Colorado Springs Utilities

Our volunteers are a key part in helping maintain our garden. We are grateful to all our staff who work to ensure our volunteers have a wonderful experience as we collaborate on enriching the garden. If you are interested in volunteering or checking out our garden stop by August 1 from 8 a.m. - 12 p.m. as we celebrate receiving the Garden Excellence award from the American Public Gardens Association!

There have been national headlines about data centers impacting electric bills - we saw them too. That’s why in 2025, we became the first utility in Colorado to create a Large Load Rate for new electric customers needing more than 10 megawatts, such as data centers. This created a clear process and pathway for large customers to follow, without shifting costs to the rest of the community. Learn more at csu.org/datacenters

Yesterday we reached a new peak electric demand: 1,034 megawatts (MW)! Despite record-setting demand, our electric grid and generation resources met customer needs without significant service disruptions or outages. A large part of this success is thanks to our customers, specifically those enrolled in the Peak Energy Rewards Program. Peak Energy Rewards participants helped us reduce peak demand by approximately 25 MW. The program works by adjusting the enrolled customers’ thermostats by no more than four degrees when a peak energy event is called. The program is voluntary, and customers can opt out of a peak energy event at any time from a mobile device, web browser or thermostat. Peak Energy Rewards not only reduces demand on the electric grid, but it also offers cost savings via a $50 bill credit upon enrollment and a $25 annual bill credit for ongoing participation. To learn about the program and enroll, visit: https://lnkd.in/edymWicP Fun fact: All non-critical Colorado Springs Utilities buildings are part of the program—you should be, too!

With rain expected to come this week, remember our water-wise tips!🌦️ -One good rain=one good watering day. -Review your sprinkler schedule. -Use our helpful rebate to Install a rain sensor and let it do the work! Get more water-wise tips at: https://lnkd.in/gRbzvx7w

Our Water Wise Demonstration Garden has been awarded the American Public Gardens Association’s 2026 Garden Excellence Award!🎉 This is the highest recognition in the public garden industry.🌟 The national award comes as the garden celebrates its 35th anniversary, recognizing decades of innovation, environmental stewardship and inspiring visitors to embrace water wise landscaping. Join us as we celebrate at our Coffee & Conservation event happening on August 1 from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. at 2855 Mesa Rd.! Complimentary cake and a free guided tour of the garden will be available at the event.

We recently received the 50-Year PVC Pipe Award from the Uni-Bell PVC Pipe Association (PVCPA)! The award honors utilities across North America that have used PVC water mains for 50 years or longer and highlights the long-term performance of critical underground infrastructure. The recognition is particularly meaningful given the scale of our water system.💧 We deliver approximately 65 million gallons of water each day to more than 500,000 people through a network of roughly 2,555 miles of distribution pipe. Thank you to all our staff who work to ensure our water systems are maintained!🌟

Did you know we offer a School To Employment Program (STEP) for talented high school students? 🌟 In partnership with local high schools, STEP focuses on students 16 years and older who are interested in gaining exposure to our organization and the roles and services we offer. This program helps students gain work-related training to prepare them for the workplace after graduation! To start applying, visit: https://lnkd.in/ec6sZ5RW

Our crews are making excellent progress on replacing a large water tank in the Austin Bluffs Open Space. This project will ensure we continue to deliver safe and reliable water to you! To learn more about the project, visit: https://lnkd.in/eb7Asy2F

Our water-wise super tip of the week is maximize lawn care under our water-wise rules with these 3 tips! 1. Make sure your sprinklers are working properly. 2. Schedule your sprinklers wisely. Running your sprinklers for the right amount of time helps provide your grass with enough water without overdoing it. 3. Add in smart lawn care practices. Mowing, fertilizing and core aerating regularly create a healthier lawn that is more drought resistant. Avoid fertilizing in midsummer to prevent rapid growth when it’s hot. To get more tips on your lawn care, visit: https://lnkd.in/eBfaDfKv

While our crews were out working on a water valve repair, they caught the interest of two kids looking over. Once it was safe, our crew member, Jordan, invited the boys to take a closer look at the broken valves and learn about the work that goes into repairing these valves. We have some future Utilities employees here! 🌟