‘Rate payer revolt’ demands end to dependence on gas-fired energy

BY ERIC GALATAS PUBLIC NEWS SERVICE

Consumer advocates held a “Rate Payer Revolt” at the Colorado State Capitol to urge lawmakers to address what they see as the root cause of the recent extreme spikes in utility bills: the state’s reliance on natural gas.

Danny Katz, executive director of the Colorado Public Interest Research Group, said at the April protest lawmakers and utilities should take steps to protect ratepayers by tapping new federal funds to speed up the transition to sources such as wind and solar, which are produced locally and are not commodities traded on a global market.

“And if we want to make sure that we are not getting ripped o as consumers into the future,” said Katz, “we need to do more to reduce our reliance on gas to heat and power our homes and businesses.”

Xcel Energy has blamed spikes in heating bills on rising wholesale gas prices and market forces beyond its control. It has launched a costadjustment plan to give consumers some relief.

CoPIRG and other groups are urging the Legislature to take steps to lower the state’s dependence on gas - including maximizing e ciency and ending ratepayer subsidies for new gas infrastructure, lobbying and legal expenses.

Xcel and other utilities have added clean-energy capacity, but continue to see natural gas as an important