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PUC opens pre-rulemaking docket to gather public input after December public safety power shutoffs
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Summary
The Colorado Public Utilities Commission voted to open a miscellaneous docket to gather public comments, hold remote hearings and information meetings after December PSPS events that de-energized tens of thousands of customers; staff proposed immediate steps to inform a forthcoming wildfire mitigation and PSPS rulemaking.
The Colorado Public Utilities Commission on Dec. 30 voted to open a miscellaneous proceeding to collect public input and review recent public safety power shutoff (PSPS) events, after staff said the utility proactively de-energized between 50,000 and 60,000 customers and that tens of thousands more lost power during high-wind conditions.
Erin O'Neil of the commission's fixed-utility staff said the commission previously opened an M docket after an April 2024 PSPS event and that staff is proposing four immediate actions: open a new miscellaneous docket to aggregate public comments, schedule a remote public-comment hearing, hold commission information meetings with county and other governmental entities and direct staff to report on the company's implementation of its wildfire mitigation plan.
"During each of the PSPS events 2 weeks ago, the company proactively de-energized between 50 and 60000 customers, and tens of thousands of additional customers lost power as a direct result of the high wind conditions over that time period," O'Neil said.
Commissioners supported the plan as a near-term vehicle to capture experiences while they remain fresh and to inform a later formal rulemaking on wildfire mitigation and PSPS. One commissioner said the docket will help ensure the commission "have really a vehicle to understand the customer experience," and another noted more than 1,700 comments had already been received online.
The commission directed staff to work with administrative and advisory staff to schedule the public-comment hearing and information meetings and to bring back a decision reflecting the opening order. Commissioners indicated the docket will be used for outreach and to inform a later rulemaking on WMP and PSPS requirements.
The vote to open the pre-rulemaking M docket was recorded as a 3–0 decision to open the proceeding and issue an order to begin the outreach steps recommended by staff. The commission said additional scoping and scheduling details will follow.
