The Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) regulates investor-owned utilities in Colorado (Xcel and Black Hills) and Tri-State Generation and Transmission Association, a non-profit that provides power to electric distribution cooperatives and public power districts across several states.  The PUC does NOT regulate the Platte River Power Authority (PRPA), although it is similar to Tri-State in that it provides power to four municipal utilities in Northern Colorado that then sell the power to their residents.

As we saw earlier this year, PRPA is not particularly responsive to the ratepayers in the four municipalities served (Fort Collins, Longmont, Loveland, and Estes Park). It made the bad decision last spring to build a new gas plant at this late stage of the climate crisis, despite an outpouring of public opposition, and even though better options were available from the standpoint of both ratepayers’ pocketbooks and the environment.  The PRPA is governed by a supine board composed of the mayors of the four municipalities, utility directors, and in the case of Fort Collins, an assistant City Manager.  The board has its fiduciary responsibility to the PRPA – not to the ratepayers.

The Fort Collins Sustainability Group believes that the ratepayers and the environment would be better served if the PRPA were regulated by the PUC like other Colorado Utilities.  This would require the PRPA to answer to PUC commissioners, who are generally knowledgeable about utility issues and less subject to manipulation by PRPA management than PRPA board members.

We have an opportunity to have the PRPA placed under PUC regulation during the 2026 legislative session, when the PUC must be reauthorized by the legislature under Colorado’s sunset review process.  We can provide input to the Department of Regulatory Affairs (DORA) now, although time is short!  The more DORA hears from Colorado residents that the PRPA should regulated by the PUC, the more likely it is that the legislature will consider adding that to the reauthorization bill.

Please click on this link to submit your comments to DORA. Answer however you would like to the first seven or eight questions.  Under general comments, ask for the PRPA to be included as a regulated utility.  Here is a sample response, please personalize it:

“I’d like to see the PUC regulate the Platte River Power Authority (PRPA). The PRPA is not answerable to the ratepayers in the four municipalities served, and does not act in their best interests.  PRPA board members are required to act in the best interests of the PRPA, not of the ratepayers. PUC oversight would help protect the interest of both ratepayers and the environment.”

Thank you!