Colorado
Coloradans struggling to pay monthly utility bills, agencies say
Natural gas prices are lower than a year ago, when many Coloradans saw big jumps in their heating bills, but the need for help to pay utility bills remains high, say agencies that offer assistance.
For the week ending Jan. 21, the nonprofit Energy Outreach Colorado fielded 555 applications for assistance and spent $333,229, said spokeswoman Denise Stepto.
“The need is just unprecedented. These numbers are bigger than we’ve seen them before,” Stepto said.
She attributes the ongoing need to overall elevated costs. And Stepto said she’s bracing to see the fallout from the recent stretch of frigid weather when temperatures dropped into the single digits and below zero.
“We are anticipating an increase then because people were doing what they needed to do try to stay warm,” Stepto said.
The organization that provides assistance is getting its own help from the Colorado Avalanche and Xcel Energy-Colorado. The utility is donating $1,000 for every Avalanche home assist this NHL season.
So far, the Avalanche have made 171 assists at home, racking up $171,000 for Energy Outreach Colorado. Stepto said the money contributed to date will support 245 households.
Xcel is also encouraging Avalanche fans to donate directly by going to https://www.energyoutreach.org/assist/.
At Colorado’s Low-Income Energy Assistance Program, or LEAP, 98,814 applications were submitted as of Tuesday. The total was 96,102 at the same point in 2023, said Vanessa Pena, LEAP program coordinator.
The money for LEAP comes from the federal government. The program, in the Colorado Department of Human Services, accepts applications from Nov. 1 to April 30.
Last winter, a spike in wholesale natural gas prices coupled with cold weather drove up people’s heat bills across the state. Typical gas bills increased about 75% in late 2022 and early 2023, the staff at the Colorado Public Utilities Commission reported.
In late 2022, wholesale natural gas prices soared above $5 per unit but have decreased since then. The U.S. Energy Information Administration expects the price to average $2.70 per unit in 2024.
But many people continue to struggle to pay their utility bills along with higher grocery and housing costs, Stepto said.
“The cost of everything is up. It’s not just energy,” Stepto said. “The cost of living, rent, food and medication, all these things are higher.”
A state help line that people can call for about their bills or problems with their heating systems has already gotten about 83,760 calls this winter. Requests go to both LEAP and Energy Outreach Colorado and can be made by calling 1-866-HEAT-HELP or 1-866-432-8435.
In 2023, LEAP received a total of 137,341 applications for benefits. Out of those, 88,938 households received assistance. The average benefit paid last year was $559.29, compared to this season’s average of $458.80.
To qualify for LEAP, Coloradans may have an income up to 60% of the state median income, equating to a household income of less than $71,112 a year for a family of four.
“LEAP can only cover so much because it’s a one-time assistance,” Pena said.
Energy Outreach Colorado, a nonprofit started by the Colorado General Assembly in 1989, helped a total of 26,561 households with their bills in 2023. Of those, 6,053 households included older people; 7,677 included people with disabilities; and 15,120 included children.
Altogether, Energy Outreach served 38,289 households through its programs, including crisis intervention, community solar gardens and making homes more energy efficient. The organization’s money comes from donations, corporate partnerships with corporations and federal, state and local governments.
Donors include renewable energy companies Namaste Solar and Pivot Energy. In late 2023, Namaste’s monthlong Keep the Lights on Colorado campaign raised $50,000 from individual donors and corporate sponsors to provide 116 families with subscriptions to solar gardens. It was the fourth year the Boulder-based company has raised money for the subscriptions, which will cut families’ electric bills through credits for solar power.
Energy Outreach received $85,000 from Pivot Energy, a national solar power provider, in December to support its work electrifying households in Boulder County. The money will go to the organization’s Colorado Affordable Residential Energy program for heat pumps.
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Former Colorado Buffaloes stars Sebastian Rancik and Bangot Dak announced their transfer portal decisions on Sunday with Rancik committing to Florida State and Dak committing to Vanderbilt, per On3’s Joe Tipton. They join former Buffs guard Isaiah Johnson (now at Texas) as the third former Colorado player to leave the Big 12 conference as Rancik opts for the ACC and Dak heads to the SEC.
The trio of Johnson, Rancik, and Dak make up three of Colorado’s four most productive players with rising senior guard Barrington Hargress, and the Buffs are now tasked with replacing such production with Hargress as the only returner.
Rancik’s season ended prematurely with an injury, but he averaged 12.3 points and 5.6 rebounds per game for the Buffs. Dak was Colorado’s leading rebounder with 6.5 boards per game, scoring 11.5 points per contest as well.
While each player has his respective reasons for transferring, the most expected ones are for seeking better NIL deals or more development on a better team in a better league. The Buffs finished 12th in the Big 12, and the allure of the SEC was too strong for the program to hold onto key talent like Johnson and Dak.
Still, Colorado coach Tad Boyle proved his ability to recruit and build up a solid core, one that saw its headliners of Johnson, Dak, and Rancik all depart in the portal. Can he do it again?
Colorado Buffaloes Roster Outlook
Boyle and the Buffaloes did retain Hargress as well as three freshmen guards: Jalin Holland, Ian Inman, and Josiah Sanders.
As a freshman, Holland averaged 4.9 points and 2.7 rebounds per game as one of Colorado’s key pieces coming off of the bench. Meanwhile, Sanders appeared in 33 games as a constant presence in the Buffs backcourt, averaging 4.4 points and 1.7 assists per game.
Inman played the fewest minutes of the returning trio, but he flashed with a couple of double-digit scoring performances as a true freshman.
“When I think of those three together, I think of toughness. I think of the improvement they made over the course of the season and the togetherness they have. They’re great friends and have formed a bond during their freshman year. Their toughness, energy and work ethic, when you have those attributes to go along with talent, which they all have, you get a chance to have three really good sophomores next year that will take the next step,” Boyle said in a release announcing the return of the three freshmen.
With eight outgoing transfers to replace, the Buffaloes will certainly have a new look to them for the 2026-27 season.
Colorado has landed one transfer portal prospect so far in former North Dakota State foward Noah Feddersen. On the recruiting trail, Boyle and company are bringing in four-star forward Rider Portela as well as two prospects from the NBL in Australia: forward Goc Malual and guard Alex Dickeson.
The transfer portal for men’s college basketball closes on Tuesday, April 21, meaning players have to enter their names by then. Transfer athletes do not have to commit before the portal closes, though, so Colorado is expected to continue hosting prospects on visits while building out the roster.
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Colorado
Colorado faces LA in first round as Kings captain Anze Kopitar embarks on final Stanley Cup chase
DENVER — Anze Kopitar wrapped up the last regular season of his storied career. The Los Angeles Kings captain wants to prolong his final playoff run for as long as possible.
Kopitar, who announced in September his plans to retire, instantly becomes a postseason rallying point for the Kings. They have a tall task ahead of them against the Colorado Avalanche, the top team in the league, with the top goal scorer in Nathan MacKinnon and one of the best defensemen in the game in Cale Makar. Game 1 is Sunday at Ball Arena, where the Avalanche are 26-9-6.
“Playoffs,” said the 38-year-old Kopitar, a two-time Stanley Cup winner with the Kings. “I’m not going to say anything can happen, but we’ll go in and we’ll play hard and we’ll see where that takes us.”
This will be the third postseason series between the two teams and the first in 24 years. Colorado won in seven games during both the 2002 conference quarterfinals and the 2001 conference semifinals.
It’s been a record season for the Presidents’ Trophy-winning Avalanche as they amassed the most points (121) in franchise history. That broke the mark set by the 2022 team, which went on to win the Stanley Cup title. MacKinnon had a career-best 53 goals.
Goaltenders Scott Wedgewood and Mackenzie Blackwood shared the net this season and surrendered a league low in goals. They earned the William M. Jennings Trophy, which is presented to the goalies who have played a minimum of 25 games — Wedgewood suited up in 45 and Blackwood 39 — for the team with the fewest goals allowed. The other goaltender to win that honor for Colorado was Hall of Famer Patrick Roy (2001-02).
“We’re in a good spot,” Colorado forward Brock Nelson said. “The mentality of this group throughout the year, right from the start of training camp, (was) set on a mission to be the best team.”
Colorado Avalanche’s Nathan MacKinnon (29) celebrates the goal against Edmonton Oilers goalie Connor Ingram (39) during shoot-out NHL action, in Edmonton on Monday, April 13, 2026. Credit: AP/JASON FRANSON
Record against each other
The Kings went 0-3 against Colorado this season and were outscored by a 13-5 margin.
“You hear the hype. They have good players,” Kings defenseman Brandt Clarke said. “We’re a scrappy team. We keep it close with everybody. That can really frustrate them.”
Leading after two
The Avalanche were 41-0-0 when leading after two periods. They’re the first squad to have a lead after two periods on 40 or more instances and capture each one, according to team research.
“Even though we’ve been smart, we’ve been committed, we’ve been relentless at times, it’s going to have to go to a whole new level now,” Avalanche coach Jared Bednar said. “I have faith in our guys.”
Los Angeles Kings’ Anze Kopitar, who is retiring after this season, acknowledges the crowd after being recognized after losing to the Vancouver Canucks during overtime NHL hockey action in Vancouver, on Tuesday, April 14, 2026. Credit: AP/DARRYL DYCK
Remember the season opener?
Six grueling months ago, the Avalanche and Kings opened the season against each other. The Avalanche won 4-1 in Los Angeles behind a pair of goals from Martin Necas, who would go on to register his first 100-point season (38 goals, 62 assists).
The two teams join an exclusive club by becoming the fifth pair since 2015-16 to open the regular season and the playoffs against each other, according to NHL Stats. The other pairs to do so were Montreal and Toronto (2020-21); Colorado and St. Louis (2020-21); St. Louis and Winnipeg (2018-19); and Los Angeles and San Jose (2015-16).
Of those teams that won the season opener only San Jose went on to win the series. It’s a trend Kopitar and the Kings wouldn’t mind joining.
Kopitar and the playoffs
Kopitar helped the Kings to the Stanley Cup title in 2011-12 and 2013-14 along with goaltender Jonathan Quick, who now is with the New York Rangers and recently said he’s retiring. Kopitar has played in 103 postseason games with 27 goals and 62 assists.
“The intensity ramps up, everything ramps up,” Kopitar said of the postseason. “Every mistake, every little play, magnifies now.”
Familiar faces
Kings goaltender Darcy Kuemper was in net for the Avalanche when they won the Stanley Cup in 2022. In addition, Kuemper and Drew Doughty were teammates with MacKinnon, Makar and Devon Toews when Canada won silver at the Milan Cortina Olympics.
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