A　risk　explicit　interval　linear　programming　model　for　CCHP　system　optimization　was　proposed　to　provide　better　system　cost-risk　tradeoff　for　decision　making.　This　method　is　an　improved　interval　parameter　programming,　which　can　overcome　the　shortages　of　traditional　interval　parameter　programming.　The　proposed　approach　can　provide　explicit　system　cost-risk　tradeoff　information　by　introducing　aspiration　level　and　system　risk　metric　objective　function.　The　explicit　optimal　strategies　for　decision　maker　with　certain　risk　tolerance　degree　is　more　executable　than　the　interval　solutions　in　practice.　The　developed　approach　was　applied　to　the　CCHP　system　for　a　residential　area.　The　results　indicated　that　the　aspiration　level　would　have　great　effects　on　the　system　investment　and　operation　decision　making.　For　the　pessimistic　decision　maker,　the　total　cost　would　be　higher　with　less　system　risk　and　safer　system　operation.　For　the　optimistic　decision　maker,　the　total　cost　would　be　lower　with　higher　system　risk.　©　Springer　Nature　Singapore　Pte　Ltd.　2018.