I pay $5.33 to FPL whether I use electricity or not. That's the charge just to read the meter and send a bill. Maybe they do it differently in Denver.
The gov't is the loser when you don't use any power. I have 3 different taxes plus a charge to pay for damage from the last hurricane. They are still replacing poles on my street from Wilma almost 4 years ago.
The "franchise charge" is extortion paid to local governments for the "privilege" of doing business there, and for right-of-ways to run poles and hang transformers and wire.
The "utility tax" is a local sales tax.
"Gross reciepts tax" is 2.5% of FPL's income paid to the state (corporate income tax).
Because I'm a small residential customer the peak demand charge is included in the "non-fuel charge."
My bill this month was $15.02
$5.33 "customer charge"
$4.07 "fuel charge"
$3.42 "non-fuel charge"
4 cents "storm charge"
$1.04 cents "utility tax"
Thirty-three cents "gross reciepts tax"
Seventy-nine cents "franchise charge"
As an aside, the city of Fort Lauderdale just raised water rates and added a monthly charge whether you use water or not. Seasonal residents now pay a "vacation charge" just for being hooked up and then pay again when the water is reconnected.
http://www.sun-sentinel.com/news/broward/sfl-lauderdale-money-b072209sbjul22,0,6798720.story