NEWSLETTE ROFTH E COLORAD O PUBLI C UTILITIE S COMMISSION MAY 2014

SSTTAARRTTIINNGG PTUhe CColora dho Poublitc Uttiolitieps ic: value of rooftop solar Commission (PUC) is expected to outline later this month how it will PP OO IIA s NNwe heTaTd move forward with determining the into the summer value of retail renewable distributed peak for elec - generation and net metering to the elec - tricity demand in tric grid. Colorado, it’s The PUC opened a miscellaneous important for con - proceeding earlier this year to look at sumers to pay net metering incentives after severing attention to how the issue from Xcel Energy’s 2014 they use elec - Standard compli - tricity in their ance plan. The PUC conducted an infor - homes. mational meeting on April 9 to receive By Doug Dean Beginning in key stakeholder input on the appro - Director priate scope and structure of the pro - June and contin - ceeding. Additional written comments uing through September, residen - were due by April 29. tial customers of Xcel Energy will Xcel Energy has raised questions again pay inverted-block rates for about the net metering credit that cus - electricity usage. With inverted- tomers with solar installations get for block rates (also called tiered electricity they send back to the grid. rates), the first 500 kilowatt hours The company said net metering cus - (kWh) of electricity used during a tomers receive a 10.5-cent credit for summer month are billed at a each kilowatt-hour (Kwh) they put on lower rate (4.6 cents per kwh); all the grid, but provide only 4.6 cents per The issue of the value of rooftop solar systems to the electric grid will get its day in subsequent kilowatt hours are Kwh in benefits. the sun at the PUC later this year. billed at a higher rate (9.0 cents Xcel has suggested that the net per kwh). metering incentive either “needs to be that rooftop generates Others preferred a more formal, That means customers who ramped down over time or that other millions in net benefits for Xcel’s adjudicatory approach. PUC commis - use more energy during those rate design solutions must be explored Colorado customers. sioners are expected to decide how to summer months will pay more, to address the incentive net metering Speakers at the April 9 meeting tackle the issue procedurally by the and customers who use less will provides for future installations.” offered differing opinions on how to end of May. realize greater rewards for their A number of solar industry associa - conduct the proceeding. Some sug - PUC commissioners said that what - efforts to use electricity wisely. tions dispute Xcel’s claims, arguing that gested a series of workshops to find ever approach is taken, all sides should The Public Utilities Commis- the company’s studies have under - areas of consensus and disagreement, be prepared to “put a stake in the sion (PUC) approved inverted- valued the economic and environ - focusing on creating a methodology ground” and offer specific numbers block rates for Xcel Energy in mental benefits that rooftop solar or formula that accounts for various representing the value of rooftop solar 2010 in an effort to price energy installations provide. They believe costs and benefits of rooftop solar. electricity to the system. in ways that more accurately reflects its true cost. Because demand for electricity is at its highest in the summer, it costs more to generate the electricity to meet that need. And as demand continues to rise, more power XXccel Eenerlgy hpas aprplioed top the oPublsic eshav es theo abillitya to rma kse laurge ubp-frsont criLpike thei ono-siten sola r pand clomamun nity plants are required. By slowing Utilities Commission (PUC) for investments in solar energy; others do solar gardens programs, Solar*Connect the growth in peak load, all elec - approval of a new voluntary program not want to commit to solar energy would still contain a subsidy supported tric customers will benefit. that would enable customers to offset for the long term,” Xcel stated in its by all ratepayers, but it would be less Many customers have com - their annual electric usage with solar application. “Solar*Connect addresses than the subsidy inherent in the other plained about the 500 kilowatt- energy. these problems by providing an two programs, Xcel said. hour (kwh) threshold, believing The program, called Solar*Connect, optional, short-term solar energy solu - To obtain solar energy for the that is the breakeven point for is modeled after the company’s tion to a broad spectrum of our retail program in a timely manner at prices higher overall bills. That is a mis - WindSource program that sells sub - customers.” that take advantage of the federal 30 conception. The 500 kwh scriptions for . Under the Customers who opt for this percent investment tax credit, Xcel is threshold is simply the point at proposal, Xcel would offer short-term program would be able to subscribe to asking the PUC by separate application which the price changes during solar subscriptions to customers for solar energy to displace up to 100 for authorization to issue a targeted the summer months. An analysis solar energy that would be generated percent of their annual kilowatt-hour request for proposal for the construction of usage indicates that 821 kwh from a new, large solar facility, up to electric usage. Customers would be of a new 50 MW solar facility. The per month is the breakeven point. 50 megawatts. given a choice of contract year terms. company is also asking for permission Customers whose average The company states that the pro - Prices would be set forth on the to use previously-approved solar usage is above 821 kwh per posed program is an alternative to on- company’s website and may change at resources, by advancing their in-service month will pay more annually site solar or community solar gardens. the company’s discretion, but cus - dates, as start-up solar energy until the under tiered rates; customers “Many customers do not own prop - tomers would be able to lock in their solar facility dedicated to the whose average usage is below erty that can accommodate on-site solar contract price and term at the time of Solar*Connect program is built. facilities. Many customers do not live in subscription. The PUC is expected to take up 821 kwh per month will pay less areas where solar garden subscriptions Under the proposal, shareholders the matter for initial discussion in annually. That’s because the rate are available. Many customers do not would retain profits from the program. late May. for the first usage block (up to 500 kwh), along with the other eight months of the year, is lower than it would be normally. About 70 percent of Xcel Energy resi - dential customers use less than the 821 kwh per month figure Commissioner still awaits Senate confirmation and should see lower annual bills As of April 25, the Colorado Senate Vaad has been able to serve as a voting Prior to serving at the PUC, Vaad under tiered rates. had taken no action on the confirmation member of the Commission pending his worked for 31 years at the Colorado of Commissioner Glenn Vaad . confirmation. The Senate, however, has Department of Transportation in Low-income customers with Vaad was appointed to the Colorado yet to schedule a confirmation hearing various positions, including legislative qualifying medical conditions or Public Utilities Commission (PUC) by for Vaad, a former Weld County com - liaison and secretary to the Colorado who use life-support equipment Gov. John Hickenlooper effective missioner and state legislator. Transportation Commission. may participate in a program in January 7 to fill a vacancy created by If no action is taken by the Senate He has more than 25 years of public which they are charged a flat rate the retirement of Jim Tarpey . Vaad’s before it adjourns for the session on service in a variety of elected and for the summer months, instead appointment was to complete a term May 7, the governor may reappoint appointed positions, including eight of tiered rates. that expires in 2017. Vaad to the position, subject again to years elected as a Weld County com - (Continued on page 2) Because the appointment came prior confirmation during the 2015 legislative missioner, six years elected as a state to the start of the legislative session, session. (Continued on page 2) MA neiw ltaexi co mHpany iis gexphected tCo agrbanteds au thtoriaty tok usei 15n0 vehgicles . finDaenvler D isstritct Ceouprt judsge aftfirmoed thbe ecognveininence asnde nercesvsityi dcoese not hit the streets of Denver later this spring. The PUC’s action ends a long, hotly- PUC decision in September of 2011. Mile require granting of the application and The Public Utilities Commission contested battle for Mile High Cabs to High then appealed to the state Supreme that it is more probable than not that (PUC) in March denied exceptions to a enter the market. By law, new taxi com - Court, arguing that the PUC had not doing so would actually be detrimental recommended decision granting oper - panies wanting to serve counties with applied the correct burden of proof to to public interest.” ating authority to Mile High Cabs to populations of 70,000 or more must the elements that must be demonstrated After re-reviewing the testimony and begin service in the Denver metro area. show that they are financially and opera - by the parties opposing certification. exhibits from the evidentiary hearing, a The decision became final when no tionally fit. The burden of proof then In April of 2013, the Supreme Court PUC hearing commissioner concluded further appeals were filed. shifts to anyone opposing the applica - issued its opinion reversing the District that the opponents did not meet the Mile High will be authorized to tion to prove that granting such an Court, and the District Court remanded standard established by the high court, begin its operations once it pays its application would be a “detriment to the the matter back to the PUC for further and the full PUC agreed. $5 per vehicle registration fee, provides public interest.” action consistent with the Supreme Once it complies with the administra - the required proof of insurance, and The PUC in 2010 denied Mile High’s Court opinion. The high court said the tive requirements, Mile High will join files an approved tariff setting out application by a 2-1 vote, with the standard to be applied was whether Yellow, Metro, Freedom and Union the company’s rates, terms and condi - majority ruling that the opposing parties opposing parties “have demonstrated it cab companies in serving the Denver tions of service. The company was had satisfied their burden of proof. A is more probable than not that the public metro area.

XXccel Eenerlgy hsas feilede witkh thes Pu blPic UConCvenie nace apnd Npecessrityo (CPvCN)a, the l oConlora don fore deleiverdy to lofados inr th e poalterwnativees anrd c hlosei thne exe pansion of Utilities Commission (PUC) for approval company is requesting specific findings Denver metro area.” Pawnee-Daniels Park based on its flexi - to build a new high-voltage transmission from the PUC that the expected noise Utilities are required by law to seek bility to access multiple types of benefi - line from Brush to a substation just north and electro-magnetic field levels associ - PUC authority to build and own certain cial generation resources at an attractive of Castle Pines. ated with the project as designed and major electric infrastructure projects in cost. The company estimated that con - The proposed Pawnee to Daniels Park quantified in the application would Colorado. The PUC determines whether struction of its preferred plan would cost Transmission project would result in 115 be reasonable. there is a need for the project, and approximately $178 million, with a miles of new 345-kilovolt (kV) transmis - In its application, Xcel said the project whether the application is in the public proposed in-service date of May of 2019. sion that would complete the company’s will “improve reliability by alleviating interest. Siting of such projects is The notice period for formal opposi - 345-kV transmission backbone running the constraints that exist in large part determined through local government tion to the CPCN application was set to along the Front Range from the Pawnee due to the increase in wind generation permitting processes and is not con - expire in early May. The PUC is expected to Comanche generating stations. on the system and allow additional trolled by the PUC. to bring the matter to its agenda for In addition to a Certificate of Public resources to be added from northeast Xcel said it looked at numerous discussion during the last week of May.

IINNSSIIDDEE CCOONNNNEECCTTIIOONNSS Between jobs at Qwest and the Public the Consumer Affairs group to be able to Congratulations to PUC Utilities Commission (PUC), Katie help people with their utility issues.” Rail/Transit Safety chief Pam McBride went to massage school and Prior to joining the PUC in 2007, Fischhaber , who is scheduled to spent a few months working as a McBride worked for three years at U S receive her Ph.D. in Engineering from massage therapist. That training may West/Qwest in the procurement office the University of Colorado Denver this come in handy as she tries to work out as an Expeditor for Central Office month. Pam’s dissertation was entitled: the kinks and release tension between Equipment, and as an administrative “Development of Light Rail Crossing customers and utilities in her new posi - assistant in the finance department. Specific Crash Prediction Models. tion as a consumer complaint specialist Before that, she was a stay-at-home mom Her doctoral program reviewed rail - at the PUC. for 15 years, and home schooled her kids road crash prediction models, deter - After six years as an assistant in the for 10 years. mined these models did not accurately Administrative Support unit and the One of her favorite quotes comes estimate the number of crashes expected Executive Office, McBride recently was from Henry Ford—“Whether you think to occur at light rail crossings, and hired to work in the PUC consumer you can, or you think you can’t—you’re Katie McBride developed crash prediction models for assistance unit. As part of that group, right.” light rail crossings based on type of she will help resolve customer issues Away from work, McBride enjoys crossing control, configuration, number about rates or service by making sure singing, hiking and walking. She joined of trains and vehicles using the crossing, that utilities follow their tariffs and Arvada Chorale this past spring. She number of roadway lanes, train speed, comply with PUC rules. The unit also also has a goal of touring Egypt’s ancient Commissioner and presence of sight obstructions. provides input and background data to temples and spiritual sites. (Continued from page 1) Welcome to new PUC other PUC sections about consumer “Live life fully, richly and enjoy as employees Brian Gates , a crim - issues and trends. many moments as you can,” she advises. representative, and nine years on the inal investigator in the “I like working at the PUC because “And allow that for all others. Live and St. Vrain Valley Board of Education. Transportation Investigation and the people are wonderful,” she said. let live.” Vaad serves with Chairman Joshua Compliance unit; and Diedre Hudson , “And the work is interesting and (Inside Connections will feature a PUC Epel and Commissioner Pam Patton on an administrative assistant in the diverse; no two days are ever the same. employee each edition as selected by PUC the three-member PUC, which regu - Administrative Support unit. I’m really looking forward to working in section chiefs.) lates rates and services of investor- owned electric, gas and water utilities, intrastate telecommunications providers, and for-hire motor carriers in Colorado. PUC commissioners serve stag - gered, four-year terms. No more than two appointees may be from the same political party. Epel and Patton are Democrats, Vaad is a Republican. Brian Gates Diedre Hudson

Starting Point (Continued from page 1)

As with any rate structure, CONNECTIONS is the newsletter of the Colorado Public Utilities Commission. It covers some customers will benefit more Commission cases and actions of importance to than others based on their pat - consumers, utilities, consumer groups, and terns of usage. But the PUC decision makers. believes that tiered rates are an Comments, suggestions, and requests for more information should be directed to: inherently fairer way to charge for electricity usage during the Terry Bote 1560 Broadway, Suite 250 summer, while helping to Denver, Colorado 80202 encourage energy efficiency that will benefit all Coloradans. The Peeps Court, submitted by the administrative support team, was the winning entry in this year’s Peeps diorama contest at the PUC. MHearoingsu aren schetdauledi in Jun eo at f costs drive E-911 surcharge requests the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) E9-1-1 Monthly Surcharges on two applications for increases in monthly surcharges by mountain emer - gency telephone authorities. The Summit County E-911 Emergency Telephone Service Authority Board and the Chaffee County Emergency Telephone Service Authority will present their requests to an Administrative Law Judge in separate proceedings. The Summit County board is seeking to increase its E-911 surcharge from $1.50 to $1.95 per month, which would be the highest of any authority board in Colorado. The authority serves a resort community, with a relatively low resi - dent population compared to the visitor and tourist population that drives much of the demand for 911 and public safety services. It is the resident population, how- ever, that is the source of the 911 revenue for Summit County, since the phones used by the vast majority of visi - tors and tourists are registered and paid to other state, counties and authorities. “It is not surprising then that the surcharge rates for Summit County must be higher than other counties in the state in order to provide the revenue necessary to provide 911 services,” the board stated in its application. A hearing on the proposal is set for *Proposed June 13 and 16. The Chaffee County authority board replacement equipment, which will be increased from $1.00 to $1.75; and the equipment, personnel and access to tele - has requested to raise its E-911 sur - required in the near future for the monthly surcharge for the Boulder phone lines. The surcharge is collected charge from $1.25 to $1.50 per month. authority to take and dispatch 911 calls. Regional Emergency Telephone Service by the telephone provider and passed The authority serves an area of about A hearing on the Chaffee County Authority went from $0.50 to $0.75. on to the authority boards. 1,100 square miles of rugged mountain application is scheduled for June 18. Land-line and wireless telephone Under Colorado law, a 911 authority terrain with isolated communities, yet it Earlier this year, the PUC approved customers in Colorado pay a monthly may assess a surcharge of up to 70 cents is a destination point for many outdoor E-911 surcharge increases for two other surcharge to fund the equipment and per customer per month for emergency enthusiasts. authority boards. The monthly sur - operational expenses of the 911 system. telephone services without the permis - The authority board said an increase charge for the San Juan County Individual authority boards establish sion of the PUC. Anything above that in funding is needed to acquire new Emergency Telephone Service Authority the amount needed to cover the costs of amount requires PUC approval.

PUC seeks to iHmearing pcomrmisosionver Peam P9atto1n 1 nenarlye faitl-swafe 91o1 syrstekm de liaverfed tearlso wdas diirsectaed tso ptroevidre rseports Physical redundancy, later expanded the inquiry to include calls to the Public Safety Answering every six months on the status of its discussions with El Paso-Teller emer - Points (PSAPs).” plan for constructing geographically outage communications gency service officials on emergency The investigation focused on phys - diverse connections in other areas system performance during the wild - ical redundancy of the network, contin - across the state over the next three focus of investigation fires in 2012 and 2013. A workshop was gency plans and 911 outage years. held in January for all 911 stakeholders communications. As part of the inquiry, The decision also directed PUC staff A Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to allow for input and to raise questions CenturyLink identified 72 remote wire to lead a subcommittee of the state’s 911 investigation into the performance of or concerns regarding the reliability of centers in Colorado with a single geo - Task Force in the development of an the E-911 network during recent flood the 911 network statewide and the graphic pathway for telecommunica - updated contingency plan and require - and fire-related disasters in Colorado processes used to protect that reliability. tions pathway. In these circumstances, ments in the event of a 911 service found some areas where system “The most important point demon - if the connection between the host wire outage. PUC staff also will propose improvements can be made. strated by this investigation is that center and remote is lost, 911 service is modifications by June 30 to update PUC The PUC opened the proceeding last Colorado’s emergency responders, the lost also. rules relating to 911 outage reporting October to obtain input from key stake - men and women and the communica - CenturyLink said it is planning to and contingency plans. holders regarding the performance of tions system that supports them, work reduce the number of remote connec - The decision also made recommen - the emergency system during the extremely well,” Commissioner Patton tions across the state, thereby dations for follow-up discussions September 2013 floods in Colorado. wrote in her recommended decision. improving geographic diversity. The between stakeholders on how to The specific impetus for initiating this “During the flooding that occurred recommended decision directed improve communications with the investigation was a 97-hour E-911 across 17 counties, 911 dispatchers and CenturyLink to file by July 31 its public during outages, as well as failure in Estes Park caused by fiber emergency responders responded to specific plans for providing redundant improve communications between the optic cable being washed out and thousands of emergency calls. Overall, connections for the Estes Park and emergency service provider, 911 severed by flooding. Colorado’s dedicated, redundant and Allenspark wire centers. The company authorities, PSAPs and the PUC.

Nederland customers receive refunds for excessive outages addition to any bill credits required new load at the Eldora ski area. The receive those automatic bill credits, Electric failures prompt under the annual Quality of Service result was that Nederland customers which are usually applied to customers’ Plan (QSP). experienced between 11 and 25 sus - July bills. However, the company payments in addition According to the company, tained electric outages during the six- sought PUC approval for the additional Nederland customers experienced a month period. $200 payments because of the extraordi - to annual QSP credits “perfect storm” of electric system Under the company’s Quality of nary number of outages in a concen - outages beginning in August of 2013. Service Plan approved by the PUC, Xcel trated time period. The payments were About 900 customers of Xcel Energy Several large, singular outage-causing is required to issue a $50 credit to each to be made from shareholder funds. in Nederland were expected to receive a events—many lightning and weather customer who experiences more than Xcel also pledged to submit to the refund of $200 during the April/May related—had a pancake effect on the dis - five outages a year lasting longer than Town of Nederland, in early 2015, a billing cycle for an excessive number of tribution system serving Nederland, a five minutes, or for each instance in follow-up accountability report for year electric outages between August 2013 remote town surrounded by rugged which electric service is not restored 2014 that will track the company’s and January 2014. mountains northwest of Boulder. within 24 hours following an interrup - service performance. The report also The Public Utilities Commission The problems were exacerbated by tion. Certain major events, such as major will focus on accountability and capital (PUC) earlier this year approved the the catastrophic flooding in mid- storms and other interruptions beyond investment spending for the Nederland company’s request to provide the extra - September, and a previously-scheduled the company’s control are excluded. area. A copy of the report will be pro - ordinary payments, which were to be in construction project driven primarily by Nederland customers will still vided to the PUC. AAttmoms Eneorgy sha s rreqeuesqted uan esSoutthseas t r$egio4n; a.n8d 7. 6 mpercenti inl thle io$1n4 m illhion iin ikts naetur ali gans de livgery asco mbmodaity scostes, w hirch are ptasesed s on to increase of $4.8 million in annual revenues Southwest region. Average monthly bills system since that period. customers on a dollar-for-dollar basis in its base rates to cover for commercial customers would go up by Atmos is seeking a 10.4 percent return under a separate charge. investments it has made to its natural gas 0.1 percent in the Northeast region and 1.0 on equity (ROE), up from its current 9.72 The PUC recently approved an delivery system over the past 16 months. percent in the Southeast region, while bills percent. The ROE is the profit that a utility increase in Atmos’ gas cost adjustment The proposal, filed in April, is expected for commercial customers in the is authorized to earn on its investments. effective April 1, due to higher than to be suspended and set for hearing by the Northwest/Central region and the The PUC sets a maximum return on expected gas costs. The change resulted in Colorado Public Utilities Commission Southwest region would remain the same equity, but it is not guaranteed. a 12 –15 percent increase in monthly bills (PUC). Hearings are likely to be held later or decrease slightly. The base rate component of a monthly for Atmos’ residential customers. this year. The PUC granted Atmos a $1.3 million bill (roughly 25 –35 percent) covers costs Atmos provides natural gas service to The proposal would increase average increase in annual base rate revenues associated with the delivery of gas, more than 110,000 customers in 64 com - monthly bills for residential customers effective March 1, 2014, based on expenses customer service, pipeline system munities and 16 counties within Colorado, by 7.2 percent in the company’s Northeast for a test year ending December 31, 2012. integrity and service extensions to meet including the larger towns of Cañon City, region; 5.4 percent in the North- In its new rate request, the company customer needs. It does not include the Cortez, Crested Butte, Durango, Greeley, west/Central region; 7.7 percent in the stated it has invested more than largest portion of the bill, the natural gas Lamar and Steamboat Springs.

AAtmtoms Eneorgy sis sesekieng ePubklic s oaptiopns opr purrchoasinvg exaistilng bfuiold - r cnationes fowr those pbrojecuts wiill lbed filedi atngmu niitines a nGd 16 rcoeunteiesl weithy in Utilities Commission (PUC) approval to ings—and determined that the proposed an appropriate time. Colorado, including the larger towns build a new $8.9 million business office Greeley building project is the best Atmos provides natural gas sales of Cañon City, Cortez, Crested Butte, and service center in west Greeley. solution. and transportation service to more Durango, Greeley, Lamar and Steam- The company in February filed an The company estimated the cost of the than 110,000 customers in 64 com- boat Springs. application for a Certificate of Public project to be about $8.9 million, plus or Convenience and Necessity (CPCN) to minus 10 percent, including the cost of build the new facility on about 6.5 acres the land, construction and design costs, in a business park west of town. The furniture, fixtures and other equipment, company currently leases and operates and city fees. As part of the application, its service center and business office in Atmos is requesting that the PUC grant a two separate locations about a mile apart presumption of prudence of the esti - PUC sets hearing in August in Greeley. mated costs of the project for a future In its application, Atmos stated the rate proceeding. current buildings are 53 and 42 years old, The Office of Consumer Counsel has oTnhe PuXblicc Uteilitiles Cpommrisosionp (PUoC) sathle PfUoC’s rpe rmBissoion uto mladke seever ral and present challenges such as close intervened in the application, and a PUC has scheduled hearings for August 21 –22 program modifications, including: proximity to residential neighborhoods Administrative Law Judge has scheduled to address how Xcel Energy should con - • Adding a termination provision to all and streets and on-going maintenance a hearing on the proposal for May 28. A tinue to offer voluntary energy efficiency new Boulder Solar*Rewards contracts requirements. “Additionally, due to the recommended decision is expected later and renewable energy programs to cus - that would allow the company to ter - change in business over time, these this summer. tomers in the City of Boulder. minate its obligations to purchase buildings are no longer adequate for the In addition to the Greeley facility, The company submitted an application energy and renewable energy credits service Atmos Energy provides,” the Atmos last year announced plans for earlier this year asking to modify demand- from its customers when and if a company stated. new office and service center buildings in side management (DSM) programs, on- cutover date occurs. Atmos said it has studied a number of Cañon City, Salida and Gunnison. The site solar programs, and community solar • Modifying its Customer-Owned Small alternatives—including various leasing company said subsequent CPCN appli - gardens programs for its Boulder Solar*Rewards offering for Boulder customers, given the city’s efforts toward customers by making participants’ con - creating its own municipal utility. tracts “pay-for-performance,” similar to The application is similar to one filed Xcel’s other Solar*Rewards offerings. by Xcel Energy in 2012, which the PUC • Limiting new participation of Boulder dismissed at the time as premature. customers in its DSM programs so that However, the company said the issue is the level of costs incurred by the E 8 O G

D now ripe for consideration given company to fund new Boulder DSM 3 C 7

T A Boulder’s recent action of serving participation in each year does not S T R D

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U “These voluntary programs provide • Deferring the offering Solar*Rewards long-term benefits to the utility system,” Community program to Boulder cus - Xcel stated in its application. “If continued tomers unless and until such time as in their current form, and if the City com - Boulder determines not to proceed pletes its condemnation actions, then these with the formation of a municipal elec - programs would benefit a new Boulder tric utility. municipal utility and not the Public “It is important to address now how to Service system.” avoid any subsidization of Boulder from The company said it does not believe these voluntary Public Service customer it is appropriate for non-Boulder programs,” Xcel said in its application. customers to subsidize a newly-formed A decision on the application is Boulder municipal utility. It is seeking expected sometime in the fall.

Xcel gas refund takes effect April 1 Xcel Energy will return about $6.6 In its filing, Xcel calculated that million to its natural gas customers over amount to be about $6.6 million, including

N the next 12 months as part of the final about $140,000 in interest. The PUC

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S residential customers and about $1.16 for on the amount of gas used. The base E

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