Denver had the second highest increase in electric rates in the country in the first half of 2010 -- 21.4 percent, according to the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Honolulu with a 24.8 percent increase was first and the average for metropolitan areas of more than 1.5 million people was 0.3 percent compared with the first half of 2009. The jump in Xcel Energy rates was driven by two rate increases awarded by the Colorado Public Utilities Commission: a $112 million increase in May 2009 and $128 million in December 2009. Those increases mainly were to pay for the new $1.3 billion Commanche 3 coal-fired power plant and $283 million conversion of the Fort St. Vrain nuclear plant to a gas-fired plant, said David Eves, chief executive office of Xcel's Public Service Co. of Colorado. The first year of a rate increase will show the jump but impact will 'even out over time,' Eves said. Even with the rate increases Colorado's average retail residential price for electricity of 11.52 cents was below the national average of 11.96 cents, according to the U.S. Energy Information Administration. Between 2005 and 2010 national average residential kilowatt-hour price rose 26 percent compared with 21 percent for Colorado. 'Looking at just one period doesn't tell the whole story,' said William Levis, director of the state Office of Consumer Counsel. 'We challenged those rate increases, but Colorado rates are still in the middle of all the states,' Levis said. 'I realize if you are low-income or elderly an increase is still a problem.' There are some additional rate requests Xcel is seeking. The utility has already prepared for a $44.8 million rate increase for its SmartGridCity pilot in Boulder. The company will also be submitting a rate increase request to cover the $1.35 billion 'Clean Air, Clean Jobs' program -- backed the Colorado Gov. Bill Ritter and the legislature. Under the plan, to cut air pollution, Xcel will close some coal-fired units, add pollution controls to others and add cleaner burring natural gas units. The comprehensive plan being offered under the Clean Air, Clean Jobs legislation is a more efficient and cost effective way of dealing with Front Range air pollution problems, Eves said. Xcel should be applauded for its efforts initiatives such as 'Clean Energy, Clean Jobs,' said Leslie Glustrom, a member of Clean Energy Action, who has challenged Xcel rate increase requests. 'But you have to have a balance between aligning incentives for Xcel and not going overboard,' Glustrom said. 'That is the job of the PUC and when you see these big rate increases you have to ask if they are doing their job.' The higher rates and an uptick in Colorado electricity sales are helping to boost Xcel's bottom line, the company said in a Securities and Exchange Commission filing. In the first six months of 2010 Xcel's coporate net income from continuing operations before taxes was up 15 percent to $502 million compared with the same period in 2009, according to filings. In the first half of the year, Colorado provided 40 cents of the company's 66 cents per share income, the company said. That's 61 percent of the total income. In Minneapolis -- Xcel's other major service area -- rates went up 3 percent the first six months of this year and it provided 24 cents of the 66 cents, or 36 percent of earnings per share under generall accepted accounting principals or GAAP. 