Before passing a resolution to oppose the electrification mandate by the Colorado Public Utilities Commission, Teller County commissioners Erik Stone and Dan Williams offered advanced warning.  (Commissioner Bob Campbell was on vacation.) The mandate requires natural-gas utilities to reduce gree nhouse gas emissions 41% by 2035 along with full elimination of fossil gas used for home heating and cooking by 2050.   “This mandate will be forced, not on residents, but on utilities,” Stone said, speaking Dec. 11 at the commissioners’ meeting. “This is a radical shift; and the impact on rural Colorado will be greater than on urban Colorado.” The mandate will not affect customers of CORE, a cooperatively resident-owned utility.    “However, Black Hills Energy does provide natural gas so it will be forced upon them,” Stone said. “So, Black Hills Energy will be forced to force you to abandon the fuel they are selling you and force you to no longer be their customer.” Williams added that there is a large swath of Teller County where residents don’t have electricity. “They live off grid,” he said. The resolution affirms that commissioners’ advocacy for local choice as well as flexibility and equity in allowing a mix of energy sources. “These are urban solutions for rural problems,” Stone said.   From the audience, Carl Andersen offered a warning. “Thank you for taking this up; this is classic government overreach that will have an impact on affordable housing and our residents in Teller County,” said Andersen, whose businesses include construction and who is running in November to replace term-limited Campbell.   To ensure their voices are heard, the commissioners forwarded the resolution to Gov. Jared Polis, the Colorado PUC, General Assembly and relevant utility providers. The commissioners, as members of Colorado Counties, Inc., are on board with another letter sent to the governor opposing the proposed Wildland Urban Interface fire code. “The Colorado Municipal League has sent a strongly worded letter to the governor and the legislature about the WUI fire codes,” Stone said. “The way the letter is worded, I believe, is a precursor to a potential lawsuit.” At issue is the state’s removing counties from weighing in on maps that designate WUI areas, which affect homeowners’ insurance rates. “Locals have no say in the maps,” Stone said.   The fire codes could affect the construction industry. “We’re looking at large remodels and additions; people are already complaining that they will not do this work if the WUI has the effect that everybody thinks it will have,” Andersen said. “I understand the danger of wildfire and fire mitigation, and the need, but in my opinion the WUI code doesn’t address some of that.” Because many wildfires start on public lands, Andersen takes issue with the codes. “They put the burden in homeowners to protect themselves from public lands;,” Anderson said. “I would support a lawsuit to stop WUI codes going in this March. The impact is too great on the housing market and affordable housing.” There was good news for Teller County employees when the commissioners passed the $45.2 million budget for 2026. Presented by Russ Ballenger and Violet Watt, director of finance and budget officer, respectively, the budget is employee friendly. “There will be pay increases for Teller County employees,” Ballenger said. “And the county is going to absorb the 17% increase in health care costs.” The budget includes $6 million for the Divide Service Center and updates to the fairgrounds in Cripple Creek. Next year, too, residents can expect to see expansion of the Wastewater Treatment Facility. According to the message, the budget reflects a 5% increase over 2025, due to changes in property and gaming taxes, and department fees. Property taxes are projected at $13.3 million, approximately 9% higher than last year’s. “The budget includes a 3% reserve required by TABOR (Taxpayer Bill of Rights) which is $700,000,” Ballenger said. “Additionally, we added $750,000 for emergency reserves.” Teller County is one of two counties that are debt free, Williams said. “We’re in an environment where everything in your personal life is going up, including insurance,” he added. “Teller County’s insurance is going up as well, but we made a conscious decision to focus on our people because we want to make sure that we keep them.” The commissioners next meet Dec. 18 in a holiday schedule. ...read more read less