Colorado utility regulators said Thursday that power transmission, rural broadband and transportation plans for the Democratic National Convention are among the key items on their agenda.
In an unusual move, commissioners at the Colorado Public Utilities Commission held a hearing to discuss the policy initiatives, investigations and research projects they plan to undertake over the next two years.
PUC chairman Ron Binz said the three-member commission decided to hold the hearing because regulators are dealing with some of the most important issues they’ve ever faced.
Binz took over as chairman last year. The other commissioners, Jim Tarpey and Matt Baker, assumed their roles this year. All three were appointed by Gov. Bill Ritter.
Binz said he wants a comprehensive plan for dealing with an expected surge in demand for transportation services during the DNC, at the Pepsi Center in August. The PUC regulates limousine and taxi companies in addition to electric and phone utilities.
Binz wants to establish a fund, perhaps from existing taxes on phone companies, to help expand broadband Internet coverage to the entire state.
Tarpey said transmission will be one of his top priorities. He wants utilities to better coordinate their efforts and perhaps consider “postage-stamp rates” in which a fixed rate is charged per unit of energy transmitted regardless of the distance it travels.
Baker said the commission should consider putting together an informational docket detailing the potential impact that federal climate-change legislation will have on Colorado utilities and ratepayers.
Binz said the commission has told the Westminster- based Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association that it wants more information about the company’s plans after it was denied an air-quality permit in Kansas for a coal-fired power plant late last year.
Binz also wants to open an investigation into how utility earnings should be derived, wondering whether the current structure allows incentives for utilities to be efficient.
Andy Vuong: 303-954-1209 or avuong@denverpost.com
