City of Fort Collins Utilities

10/30/2026

Before a single drop of Fort Collins’ wastewater gets treated, it must get past the gatekeeper. Meet the headworks screens, or as we like to call them, “The Trash Catchers.” Imagine cleaning the hair out of your shower drain. Now imagine doing that for an entire city.

Every day, what goes down drains and toilets arrives at our water reclamation facility first: wipes, food packaging, hair, and more. The screens are the plant’s first line of defense. They catch large waste items that should never go down the drain in the first place, before they damage equipment or reach our rivers.

Our current screens have been doing this job since 1992. Newer screening technology can remove smaller debris while still letting the organic material through that is essential for the biological treatment process.

The rates you pay help upgrade critical infrastructure like The Trash Catcher, which will keep our wastewater process running strong for decades to come.

For more information on Utilities projects and 2027 proposed rates, visit FortCollins.gov/Rates.

10/23/2026

🧐 Ever wonder what happens after you flush your toilet?

🏆 Join Fort Collins Utilities, Boxelder Sanitation District and the Colorado Water Center for a public screening of “Unless Something Goes Terribly Wrong”, the award-winning water utilities documentary the examines America’s aging wastewater system.

🎥This free screening of the 73-minute film will be held at the Lincoln Center on Dec. 2 at 6:30 p.m., followed by a panel discussion and Q&A on our utilities infrastructure and water utility careers.

👉 Tickets are going fast! To reserve yours, please visit https://www.lctix.com/shows-tickets/

10/22/2026

Please see the important update regarding the City’s water storage below.

At this week's City Council meeting, Council gave initial approval for a City staff recommendation to participate in the Northern Integrated Supply Project (NISP) through a one-year interim agreement — which would replace the City's approach to expand Halligan Reservoir.

After rigorous analysis, staff determined that NISP is now a better water storage option, providing permit certainty and significant cost savings based on current estimates. Transitioning from Halligan to NISP ensures Fort Collins Utilities customers have sustainable and affordable water into the future and is projected to save Utilities water customers money through smaller rate increases.

We are proud of the work we’ve done toward the Halligan Project, and we are committed to prioritizing the City's long-term financial sustainability. Transitioning to NISP provides more certainty and affordability — both for the City organization and for our water customers.

Community conversations and outreach will be scheduled in the coming weeks. For more information, visit FortCollins.gov/News-Articles/News/2026-Q4/City-Council-Initially-Approves-Water-Storage-Project-Transition.

10/16/2026

💧 Yesterday was Imagine A Day Without Water! Do you know where our water comes from?

1️⃣ Colorado-Big Thompson (C-BT) Project: The C-BT Project diverts water from the upper Colorado River and the Big Thompson River before being transported to Horsetooth Reservoir.

2️⃣ Cache la Poudre River Basin: This includes water rights from the Poudre River, along with the Michigan Ditch and Joe Wright Reservoir system. The Michigan Ditch transports water from the Michigan River across the North Platte River Basin divide, while Joe Wright Reservoir stores approximately 7,100 acre-feet of water for municipal use.

🙌🏻 These diverse sources ensure a reliable and safe drinking water supply for our community.

10/12/2026

🧐 Have you ever wondered what’s inside Old Town’s painted power boxes? Or how public art and essential city services came together in the first place?

🚶Join the Art of Utilities Walking Tour this Wednesday, Oct 14 at 5:00pm!

🎨 Starting at 222 Laporte Ave, take a one mile walk with a Light & Power and Art in Public Places specialists to learn about our reliable utility services and innovative public art.

✍️ Registration is required for this event. Please visit FortCollins.gov/Events to find more information about this event and many others happening around our city!

10/09/2026

What Is Public Power?

Fort Collins Utilities is not a private utility company — it's community-owned and operated. With public power, decisions are made locally, for the benefit of residents and businesses, not shareholders. That lets us focus on what matters:

⚡ Reliable service

⚡ Affordable rates

⚡ A cleaner, more sustainable future

🎥 Curious to learn more? Watch this 2-minute video for a quick look at what public power means and how it works.

Discover more at https://www.fortcollins.gov/Services/Utilities/Other-Utilities-Pages/Light-and-Power/Public-Power-and-Our-Energy-Vision

10/07/2026

⚡ HAPPY PUBLIC POWER WEEK!

From Oct. 4–10, Fort Collins Utilities is celebrating Public Power Week alongside approximately 2,000 other community-owned, not-for-profit electric utilities nationwide.

Public power thrives because it is rooted in the community — with local decision-making and a commitment to serving the people who call that community home. But public power is about more than how a utility is structured. It’s about the people who make it work every day.

Our employees work behind the scenes and in the field to maintain our electric system and serve friends and neighbors across Fort Collins.

Join us in celebrating the people who make public power possible. Thank you to our dedicated employees for the work you do for our community — today and every day. https://www.fortcollins.gov/Services/Utilities/Other-Utilities-Pages/Light-and-Power/Public-Power-and-Our-Energy-Vision

10/07/2026

📲 Our Customer Service office will be closed on Oct. 8 from 11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. Payments can still be made online at FortCollins.gov/services/utilities/pay-my-bill.

10/06/2026

☀ It's warm out there today! Check out some energy-saving tips from Platte River Power Authority by clicking the link below. To save money, avoid using energy-intensive appliances during on-peak hours (5-9 p.m.).

During this fall heat wave, check out these tips to stay cool while conserving energy.

https://prpa.org/news-releases/energy-saving-tips-for-hot-days/

09/29/2026

⏰ On Oct. 1, we switch back to on-peak non-summer hours: 5-9 p.m. Remember, these TOD rates are only on weekdays and run October through April.

🔌 Save money by shifting your electric use to the lower-priced, off-peak hours or by reducing your use. Off-peak prices are approximately 70% less than on-peak prices.

👉 For more information, visit FortCollins.gov/TOD