From preemptive power shutoffs and electrification incentives to the ups and downs of your monthly utility bills, Colorado’s energy system is increasingly being put to the test. But who is in charge of making the energy-use decisions that impact us daily? A little-known state agency with big power: The Public Utilities Commission.
Who Makes Up the PUC?
An independent, quasi-executive subdivision within the state’s Department of Regulatory Agencies (DORA), the PUC is made up of three commissioners appointed by the governor and confirmed by the state Senate. Colorado’s current commissioners (pictured above) are Eric Blank (chairman), Tom Plant, and Megan Gilman. The commissioners are expected to be neutral third-party overseers. They act more like judges than politicians, conducting hearings and handing out rulings on regulatory issues. In fact, no more than two members of the commission can be affiliated with the same political party.
In addition to those three positions, the agency is authorized to have 122 full-time staffers (including an agency director) with specialized knowledge in areas like economics, energy, transportation, and more.
What Does the PUC Do?
Simply put, it’s the PUC’s job to ensure that Colorado residents have safe, reliable, affordable access to public utility services such as electricity, natural gas, transportation, and some telecommunications services. These utilities are considered “natural monopolies,” meaning they don’t have a lot of competition. So the commissioners are intended to balance the interest of the public with the needs of the service providers.
The PUC’s primary duties are to:
- Set utility rates and prices (and approve changes)
- Establish standards and regulations that utility providers must follow
- Conduct hearings on regulatory issues — it can enforce sanctions and fines and recommend criminal prosecutions
Established in 1913, the Colorado PUC goes back more than a century to the earliest days of public transportation, electric, water, and gas systems.
The PUC In Action
You’ve most likely seen the PUC in the news recently considering Xcel Energy’s proposed rate hikes, setting benchmarks for the state’s push toward “clean heat” in homes, and gathering feedback on last month’s sweeping “public safety power shutoffs” prompted by severe wind storms.
How to Get Involved
The PUC allows the public to submit comments on pending cases, attend meetings and hearings (virtually or in-person), and provide feedback on rulings and decisions.
Currently, the PUC is seeking public comment as it develops permanent Public Safety Power Shutoff rules.
