Public Utilities Commission of Colorado Issues Decision on Public Service Company's Demand Side Management and Beneficial Electrification Plan

Strategic Insights -

The Public Utilities Commission of Colorado has issued a decision addressing the Public Service Company of Colorado's (Public Service) Demand Side Management and Beneficial Electrification Strategic Issues Application (Application). The decision sets a procedural schedule, discovery procedures, and addresses issues related to the Company's Supplemental Direct Testimony. The Commission has also scheduled a five-day remote evidentiary hearing, to be held from February 6-10, 2023, to consider the Application.

Key Takeaways:

  • The Commission has adopted a procedural schedule set forth in the Response to Decision No. C22-0548-I, which includes filing deadlines, discovery procedures, and a five-day remote evidentiary hearing.
  • The deadline for a Commission decision is extended an additional 130 days, as permitted in SS 40-6-109.5(1), C.R.S.
  • Public Service is directed to file Supplemental Direct Testimony as required by Decision C22-0548-I, consistent with clarifications made by the Commission.
  • The Commission has referred discovery disputes and any motions for extraordinary protection to an Administrative Law Judge.
  • The Company is required to provide Supplemental Direct Testimony, which will include a clear list of assumptions used and analysis in an executable format, allowing parties to identify and modify those assumptions and perform their own analysis.
  • Public Service must also provide a high-level overview of how such analysis will occur in the future as electrification and increasing demand response impacts both the electric and gas distribution planning processes.

Statistics:

  • The five-day remote evidentiary hearing is scheduled to take place from February 6-10, 2023.
  • The deadline for a Commission decision is extended an additional 130 days.
  • Public Service has 30 days to file Supplemental Direct Testimony as required.

Sources:

  • Decision No. C22-0586-I, Public Utilities Commission of Colorado, September 29, 2022
  • Decision No. C22-0548-I, Public Utilities Commission of Colorado, September 23, 2022
  • Public Service Company of Colorado's Demand Side Management and Beneficial Electrification Strategic Issues Application (Application), July 1, 2022