By Mark Jaffe | The Colorado Sun
Xcel, Black Hills, some businesses backed failed attempts to amend the bill to grow the commission to 5 members in the interest of “ideological diversity.”
Facing rising utility bills, clean energy mandates and new demands for power, especially from data centers, a chorus of utilities and business groups is united saying the Colorado Public Utilities Commission needs an overhaul.
In part, the push appears to be prompted by some controversial commission decisions. On Saturday, Republican lawmakers tried unsuccessfully to amend the bill dealing with the routine reauthorization of the commission to expand the three-person panel to five members.
“We’re simply not getting a good representation on the PUC with three people,” said Rep. Dan Woog, a Frederick Republican. “It’s just of the utmost importance that we have people there that understand different parts of the state.”
Xcel Energy, which is regulated by the PUC and has $511 million in electricity and gas rate increases pending before the commission, has been a major advocate of a five-member commission.
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