Coloradans who are distressed with their skyrocketing energy bills have a chance to grab the Colorado Public Utilities Commission’s ear on Tuesday.

The office, which regulates energy rates in Colorado, scheduled an hours-long virtual public comment period on “utility bill affordability.”

Colorado Springs Utilities rates could be lower than anticipated this winter

PUC chief economist Erin O’Neill earlier gave the commission a presentation on high utility rates and bills. At that meeting, which occurred on Jan. 25, commissioners expressed alarm about the number of complaints the PUC has received about soaring bills.

The commission approves energy rates, which utilities then apply. Under commission rules, utilities are allowed to recover higher, unexpected costs of energy, such as when Colorado’s regulators allowed Xcel – which serves several areas outside of Colorado Springs including Pueblo and Denver – to charge their customers $500 million for the extraordinary fuel costs incurred during a four-day winter freeze in 2021.

The regulators approved the request even as they expressed misgivings at how Colorado’s biggest utility company handled the cold snap.

Commissioner Eric Blank, who chairs the agency, started the meeting by acknowledging that Coloradans have been experiencing high utility bills, which he said have doubled since last winter.

“Our volume of comments and complaints has also risen the levels we haven’t seen in recent history,” Blank said. “And as I read the comments, it seems clear that energy affordability is a crisis for many in Colorado right now, creating substantial hardship for utility customers during a time when other non-energy costs have also been increasing.”

Colorado Springs City Council approves controversial water rule

Blank added: “Individual comments talk about how high energy costs are forcing impossible choices about paying energy bills, making rent, and putting food on the table.”

“This is unprecedented,” said Commissioner John Gavin in the meeting. “I can’t remember seeing this level of pain in the consumer community since the 1970s and the gas crisis, which I’m old enough to remember.”

O’Neill’s presentation included information on typical utility bills, this winter’s higher rates, as well as the drivers for the increased costs, most of which O’Neill attributed to the rising cost of natural gas.

Tuesday’s meeting begins at 3 p.m., will be held virtually and will be available through a live webcast on the PUC website in Hearing Room A, which can be accessed at https://www.dora.state.co.us/pacific/Webcasts/a.html.

Comments cannot be given through the webcast, however, and registration is required to join the meeting, where comments may be offered.

Anyone interested in commenting should sign up online.

Register here to comment between 3-4:30 p.m.: bit.ly/3WL4fjo

Register here to comment between 5-6:30 p.m.: bit.ly/3DokTi5

Written comments may be submitted at any time using the PUC’s online form: bit.ly/2P51aby

The PUC will also accept written comments by submitting them via the commission’s Electronic Filing System or by emailing dora_puc_website@state.co.us.

In addition, oral comments can be left by calling 303-869-3490.