State looks for comments on Tri-State oversight

HCCA says it’s about time

The Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) is seeking comments from the public on whether it should change its oversight of Tri-State Generation and Transmission Company’s resource planning process.

“For generations, Tri-State has operated behind a closed curtain,” says High County Citizens’ Alliance climate and clean energy coordinator Chris Menges. “More PUC oversight will bring transparency to Tri-State operations and finally give rural Coloradoans assurance that their long-term interests are being considered.”
Tri-State is required to submit a plan to the PUC every four years on how it will meet projected future electricity demand. But in 2002, a previous board refused to review or approve Tri-State’s plan, which included decisions on whether and how to construct new transmission lines and power plants.
The current commission is reviewing that 2002 decision because topics like climate change, using renewable energy sources and higher costs of energy production have entered the conversation since then.
“Today we are, in effect, starting a conversation with Tri-State, consumers, power producers and environmental interests about how to solve together the challenges we face,” PUC chairman Ron Binz said.
Binz proposed several potential regulatory approaches, ranging from the hands-off approach of the status quo, to full regulation of resource planning similar to that applied to the state’s investor-owned utilities, Xcel Energy and Black Hills Power.
According to Menges, “Tri-State continues to be heavily invested in coal-fired power generation, despite the financial, regulatory and environmental risks involved in this polluting energy source. With more PUC oversight of Tri-State’s resource planning, Tri-State customers will be better protected from these risks, and not saddled with misguided resource planning that involves new coal-fired power plants.”
Comments should be submitted to PUC, Docket No. 091-041E, 1560 Broadway, Suite 250, Denver, Colo. 80202 by March 16.
After considering the comments of interested parties and after further deliberations, the PUC will determine whether to proceed with formal changes to its rules.