PUC sets hearing on Public Service Co. $572 million gas infrastructure plan, shields sensitive mapping data

The Colorado Public Utilities Commission on July 23 voted to set for hearing an application from Public Service Company of Colorado to approve a multi-year gas infrastructure plan covering projects the company says are needed from 2025 through 2030. Commissioners also established parties to the case and granted the company’s motion for extraordinary protection to limit public access to detailed GIS mapping and underlying system data.

The commission’s action follows an application filed May 23 in which Public Service described a GIP containing 62 projects with an estimated $572,000,000 in capital expenditures. The filing asked the commission for approval under commission rule 4455, a presumption of prudence for planned projects and cost estimates, certificates of public convenience and necessity for two projects, and other relief.

The commission’s decision sets a formal hearing so the parties can litigate the merits. Commission counsel indicated the filing is supported by direct testimony from 13 witnesses. Commissioners instructed staff to prepare a minute-entry decision that will set the hearing, list the parties and grant the extraordinary-protection request; the commission did not order supplemental direct testimony at this meeting and will address any further directives at a…