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I_IOU_2019A 10/03/2019 09:06:09 AM Committee Summary

PUBLIC
STAFF SUMMARY OF MEETING
INTERIM COMMITTEE  INVESTOR-OWNED UTILITY REVIEW INTERIM STUDY COMMITTEE
Date 10/03/2019
Attendance
Larry Atencio X
Geitner X
Jennifer Gremmert X
Terry Hart X
Hisey X
Hooton X
Larry Miloshevich X
Kurt Morrison X
Rodriguez X
Anne Stattelman X
Emily Tracy X
Brooke Trammell E
Kennedy X
Garcia *
X = Present, E = Excused, A = Absent, * = Present after roll call
Time 09:06:09 AM to 12:23:28 PM
Place Old State Library
This Meeting was called to order by Representative Kennedy
This Report was prepared by Vanessa Reilly
Hearing Items Action Taken
Colorado Rural Electric Association Committee Discussion Only
Presentation on Electricity Choice Committee Discussion Only
Public Testimony Committee Discussion Only
Interim Bill Draft Approvals Approved Bills 1, 2, and 3

Colorado Rural Electric Association - Committee Discussion Only


09:06:28 AM  

Geoff Hier, Patrick Mooney, and Reg Rudolph, representing the Colorado Rural Electric Association, gave a presentation on electric co-ops.

09:08:00 AM  
Mr. Rudolph, representing San Isabel Electric Association, discussed San Isabel's mission, functioning, exploration of renewable energy, and infrastructure cost.
09:22:36 AM  

Patrick Mooney, representing Intermountain Rural Electric Association, discussed the association's experience and the structure of electric utilities in Colorado.

09:23:29 AM  
Panel members responded to committee members' questions.



Presentation on Electricity Choice - Committee Discussion Only


10:15:44 AM  
Glen Andersen, representing the National
Conference of State Legislatures, gave a powerpoint presentation on community
choice aggregation (Attachment A).
10:15:47 AM  
Jacob Smith, representing Colorado Communities
for Climate Action (CC4CA), discussed the range of options for local jurisdictions
to choose their electricity providers.
10:33:19 AM  
Tim McCollough, representing the City of
Fort Collins Utilities Light & Power and CC4CA, discussed CC4CA's renewable
energy initiatives.
10:34:38 AM  
Karey Christ-Janer, independent advocate, explained her work with community choice.
10:58:25 AM  
Panel members responded to committee members' questions.
11:22:49 AM  
Committee discussion about the proposed legislation continued with the panelists.



Public Testimony - Committee Discussion Only


11:28:32 AM  
Andrew Bennett, representing Energy Outreach Colorado, testified in a neutral capacity on the draft bills.
11:49:50 AM  

Jack Ihle, representing Xcel Energy, testified in a neutral capacity on the draft bills.

11:52:29 AM  
Will Tour, representing the Colorado Energy Office, discussed the draft bills.



Interim Bill Draft Approvals - Approved Bills 1, 2, and 3


11:57:35 AM  

Senator Garcia made a motion that the committee recommend Bill 1 to the Legislative Council.  Representative Hooton presented the bill.  The bill requires the Public Utilities Commission to study the implementation of community choice energy in Colorado through a third-party study and an investigatory docket.

11:58:19 AM  
Mr. Miloshevich made a statement in support of the bill.
12:02:33 PM  
Committee members made comments on the bill.
12:13:18 PM  

The motion passed on a vote of 4-2, with Representative Geitner and Senator Hisey voting in the negative.

12:13:24 PM  

Senator Garcia announced that Bill 1 will be sponsored by Representative Hooton, and will start in the House.

12:14:11 PM  

Senator Garcia made a motion that the committee recommend Bill 2 to the Legislative Council.

12:14:18 PM  

Representative Kennedy explained Bill 2.  For four years beginning in FY 2020-21, the bill establishes conditional transfers from the General Fund to the Energy Outreach Colorado and Colorado Energy Office Low-income Energy Assistance Funds, which are triggered if severance tax revenue to either fund falls below $1.0 million in a given year.

12:16:48 PM  
Max Nardo, representing Legislative Council Staff, responded to committee members' questions regarding the fiscal note.
12:20:10 PM  

The motion passed on a vote of 4-2, with Representative Geitner and Senator Hisey voting in the negative.

12:20:14 PM  

Senator Garcia announced that Bill 2 will be sponsored by Representative Kennedy, and will start in the House.

12:20:21 PM  

Senator Garcia made a motion that the committee recommend Bill 3 to the Legislative Council.  Senator Garcia presented the bill.  The bill requires the Public Utilities Commission to collect information from utilities on medical exemptions from tiered electricity rates; to adopt standard practices for gas and electric utilities to follow when disconnecting service due to nonpayment; and to conduct a proceeding to evaluate a policy of requiring public utilities to report positive information to credit reporting agencies. The bill also prohibits public utilities from employing certain rate structures without obtaining opt-in from customers.

12:21:56 PM  

The motion passed on a vote of 5-1, with Representative Geitner voting in the negative.

12:22:00 PM  

Senator Garcia announced that he and Senator Rodriguez would be co-prime sponsors of Bill 3, and that the bill will start in the Senate.

12:22:12 PM  
Duane Gall, representing the Office of Legislative Legal Services, requested permission to make technical changes.


12:23:28 PM   The committee adjourned.






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