Xcel Seeks Gas Rate Hike as Colorado Customers Face Rising Utility Costs

By Mark Jaffe | The Colorado Sun

Xcel Energy is aiming to raise its gas customers’ bills by an average $7.59 a month — for a total of $190 million — to pay for safety improvements, rising operating and maintenance costs and investor returns.

The company filed the proposed rate hike with the Colorado Public Utilities Commission on Monday.

The rate request comes a little more than a month after Xcel Energy filed for a $356 million electric rate increase, which would raise the average residential electric bill 10% to $110 a month.

In late November, the PUC also approved a $155 million plan to deal with potential gas shortages at the ends of its Eastern Mountain Gas System in Summit and Grand counties, a portion of which will also be paid for by all gas customers.

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