave. Colorado State University Pueblo: 2200 Bonforte Blvd., accessible from Gonzales Drive Pueblo Community College: 900 W. Orman Ave., accessible from Harrison Street Additionally, the Pueblo County Election Office will have an in-person voting location open until 7 p.m. on the seventh floor of the building, according to an official notice on the May 6 election. Where to find live election results When available, election results will be shared by Pueblo County at Because results will not be released until after the Chieftain's May 7 print deadline, coverage of the results will appear in print on May 8. More on 2A: 'Continue the path forward': Mayor Graham discusses findings of full 2A feasibility study Pueblo Chieftain reporter James Bartolo can be reached at JBartolo@ Support local news, subscribe to the Pueblo Chieftain at This article originally appeared on The Pueblo Chieftain: Pueblo special election: Get results here
