Colorado Lawmakers Push Major Expansion Of Public Utilities Commission Authority

By Sherrie Peif | Complete Colorado

DENVER – Colorado lawmakers are trying to introduce major changes to how the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) operates. The PUC, consisting of three members appointed by the governor, oversees numerous industries serving the public, from setting rates for your monthly electric bill to regulating Ubers.

New legislation not only extends the PUC for another 11 years, but also introduces an onslaught of changes claiming to protect Coloradans.  However, according to critics, it adds additional burdens to an already over-regulated industry, takes transparency away from consumers and gives an already powerful board of unelected bureaucrats, even more power in other areas.

Rideshare companies targeted

House Bill 26-1326, Sunset Public Utilities Commission, is sponsored in the statehouse by Democrats Monica Duran and Jenny Willford and in the Senate by Democrats Robert Rodriguez and Lisa Cutter. The measure takes particular aim at Transportation Network Companies (TNCs), such as Uber and Lyft.

Under the bill, these companies will be required to use facial recognition technology to verify that the driver is who he or she claims to be. The rationale for the additional regulation is to combat people pretending to be authorized drivers.

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