Fountain utility officials are alerting residents to available payment help after the city experienced an unprecedented spike in electricity demand last month, with both power and water consumption running well above prior-year levels.
A city news release confirmed that July 28 brought a new all-time peak for electricity demand in a single day, reaching 69.6 megawatts. That record did not reflect one anomalous afternoon: electricity consumption across all of July ran 11 percent above the same month in 2025.
The pressure on water systems was even more pronounced. Fountain's water consumption in July 2026 came in 19 percent higher than it did during July 2025. The surge mirrors broader regional trends; at Colorado Springs Utilities, drought conditions across Colorado contributed to a record month for residential water revenue, with the utility collecting $15.9 million from water bills — surpassing the previous four-year high of $14.3 million set in July 2024.
City officials noted that utility bills tend to be at their costliest between July and September, and they moved to publicize assistance options before more households feel the strain. One available program, Lighten the Load, provides qualifying residents with up to $750 in relief over any 12-month period through a partnership with the Salvation Army, and can be reached at 719-382-1182. A separate resource, Energy Outreach Colorado, extends up to $1,000 per fiscal year to eligible applicants.
For residents who fall outside the eligibility requirements of either program, Fountain officials say options still exist. The city is encouraging those who are still having difficulty covering bills to contact Fountain Utilities directly to explore arrangements that could help them avoid service disconnection; the customer service department is available at 719-322-2010.
The elevated demand in Fountain coincides with a record-breaking month for Colorado Springs Utilities as well. The municipal utility collected $31.9 million in residential electric revenue in July, a figure driven by a combination of factors. The utility's chief financial officer attributed the peak to this summer's elevated temperatures, greater residential demand, and the rollout of the new Energy Wise rate structure. Energy Wise, which took full effect in the spring, charges customers a premium for electricity consumed during evening peak hours of 5 p.m. to 9 p.m. The program's higher summer rates are designed to be counterbalanced by lower rates later in the year, with the utility's financial officer anticipating that bills starting in October should fall below what customers paid during the same period last year.
Customer satisfaction scores for both residential and commercial accounts ranked among the utility's lowest metrics for the year, with rate increases and concerns about ease of service cited as primary drivers. One board member pushed back on accepting low satisfaction as inevitable, calling on the utility to take a more assertive approach to rebuilding public trust and transparency.
Whether assistance program funds prove sufficient to cover the volume of residents seeking help — and whether demand eases as summer temperatures moderate — will become clearer in the weeks ahead.