Energy Outreach Colorado
Serving The Community For Over 30 Years
In March 1989, Colorado leaders established the nonprofit organization that is now Energy Outreach Colorado. Its purpose? To address the gap between decreasing federal funding for energy assistance and the home energy needs of low-income Coloradans. Since then, we have worked with community organizations, energy companies, policymakers, and individual supporters to deliver nationally-recognized programs to help all Coloradans afford home energy. Along the way, we have raised millions of dollars for energy bill payment assistance, furnace repair, education, and weatherization programs to lower energy costs and usage.
In 1989, a governor-appointed commission established the nonprofit Colorado Energy Assistance Foundation (CEAF) to raise funds to supplement Colorado’s federal Low-Income Energy Assistance Funding (LEAP) allocation.
With natural gas prices skyrocketing, CEAF partnered with public and private agencies to expand energy education and weatherization programs and create a Colorado toll-free consumer hotline.
CEAF changed its name to Energy Outreach Colorado (EOC) to reflect its broader energy cost-lowering efforts.
With EOC support, the Colorado Legislature passed the Low-Income Energy Assistance Act requiring the state’s six largest utilities to offer the opportunity for their customers to donate to EOC’s programs on their energy bills.
To complement other energy cost-lowering programs, EOC began managing federal funding through the Colorado Energy Office to weatherize affordable housing communities.
EOC celebrates 30 years of helping low-income Coloradans afford home energy.
