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Last Updated: April 2007
06/02: The Colorado Public Utilities Commission initiated a new resource planning framework which required the commission to approve Colorado utilities’ forecasts and needs assessment proposals.
Source: Colorado Public Utilities Commission
http://www.dora.state.co.us/PUC/
11/99: The Colorado Electricity Advisory Panel issued its
Final Report. A majority (17 of 29 members) voted
against restructuring the industry as it would not be in the best interest of
the State and its consumers. The Legislature required a 2/3 majority vote for a
formal recommendation, which was not met. A minority report supporting
restructuring was also issued, as well as a "middle ground" report.
The major reasons restructuring was opposed by the Final Report were: 1)
Colorado had low rates; 2) a consultant study modeling the effects of
restructuring found that rates were likely to rise; and 3) rate impacts would have
been disproportionately shared among classes of consumers, with low-income, fixed
income, rural, residential, and small consumers seeing the greatest rate
increases.
Source: Colorado Public Utilities Commission
http://www.dora.state.co.us/PUC/
08/99: The task force continues held public hearings across the state on restructuring the industry. During the five hearings, opponents of restructuring had outnumbered proponents, on the basis that Colorado currently enjoyed low electric rates and the fear that prices would have risen with competition. A sixth hearing was scheduled, and the task force would make its report to the General Assembly by November 1999.
07/99: A draft report was released by the Colorado advisory panel. The report showed that most panel members opposed opening the retail electricity market to competition, believing prices would have risen under restructuring. Proponents of restructuring, including IOU's, environmentalists, and industrial customers, thought prices would fall, citing a DOE study that supported their view. Public hearings would be held in July and August for public comment on the report. The final report was not due to the legislature until November 1999.
05/99: A study by Stone & Webster Management Consultants, Inc. and Standard and Poor’s was conducted for the Colorado Electricity Advisory Panel. The study found that consumers would have paid more for power if the state opened the retail electricity market to competition. The Panel planed to present preliminary findings on restructuring to the legislature by July 1999.
01/99: The Colorado Public Utility Commission adopted rules which required IOU's to itemize the fuel sources used for generated and purchased electricity. The idea of unbundling costs was intended to educate consumers on the costs and sources of generation and the separate costs of power generation and delivery.
07/98: The Colorado Electricity Advisory Panel (created by Senate Bill 152) met for the first time in July. The purpose of the panel was to study electric industry deregulation and report the findings to the legislature by November 1999.
05/98: Senate Bill 152 was enacted. It created a 21-member panel to assess whether retail competition would benefit the state's consumers.
06/96: On June 26, 1996, the Commission opened Docket Number 96Q-313E, in the matter of the Inquiry Into Electric Utility Industry Restructuring of Colorado.