s_agr_2017a_2017-04-06t13:37:40z3 Hearing Summary

Date: 04/06/2017

Location: SCR 357

04:23 PM -- SB 17-271



Senator Cook, prime sponsor, described the provisions of Senate Bill 17-271 concerning investor-owned utility cost recovery transparency. The bill requires an investor-owned utility to provide an applicant who is applying for a service extension for his or her property a written cost estimate and work schedule within 35 days of receiving the application. The utility may not commence work until the applicant signs and returns the estimate and schedule along with the payment of estimated costs. When the utility completes the service extension work, it must send the applicant an itemized statement of actual costs. If these costs exceed the estimate, the applicant is required to pay the utility the difference within 35 days of receipt. If costs are less than the estimate, the utility must refund the difference; no timeline is set in the bill for the utility refund. The bill also establishes procedures for adding properties to the service line extension, reimbursing property owners that have already paid a portion of the costs of the extended service line, and a mechanism for enforcing the procedures set forth in the bill.



The following persons testified on the bill:



04:29 PM -- Ted Neimi, Xcel Energy, spoke in opposition to the bill and explained that his company is involved in certain litigation that he may not be able to address. He also responded to questions from the committee about his opposition to the bill.



04:34 PM -- Mitch Peebley, Black Hills Energy, spoke in opposition to the bill and responded to prior questions from the committee regarding service extensions and other issues.



04:44 PM -- Bret Jones, Black Hills Energy, spoke in opposition to the bill and discussed the service extension process. He also responded to questions from the committee about the service extension application and complaint process.



04:57 PM -- Heidi Morgan, Black Hills Energy, spoke in opposition to the bill.



04:58 PM -- Kevin Kerrigan, Atmos Energy, spoke in opposition to the bill and discussed his company's service extension policies. He also responded to questions from the committee about the service extension process, the reason his company is opposed to the bill, and the effect of the bill on other ratepayers.



05:03 PM -- Bill Skewes, Colorado Association of Commerce and Industry, spoke in opposition to the bill.



05:09 PM -- Chris Elliot, Colorado Builds, spoke in support of the bill and discussed the master planning process and the utility extension process for such developments. He also responded to questions from the committee about the service extension process.



05:16 PM -- Tom Brinkman, Colorado Builds, spoke in support of the bill and discussed the master planning process and the utility extension process for such developments. He also responded to questions from the committee about the service extension process.



05:21 PM -- Bill Angelovic, Remington Homes, spoke in support of the bill and discussed costs related to utility service delays.



05:25 PM -- Rip Reid, RRR Ventures, spoke in support of the bill.



05:29 PM -- Rich Corbetta, Colorado Builds, spoke in support of the bill.



05:33 PM -- Mr. Neimi returned to answer questions from the committee about prior testimony in support of the bill and the PUC complaint process.



05:43 PM



The chair closed testimony, and the bill was laid over.