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First Regular Session | 75th General Assembly
Colorado General Assembly

PUBLIC
BILL SUMMARY For SB23-291

SENATE COMMITTEE ON FINANCE
Date Apr 20, 2023       Location SCR 357

SB23-291 - Referred to Senate Appropriations
12:56:42 PM  
President Fenberg and Sen. Cutter introduced Senate Bill 23-291.  The bill updates transparency, rulemaking, and rate filing requirements for certain electric and gas utilities.  The sponsors answered several committee questions.
01:00:31 PM  
Written testimony and handouts may be found in Attachment A.
01:30:36 PM  
Robert Kenney, representing Xcel Energy, testified in opposition to the bill.  Mr. Ryan Hyland, representing Town of Silverthorne, testified to amend the bill.  Phil Hayes, representing Pipefitters Local 208 & IBEW 111, testified in opposition to the bill.  Raymond Gonzales, representing the Denver Metro Chamber of Commerce & Metro Denver Economic Development Council, testified in opposition to the bill.
01:50:17 PM  
Committee discussion ensued with the witnesses.
02:02:16 PM  
Ms. Meera Fickling, representing Western Resource Advocates, testified in support of the bill. Joe Smyth, representing the Energy and Policy Institute, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Albert Lin, representing Pearl Street Station Finance Lab, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Danny Katz, representing the Colorado Public Interest Research Group, testified in support of the bill.
02:13:26 PM  
Committee discussion ensued with the witnesses.
02:22:41 PM  
Mr. Nick Wagner, representing Black Hills Energy, testified in opposition to the bill. Dave Davia, representing the Rocky Mountain Mechanical Contractors Association, testified in opposition to the bill. Cathy Shull, representing Pro 15, testified in opposition to the bill. Sara Blackhurst, representing Action 22, testified in opposition to the bill.
02:29:57 PM  
Committee discussion ensued with the witnesses.
02:54:35 PM  
Alana Miller, representing the Natural Resources Defense Council (NRDC), testified in support of the bill.  Joe Pereira, representing DORA/Utility Consumer Advocate, was available to answer committee questions.  PUC Deputy Director Gene Camp, representing the Colorado Public Utilities Commission, was available to answer committee questions.  Mr. Michael Nicoletti, representing DORA, provided some comments on the bill.
02:55:00 PM  
Committee discussion ensued with the witnesses.
03:11:16 PM  
Kathie Barstnar, representing NAIOP Colorado, testified in opposition to the bill. Rachel Beck, representing the Colorado Competitive Council, testified in opposition to the bill. Jeff Keener, representing the South Metro Denver Chamber, testified in opposition to the bill. Richard Werner, representing the Upstate Colorado Economic Development, testified in opposition to the bill.
03:21:38 PM  
Lake County Commissioner Jeff Fiedler, representing themself, testified to amend the bill. Jacob Smith, representing Colorado Communities for Climate Action, testified to amend the bill. Mr. Tom Walch, representing Grand Valley Power, testified to amend the bill. Ms. Angela Monroe, representing Colorado Natural Gas, testified to amend the bill.
03:32:54 PM  
Mr. Andrew Pascoe, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Ted Leighty, representing the Colorado Association of Home Builders, testified in a neutral position on the bill. David Takahashi, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Lynn Segal, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.
03:49:10 PM  
Mrs. Candace Carnahan, representing the Grand Junction Area Chamber of Commerce, testified in opposition to the bill.  Paul Camillo, representing the Summit County Builders Association, testified in opposition to the bill.  Yuri Gorlov, representing the Aurora Economic Development Council, testified in opposition to the bill.
03:55:38 PM  
Dr. Nancy Loving, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.  Mr. David Alley, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.  Ms. Emily Tracy, representing themself, testified in support of the bill.  Ms. Patricia McLaughlin, representing the Sierra Club, testified in support of the bill.  Valley Lopez, representing 350 Colorado, testified in support of the bill.  Ms. Heather Maio, representing themself, testified in support of the bill. Commissioner Jeff Fielder, representing themself, testified to amend the bill.
04:01:29 PM  
The sponsors made some closing remarks.

04:20:05 PM
 Motion Refer Senate Bill 23-291 to the Committee on Appropriations.
Moved Fenberg
Seconded
Fenberg Yes
Kirkmeyer No
Priola Yes
Smallwood No
Van Winkle No
Winter F. Yes
Kolker Yes
Final YES: 4   NO: 3   EXC: 0   ABS:  0   FINAL ACTION:  PASS