NEWS RELEASE
PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION
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The Public Utilities Commission is currently taking public comments in the second phase of Public Service’s Electric Resource Plan (ERP) proceeding that includes a Clean Energy Plan (CEP). The ERP is the process by which an electric utility selects energy resources — including wind, solar, storage, gas, and other resources— that it will acquire to serve its customers. Through the CEP, the utility must show that it can achieve at least an 80 per cent reduction in greenhouse gas emissions by 2030.
In Phase I, the commission approved with modifications Public Service’s plan to acquire new generating resources through a competitive acquisition process. In Phase II, the utility received bids to construct various generation resources. Based on the commission’s Phase I directives, Public Service organized the bids into groups or portfolios that are designed to meet the utility’s resource needs. In the Phase II decision, the commission will determine whether the utility should be authorized to pursue its preferred portfolio of bids. Specifically, that means that the utility is granted a presumption that it can recover from its customers the costs associated with actions it takes to build or contract new resources.
As part of the Phase II process, Public Service filed its 120-Day Report on Sept. 18, 2023. The 120-Day Report describes the company's bid evaluation and selection process and presents several portfolios of different generation resources.
From the various portfolios set forth in the 120-Day Report, Public Service recommends that the commission approve the company’s Preferred Portfolio, which includes approximately 7,200 MW of capacity from over 20 individual facilities, including new gas-fired power plants, wind and solar facilities, biomass facilities, and battery storage units. Based on the company’s 120-Day Report, it appears that Public Service might ultimately site some of these new facilities in the counties of Adams, Alamosa, Baca, Cheyenne, Kiowa, Kit Carson, Morgan, Prowers, Pueblo, Routt, Saquache, Sedgwick, and Weld.
Individuals who wish to review Public Service’s ERP/CEP, the 120-Day Report, and other materials that have been filed in this proceeding can access it through the PUC’s E-Filings system, selecting to search for “Proceedings” and entering 21A-0141E as the proceeding number. E-Filings is available at: https://www.dora.state.co.us/pls/efi/EFI_Search_UI.search.
Members of the public are welcome to provide written or oral public comments at any time this Proceeding is open, but are encouraged to do so before December 18, 2023, when the commission anticipates issuing its Phase II Decision. Please include “Proceeding No. 21A-0141E” in public comments. Public comments can be provided by:
- For those with E-Filings accounts, submitting written comments through the commission’s Electronic Filing System (E-Filings) at: https://www.dora.state.co.us/pls/efi/EFI.homepage
- Submitting written comments using the commission’s online form or through email at: [email protected]. These comments will be posted in E-Filings for this Proceeding.
- Mailing comments to the commission’s offices at: Colorado Public Utilities Commission, 1560 Broadway, Suite 250, Denver, CO 80202.
- Calling (303) 869-3490 to leave oral comments (English and Spanish options).
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