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CORE Electric Cooperative Takes Legal Action Against Xcel Energy

Strategic Insights

— 1 min read

CORE Electric Cooperative, a member-owned electric cooperative utility, is taking legal action against Public Service Company of Colorado, a subsidiary of Xcel Energy, Inc. (Xcel), alleging that Xcel breached its contractual obligations related to the Comanche 3 coal plant. CORE believes that all information about the operation and maintenance of the plant should be available to the public. The cooperative is committed to providing reliable, affordable power to its members and protecting their assets.

Key Takeaways:

  • CORE Electric Cooperative, a member-owned electric cooperative, is suing Public Service Company of Colorado, a subsidiary of Xcel Energy, Inc., for breaching contractual obligations related to the Comanche 3 coal plant.
  • The lawsuit alleges that Xcel has refused to provide certain documents, which are deemed confidential by the company, leading to redactions in the complaint.
  • CORE believes that all information about the plant's operation and maintenance should be available to the public.
  • The cooperative serves over 300,000 customers in a 5,000-square-mile area in central Colorado and is the largest electric distribution cooperative in Colorado.
  • As a member-owned cooperative, CORE operates on a nonprofit basis, investing earnings in facilities used to provide electric service and returning profits to members as member equity.
  • Jeff Baudier, CEO of CORE, stated that the cooperative is committed to protecting its members' assets and recovering unjustified costs imposed upon them.
  • The dispute relates to the Comanche 3 coal plant, located in Pueblo, Colorado, which is owned and operated by Xcel.

Statistics:

  • 300,000: Number of consumers served by CORE Electric Cooperative
  • 5,000: Square miles of service area for CORE Electric Cooperative
  • 1: CORE is the largest electric distribution cooperative in Colorado and one of the largest in the U.S.
  • $0: The cooperative reported no earnings as it operates on a nonprofit basis; any earnings are returned to members as member equity

Sources:

  • CORE Electric Cooperative Press Release, "CORE Takes Legal Action Against Xcel Energy" dated Sept. 7, 2021.
  • Company Profile on CORE.coop.
  • Xcel Energy company website.

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