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About CAMU
The voice of public power in Colorado
ABOUT CAMU
The voice of public
power in Colorado
Since 1960, the Colorado Association of Municipal Utilities has been dedicated to strengthening and promoting public power across Colorado. Today, CAMU represents 28 Colorado cities and towns who own and operate their own electric service systems. Municipally owned utilities serve more than 507,000 electric meters, providing power to over 1 million Coloradans and accounting for 18% of the state's electric customers. CAMU advocates for these communities to maintain their ability to stay local, accountable, and cost-effective.
LEADERSHIP
Board of directors
The CAMU Board of Directors comprises seven (7) members elected by the Association's full membership. The Board reflects the geographic diversity of Colorado's public power community, with representatives from the Western Slope, Eastern Plains, and Front Range. Board members also represent the full spectrum of public power utilities in Colorado, including vertically integrated utilities that provide generation, transmission, and distribution services; joint action agencies that provide wholesale power services; and municipally owned distribution utilities. Working closely with the Executive Director, the Board guides CAMU's strategic direction and supports advocacy efforts on behalf of all 28 member utilities. Board Members serve staggered three-year terms.
ABOUT CAMU
Our core
advocacy principles
The Colorado Association of Municipal Utilities (CAMU) is the legislative advocacy organization for Colorado’s public power communities.
CAMU’s core advocacy principles:
Local
Control
Preserving community-led decision-making for municipally owned utilities.
Municipally owned utilities (MOUs) are governed by locally elected and appointed boards whose primary goal is to do what is best for the communities they serve. This gives every person and business the opportunity to thrive and prosper.
Because public power prioritizes customer needs at the center of every decision, municipal utilities have some of the lowest electric rates in the state and provide broad-ranging energy efficiency and utility payment assistance programs. CAMU seeks to preserve the right of public power to set priorities locally.
State Constitutional Protections
Educating elected officials on municipally owned utilities (MOUs) constitutional rights and protections.
Article XX outlines a MOU’s right to provide electric service inside and outside municipal limits.
Article XI establishes the right to join together to provide electric generation and transmission services.
Article V provides protections from the General Assembly establishing regulatory control over MOUs.
Article XXV provides protections from the jurisdiction of the Colorado Public Utilities Commission over MOUs.
Reliability &
Affordability
Promoting policies that advance the affordability and reliability of electric service, and safeguarding against overly burdensome or unnecessary regulations.
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CAMU advocates for a balanced regulatory environment that enables public power to continue delivering safe, dependable, and cost-effective power. We work to ensure local utilities have the flexibility to meet the unique needs of the communities they serve.
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We oppose mandates and regulations that increase costs without delivering meaningful benefits to customers or communities.
MEMBERS
CAMU members
Colorado is home to 28 municipally owned utilities (MOUs), with 20 of these utilities serving fewer than 5,000 customers. Together, these communities are represented by 36 members of the Colorado General Assembly, including 24 State Representatives and 12 State Senators, giving public power a strong voice at the State Capitol.
Article XI of the Colorado Constitution establishes the right to join together to provide electric generation and transmission services. Joint action agencies are cooperative organizations composed of public power utilities that work together to develop power supply, transmission, energy services, and other programs, helping reduce costs and improve reliability.
Arkansas River Power Authority (ARPA) serving the municipalities of:
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Holly
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La Junta
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Lamar
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Las Animas
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Springfield
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Trinidad
Municipal Energy Agency of Nebraska (MEAN) serving the municipalities of:
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Aspen
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Delta
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Glenwood Springs
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Fleming
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Fort Morgan
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Gunnison
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Haxtun
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Holyoke
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Julesburg
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Lyons
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Oak Creek
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Wray
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Yuma
Platte River Power Authority (PRPA) serving the municipalities of:
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Estes Park
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Fort Collins
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Longmont
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Loveland
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