What was supposed to be a quick way to raise money to address pipeline safety issues, a little add-on of about $3 a month for the average household, has lingered on Xcel Energy natural gas bills for a decade – but it may finally end. Xcel has since 2011 raised nearly $610 million, or three […]
Colorado Office of Consumer Counsel
Posted inClimate, Economy, Energy, Environment, News
Colorado consumer advocates ask utility commission to reject $130M of Xcel’s February storm surcharge
Xcel Energy ignored numerous weather warnings when buying natural gas and failed to switch to cheaper fuel oil during the historic deep freeze in mid-February, leaving the utility helpless as spot prices spiked to 50 times base costs, according to new expert objections to proposed consumer surcharges. The state consumer advocate and the Public Utilities […]
Posted inBusiness, Climate, Energy, Environment, News
Colorado’s consumer advocate gets wider climate powers and a new name
The state watchdog Office of Consumer Counsel announced a name change Wednesday and broader powers to intervene against utilities on behalf of the public in areas like climate change, career changes for energy workers and environmental justice for pollution-impacted communities. The renamed Office of the Utility Consumer Advocate is also hiring additional attorneys for the […]
Posted inBusiness, Climate, Energy, Environment, News
Xcel Energy needs a smarter, greener electric grid. But should Colorado customers foot the $344 million bill for it?
Xcel Energy is pushing for a record $344 million rate increase it says it needs to build a smarter, greener electric grid. But consumer advocates and state regulators are pushing back over the price tag. A major concern is that along with an earlier rate increase and other pending requests since the start of 2020, […]
Posted inBusiness, Energy, News
Some Colorado utility consumers could pay more than $550 for February storm
Colorado utility customer surcharges for the February freeze that paralyzed Texas will range from $44 to a high of $557 over time, depending on the region and the company, according to the most recent requests filed at the Public Utilities Commission. The Office of Consumer Counsel, the governor’s office and others have said they will […]
Posted inBusiness, Climate, Economy, Energy, Environment, News, Politics and Government
Closing all of Xcel’s coal-fired power plants will cost Colorado consumers $1.4 billion
The price tag for Xcel Energy closing all its Colorado coal-fired plants will be $1.4 billion spread over decades — a sum that will be paid exclusively by the utility’s residential and commercial customers. The closure estimates and their financing are part of the $8 billion electric resource and clean energy plan submitted last month […]