PUC responds to Polis’ call for utility relief

Searching for answers

BY JOSHUA PERRY THE COLORADO SUN

Colorado’s Public Utilities Commission on Feb. 8 discussed addressing bill price hikes in response to Gov. Jared Polis’s utility cost-reduction directive, but it isn’t clear what the rst steps will be.

Chairman Eric Blank said that the PUC has been tasked with a wide range of objectives to ease an a ordability crisis that made consumers’ utility bills 52% higher on average in December. Some consumers saw their bills double or even triple.

“Among other things, the governor has asked us to identify ways to support customers in the most dire circumstances, improve access to and the capacity of the bill assistance program, nd ways to incentivize utilities to reduce customer costs, analyze approaches for limiting bill spikes, and to expand public engagement on these issues before the end PUC,” he said.

BY SCOTT TAYLOR STAYLOR@COLORADOCOMMUNITYMEDIA.COM

Brighton’s residential streets will get slower speed limits, dropping from 30 miles per hour to 25, City Councilors agreed Feb. 7.

“ is is an initiative amongst a lot

Vision Zero is an international e ort to reduce tra c deaths to zero that started in Sweden in the 1990s. It encourages local and state governments to prioritize road planning and policies that make road travel safer for all manners of tra c, from bicycles and pedestrians to cars.

Montoya noted that only Brighton and Commerce City allow speed limits above 25 miles per hour in residential areas in the northern Front Range. Most, including Erie, Lafayette, Northglenn, ornton and Westminster, have the same 25-miles-per-hour limit.

“We have one neighbor that has a limit of 20 miles-per-hour, and that’s Boulder,” Montoya said.

Councilors approved the change by a 6-1 vote, with Councilor Matt Johnston opposed. Johnston said there were better ways to slow down tra c. A second reading is set for

Blank said he didn’t know how the PUC would take action on this directive right now, but they would continue addressing a ordability in the coming weeks.

One way the PUC can make progress is driving down base rates, Commissioner Megan Gilman said. Under the current rules, a utility seeking to add new infrastructure, such as transmission lines or a power plant, must rst convince PUC regulators that it is necessary. If PUC agrees, it issues a certi cate of public convenience