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Denver, CO — Today the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) declined to approve much of Xcel Energy’s Gas Infrastructure Plan (GIP), which lays out the utility’s forecasted investments in methane gas infrastructure over the coming years. The PUC largely agreed with environmental groups that Xcel must consider alternatives that better promote affordability and meet Colorado’s clean energy goals.
Xcel requested approval of a plan to spend $2.9 billion on its methane gas pipeline system from 2025-2030 and to charge customers for this infrastructure for decades to come. The PUC rejected many of Xcel’s requests for approval of its proposed gas infrastructure project budgets, citing concerns that Xcel is biased by its profit motive to spend more money on gas infrastructure that does not benefit customers or align with Colorado’s climate objectives. Xcel executives are making millions of dollars each year even as customer complaints and service disconnections have increased.
“Today the PUC continues to recognize that methane gas infrastructure creates enormous societal costs on our environment and energy bills,” said Sarah Tresedder, Senior Energy Organizer for Sierra Club Colorado. “Continuing to invest in dated infrastructure is not economic when Xcel operates an electric utility that can provide the same services with less environmental and cost risk. The PUC must continue requiring Xcel Energy to encourage the adoption of efficient technologies that require less work, less waste and that are ultimately safer.”
