Publish Date: October 5th, 2026
It’s no secret that costs are going up. And almost no sector is spared – from groceries to medicine. When it comes to our electricity rates, those are on the rise, too. Electric rates through Colorado’s largest utility increased 22.2% since September 2023, more than three times the rate of inflation.
Currently, 1 out of 5 Coloradan households struggle with a high energy burden, meaning they’re spending a disproportionate amount of their income on energy costs, and some can’t afford their bills at all. As rates continue to rise, this problem is only going to be exacerbated.
In search of a way to make a positive impact, Namaste Solar has partnered with non-profit Energy Outreach Colorado (EOC) for the past 7 years to help Coloradans in need through our Keep the Lights on Colorado campaign, an annual community fundraiser for Coloradans struggling with a high energy burden.
How Keep the Lights on Colorado Addresses High Energy Burdens:
- What is an energy burden? High energy burden is when you are paying more than 3% of your income, per fuel type, towards your energy bill.
- What is Keep the Lights on Colorado (KTLOC)? KTLOC is an annual giving campaign organized by Namaste Solar that raises funds to supply Coloradans in need with community solar subscriptions.
- How do community solar subscriptions provide relief from a high energy burden? Community solar subscriptions can save households up to 50% of their energy bills. For folks who have a high energy burden, these savings bring their bills down to an affordable rate.
- How has KTLOC helped in the past? Since 2020, KTLOC has raised over $365,000 and helped over 1,200 families in Colorado.
- What’s the goal for KTLOC 2026? The goal of the campaign this year is to raise $50,000 which would help 130 households. On average, it costs $375 to provide one household with a year-long community solar subscription.
- How can I learn more about this program? This video is a great way to learn about Keep the Lights on Colorado:
Coloradan’s Who Experience a High Energy Burden are Struggling
When folks are experiencing a high energy burden, things are hard. They often have to choose between electricity and other essentials like food or medicine. “Some days I was trying to figure out how I was going to feed my kids let alone worry about an electricity bill,” shared Donna, an EOC recipient. “It was electricity or feed them, and food was more important with 7 kids. I just felt like we were drowning, and I couldn’t find a way out of it.”
EOC, a statewide non-profit operating since 1989, has been focused on helping every Coloradan afford their energy needs since day one. “EOC sees a lot of folks who can’t afford their bills to begin with,” said Berlyn Hubler, EOC’s Solar Program Manager. “Electricity costs are going up. Food costs are going up. Everything is going up. So, our households are being pulled in every direction. People who don’t have a lot of income have to make serious decisions about how they’re going to spend their money and where they’re going to put their resources.”
Electricity costs are on the rise. There are a lot of factors influencing this, but some big ones are climate change and increased demand on the grid due to things like AI data centers and electrification upgrades. With electricity costs on the rise, households who are experiencing a high energy burden are only facing more of these hard decisions.
Energy Outreach Colorado and Keep the Lights on Colorado Bridge an Important Gap
As more Coloradans face hard choices like Donna was facing, organizations like EOC and campaigns like Namaste Solar’s KTLOC are more important than ever.
Namaste Solar invites our commercial partners, vendors, the B Corp community, customers, and the community to donate today and help support those in need this fall.
Every dollar raised goes to EOC. EOC, in turn, supports income-qualified Coloradans with their home’s energy needs. They support low-income households, seniors on a fixed income, individuals with a disability, families with young children, and folks who are facing an acute crisis.
“You guys came at the right time,” said Donna. “You saved my family. You can’t live without electricity. You got me through the roughest time in my life.”
Community solar subscriptions help to alleviate high energy burdens over the long term. Since the subscription stays active unless the recipients move, folks get to see long-term savings on their electricity bill by being a subscriber – savings can be up to 50% of the bill.
More folks can enjoy the benefits of solar energy thanks to community solar gardens. Since putting solar on your roof can feel out of reach if you’re not a homeowner or don’t have the financial resources, community solar gardens allow solar access to renters and those with financial limitations.This way more folks can join the clean energy transition.
Since 2020, Keep the Lights on Colorado has raised over $365,000 and helped over 1,200 households. These funds have helped Coloradans who are facing high energy burdens find relief in the short and long term.
Helping our Community is in Our DNA
At Namaste Solar, part of our mission is to create holistic wealth for our communities. While we do work to create profit, we also prioritize people and understand that rising tides lift all ships. And at Namaste Solar, we know that we’re stronger when we take care of ourselves and take care of each other, including our neighbors experiencing an energy burden.
You Can Help Us Reach Our 2026 Goal
The goal of the campaign in 2026 is to raise $50,000. That amount will help 130 households and a donation of about $375 can help a single household get relief from a high energy burden. When your neighbors are deciding between turning on the heat and paying for food, your donation goes a long way. Please consider making a donation today.
