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Across Colorado, families are feeling the impacts of pollution, drought and rising costs — including energy bills. But who decides how much your utility company can charge you? Who decides whether Colorado invests in clean, affordable energy, or keeps paying for dirty, costly fossil fuels?

The Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) is a state agency that regulates essential public utilities in Colorado, like energy, gas, water, telecommunications and transportation. It’s led by three commissioners, appointed by the governor, who are responsible for ensuring Coloradans receive safe, reliable and reasonably-priced services.

The PUC makes decisions that can affect:

• Your electricity and gas bills
• Whether utilities invest in clean energy or costly coal and gas projects
• The reliability of your service
• Who pays when large energy users, like data centers, need more power

These decisions have a major impact on the everyday lives of Coloradans.

Utility companies, like Xcel Energy, provide essential services that Coloradans depend on every day. We use electricity and gas to keep the lights on, heat and cool our homes, cook meals and power local businesses. Since most Coloradans can’t choose a different utility company when bills rise or service worsens, strong oversight from the PUC is essential to holding utility companies accountable to serving the public, not just their shareholders.

Before utility companies can raise rates or make big investments in new infrastructure, they often need PUC approval. The commission can protect ratepayers from unfair costs, require better customer service and ensure utilities are investing in clean and affordable energy options.

Clean, renewable energy can help lower costs over time and reduce pollution that harms our air, water and health. If utility companies continue relying on aging coal plants and fossil fuel infrastructure, Coloradans can be impacted by higher bills, increased pollution and greater health impacts. Black, Brown, Latino and working communities are hit first and hardest by the high energy burdens, poor air quality and health risks associated with fossil fuels.

The PUC can help protect families from rising costs and pollution while building a more efficient and reliable system by requiring utility companies to invest in clean, renewable energy options.

The PUC also has an important role as data centers and other large corporate energy users increase demand for electricity and new infrastructure. The commission can help protect Coloradans from getting stuck with these costs by holding corporations accountable for paying their fair share for the energy they need, and by ensuring that data center developers do not use dirty, costly energy like gas and coal to power these facilities.

You have a say in PUC decisions that affect your bills, homes and communities. Sharing your experiences with rising bills, unreliable service, outages and pollution helps commissioners understand what’s at stake for Colorado communities.

Here’s how you can make your voice heard:

• Participate in a proceeding – You can speak at a public comment hearing or submit written comments online, by email, phone or mail
• File a consumer complaint
• Contact the commission

Want to learn more about how you can get involved in important PUC decisions? Join our mailing list and follow us on social media for updates on opportunities to take action.