Xcel Energy on Friday filed with the Colorado Public Utilities Commission for an electricity rate decrease of $13.6 million in view of lower costs of generation fuel, such as natural gas, and purchased electricity during the second quarter of 2007.

Typical residential electricity bills would decrease by $1.41 a month, to $56.62, while the bills for typical small businesses would decrease by $2.31 a month, to $90.45.

If approved by the PUC, the new rates would take effect April 1 and continue through June 30. The filing, called an Electric Commodity Adjustment, will be updated each quarter instead of once a year.

Xcel also requested a decrease in the price of natural gas it will charge customers in April. Natural gas customers would see bills in April that are estimated to be 5 percent lower when compared with April 2006 and 41 percent to 42 percent lower than bills in March.

Bills of typical residential customers next month would decrease to $50.92, compared with $87.13 this month and $53.33 in April 2006. Bills of typical small-business customers would decrease to $243.59 compared with $411.81 this month and $256.29 in April 2006.