April 2021 PUC Update
Clean Energy Action Board Member Marguerite Behringer works for E9 Insight and part of her work is to compile summaries of Colorado Public Utilities Commission activities. E9 Insight has given CEA permission to publish the items that we think our readers might find useful. If you have questions about the content, please contact hello@e9insight.com.
Note: Xcel Energy does business in Colorado as Public Service Company of Colorado (PSCo); references to both Xcel and PSCo will appear in the summaries below.
Note: PUC refers to the Colorado Public Utilities Commission.
21A-0141E Xcel 2021 Clean Energy Plan
Since the filing of Xcel’s 2021 Clean Energy Plan, 25 parties filed requests to intervene in the case, including CEA’s Leslie Glustrom. The PUC filed a ‘notice regarding the intervention by right filed by Trial Staff’ which outlined several areas for potential direct testimony. Xcel responded by suggesting a variety of informational filings in lieu of direct testimony. Topics raised by this notice include: existing and generic resource costs, updated load forecast, additional modeling, coal plant retirement financial issues, and updated renewable integration and reliability study.
19R-0096E Rulemaking on Electric Resource Planning
On April 23, the commission issued a decision to close a two-year rulemaking procedure without making additional revisions. The PUC determined that the statutory changes from the 2019 General Assembly, especially SB 19-236 and HB 19-1261, eliminated the need for new Electric Resource Plan (ERP) or Qualifying Facility rules. The PUC approved modifications to the ERP rules several times through the proceeding, including:
The April 2020 addition of new rules to reflect SB 19-236, which required Clean Energy Plans that reflect 80% decrease in emissions by 2030 relative to 2005
The September 2020 addition regarding consideration of new transmission resources used to interconnect new generation resources acquired through the ERP process
The commission discussed several other issues raised by participants and rulemaking topics addressed by legislation, including: FERC’s affirmation that competitive bidding processes are in compliance with PURPA; cost-effective resource plans; early plant retirements; utility ownership of renewable energy resources; phase II reports; Gov. Polis’ roadmap; social cost of carbon; workforce transition plans; and other topics. The PUC provided a few “clarifications” related to reports, RFPs and model contracts, and ongoing early coal retirement evaluations. The PUC also noted that the consideration of any social cost of carbon rules is distinctly within commission jurisdiction, and should commence, if required, after the completion of Xcel’s next ERP proceeding.
20I-0437E Pueblo Unit 3 Investigation
On April 28, Xcel filed a response to the PUC’s March order, which required a variety of additional reports. In the Motion, Xcel requested a motion for protection to limit public access to three reports that the Commission previously ordered: (1) Structural Integrity Associates Report; (2) General Electric Report; and (3) Human Performance Report. Response from the Intermountain Rural Electric Association and other stakeholders requested that the PUC deny the motion for protection, arguing that the request defies the regulatory control of the commission and that the reports will not impact competition.
Distribution: Technology for Energy Delivery
16A-0588E PSCo Advanced Grid Intelligence
On April 27, the Colorado PUC granted Mission:data and PSCo’s requests for rehearing and reconsideration. The PUC agreed that the definition of “base services” provided by the distributed intelligence (DI) meter capabilities should be better defined, which Mission:data claimed was too broad. The PUC clarified that DI meter capabilities may not be turned on except for services provided with today’s metering and distribution grid infrastructure; IVVO functionality; and any future orders related to data usage and DI functionality. The PUC also agreed to set a new deadline, for June 15, for PSCo to file a new application to amend the CPCN.