Publish Date: October 6th, 2025
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. At Namaste Solar, we are now seeing an average annual electricity rate increase of 5%, but some years those rates are rising even faster.
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 likely to be exacerbated.
Namaste Solar has partnered with non-profit Energy Outreach Colorado (EOC) for the past 6 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? According to EOC, high energy burden is when you are paying more than 3% of your income, per fuel type, towards your energy bill. For example, let’s say you get gas and electricity from Xcel. If you’re paying more than 3% for gas and 3% for electricity, so 6% total, you have a disproportionate energy burden.
- What is Keep the Lights on Colorado (KTLOC)? This is an annual giving campaign organized by Namaste Solar. The funds raised go directly to EOC to supply Coloradans in need with community solar subscriptions as well as bill payment assistance, helping to pay off past due balances for folks who are facing disconnection from the utility.
- 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 $337,000 and helped over 1,600 families in Colorado.
- What’s the goal for KTLOC 2025? The goal of the campaign this year is to raise $50,000 which would help 120 households. A single donation of about $400 will help one household.
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.”
Donna, an EOC recipient
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 is 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 aren’t likely to get relief any time soon.
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, 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.”
While solar supplemental assistance and bill payment assistance help in the short-term, 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 $337,000 and helped over 1,600 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. 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 2025 Goal
The goal of the campaign in 2025 is to raise $50,000. That amount will help 120 households and a donation of about $400 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. Click the button below to donate today.
