DENVER—Colorado’s Office of Consumer Counsel is recommending changes to Xcel Energy’s plan for meeting demand for electricity through 2015.
The agency said in comments filed Monday with the Public Utilities Commission that it generally supports much of Xcel’s Colorado Resource Plan, filed in November.
However, OCC Director Jim Greenwood said Xcel’s price forecasts don’t reflect what the office described as a likely dramatic increase in natural gas prices.
The office said the Minneapolis-based Xcel should do more to encourage energy efficiency and accelerate plans for acquiring renewable energy resources to hedge against fossil fuel price increases.
It also expressed concern about Xcel’s plan to replace the output of four coal-burning units with a natural gas generating facility. OCC recommended that Xcel defer that decision until Xcel files its next resource plan in less than two years.
The OCC said its goal is to make sure consumers have safe, reliable service at reasonable costs.
Xcel’s existing plan aims to reduce carbon-dioxide emissions from 2005 levels by 10 percent by 2017, and add 800 megawatts of wind power and up to 254 megawatts of solar power by 2015. The plan would double the capacity of Xcel’s customer efficiency and conservation programs.
Xcel spokesman Tom Henley said Tuesday that the company was reviewing OCC’s comments, along with comments submitted by other parties, and planned to file a response in June.
The PUC has scheduled hearings on Xcel’s resource plan June 23-July 11.
