Local ballot measure
Denver's 20-Year Franchise With Xcel Energy
On the November 3, 2026 ballot
City and County of Denver Referred Question 2K
Who is asking
City and County of Denver
On the ballot in
- Denver County ballot: 2K
The ballot question
Shall the City and County of Denver approve the terms of a twenty-year franchise contract, starting January 1, 2027, with Public Service Company of Colorado (Xcel Energy) to continue its program for undergrounding overhead electrical lines, maintaining infrastructure safety, and partnering with the City for emergency management coordination, and to require that Xcel Energy continue to pay the City for reasonable use of public rights-of-way and other City property necessary to provide safe and reliable utility services for the benefit of the City, its residents, and its businesses?
Where the question's words come from
What a vote does
- A yes vote means
- Denver approves the 20-year franchise, including its payment, undergrounding, maintenance and emergency coordination terms.
- A no vote means
- The proposed 20-year franchise is not approved.
County ballots
Other local measures on the same ballot
- 2H, City and County of Denver: Denver Auditor's Workplace Enforcement Authority
- 2I, City and County of Denver: Denver Charter Amendment on Two-Year Budgets
- 2J, City and County of Denver: Denver Civil Service and Public Safety Charter Changes
- 311, City and County of Denver: Denver's Ban on Force-Feeding Birds and Foie Gras
- 7A, Front Range Passenger Rail District: A permanent 0.333% sales and use tax and up to $580 million in borrowing for Colorado Connector passenger rail
- 4A, School District No. 1 in the City and County of Denver (Denver Public Schools): Denver Public Schools' request to raise its mill levy override limit from 25% to 29% of total program funding, starting with up to $44 million in 2026
The guide opens October 12
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Key dates
- October 2 to October 9: county clerks mail ballots to active voters.
- October 12: drop boxes open.
- October 26: last suggested day to return a ballot by mail.
- From October 27: return your ballot to a drop box or vote center instead of mailing it.
- November 3, 2026, Election Day: ballots are due by 7:00 p.m.
Page updated September 29, 2026