Save the Date for the 2024 WCPSC Conference!
As we look towards the future of utility regulation and policy, the Colorado PUC is excited to announce the upcoming 2024 Western Conference of Public Service Commissioners (WCPSC). This year’s event will bring together industry leaders, regulatory experts, and key stakeholders amongst the mountains of Vail, Colorado. Attendees will have the opportunity to engage in insightful discussions, share best practices, address the challenges and opportunities shaping the utility landscape in the WCPSC region, while enjoying the breathtaking views and amenities Vail has to offer.
Why Attend?
Networking: Connect with professionals in the utility regulation sectors. Insightful Sessions: Gain valuable insights from thought-provoking sessions and panel discussions. Policy Discussions: Contribute to shaping the future of utility policy in the Western region.
Stay tuned for more details about the agenda, speakers and registration information. For the latest updates, visit the official conference website.
Details:
Event: Regulatory Summit: Peak Perspectives
Date: May 19 - 22, 2024
Location: The Hythe, Vail, CO
Website: http://western.naruc.org/
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Registration Information:
Registration will open in early March 2024 – look out for another email then.
Once registered, attendees will be able to book accommodations at the centrally located Hythe hotel using the WCPSC room block.
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The Public Utilities Commission Urges Customers of Moving Companies to Use Caution
Each year, Coloradans are on the move – many to and from colleges and universities. That’s when some may learn they’ve become a victim of an illegal moving company.
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When working with a moving company, be sure to get a contract. All Household Goods (HHG) movers must have a written estimate and contract when providing services. Each mover must also be licensed through the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC). This is shown as a permit number that begins with HHG (i.e., HHG-01234).
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If you are unsure whether a moving company is permitted by the PUC, call us to find out at 303-894-2070, or visit our website at puc.colorado.gov. Using a mover that is not permitted can potentially lead to theft and/or uninsured damage to your property.
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If a mover is not permitted, they cannot withhold any of your property or force payment. Consumers can file a complaint with the PUC and there is a statutory arbitration process to help resolve disputes.
The PUC regulates intrastate moves (point-to-point within the State of Colorado) and offers some guidance on how to prepare for a move and what to expect when working with movers. However, interstate moves (moves that cross state lines) are regulated by the Federal Motor Carrier Safety Administration (FMCSA).
Pilot Utility Bill Help Program Runs Through May
There’s still time to get assistance from the PUC’s Utility Bill Help program. Launched in December, 2023, it’s designed to help increase enrollment in utility energy assistance programs. The program has consistently been helping consumers since December and will be open through May 2024.
To apply for utility assistance, consumers must first apply to LEAP, and be receiving state-administered benefits. LEAP provides benefits for heating bills, refers customers to their utility's energy assistance programs for additional benefits, and helps prevent disconnection. To apply for LEAP benefits, click here.If you are denied LEAP benefits, you can visit the PUC’s Utility Bill Help website to apply for utility-led energy assistance bill programs. Participants must be customers of the PUC’s regulated energy utilities, which include Public Service Company of Colorado (Xcel Energy), Black Hills Energy, Atmos Energy, or Colorado Natural Gas.
Reminder: Public Comment Period Has Returned to Weekly Commissioners Meeting
In February, the Commissioners began holding a public comment period that’s scheduled for the first Wednesday of every month during their Commissioners Weekly Meeting (CWM). The next CWM with public comment will be Wednesday, April 3, 2024. During those meetings, members of the public will be allowed to provide oral comments to the Commission starting at 9 a.m. Comments can be in-person, via Zoom, or by phone and limited to three minutes.Comments can't be on a current proceeding but can be on a topic under the PUC's jurisdiction. To register in advance, please click here.
Upcoming Meetings and How to Participate:
Monday, April 15, 11:30 a.m.-5 p.m. Proceeding Number 24R-0078GPS. Public comment hearing on proposed rules regulating operations and gas pipeline safety rules. The PUC proposes amendments to its rules that implement statutory updates regarding customer owned service lines, among other minor statutory changes to the Pipeline Safety Program. The statutory changes include removal of references to underground natural gas storage facilities, updating the name of Colorado Energy and Carbon Management Commission, and to add 49 U.S.C. §60106(a) agreement. To view the remote meeting, please click on Zoom link. Thursday, April 24, 2-5 p.m. Identifying Disproportionately Impacted Communities. Please visit puc.colorado.gov/equity for more information. Registration and other information will be provided closer to the event. Tuesday. April 30, 1-5 p.m. Hybrid public comment hearing on Proceeding Number 22R-0249E, Proposed Rules for Organized Wholesale Markets. To register to participate, please click here.
The Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) serves the public interest by effectively regulating utilities and facilities so that the people of Colorado receive safe, reliable, and reasonably-priced services consistent with the economic, environmental, and social values of our state.
The PUC welcomes and encourages public comments. A comment is a statement of opinion about any issue the Commission may decide. It may be about a specific proceeding or more general in nature and can include recommendations for what the Commission should do.
Opportunities for comment include workshops, informational meetings, community meetings, and public comment hearings. Some of these activities are led by agency staff, and others are led by Commissioners or Judges, and some are more formal than others. More general comments can be provided at any time without regard to whether the issue is currently pending.
There are several ways to learn about comment opportunities at the Commission:
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