s_agr_2017a_2017-02-09t13:32:40z1 Hearing Summary
Date: 02/09/2017
Location: SCR 357
Confirmation of Public Utilities Commission
SENATE COMMITTEE ON AGRICULTURE, NATURAL RESOURCES, & ENERGY
| Votes: View--> | Action Taken: |
| Refer the appointment of Jeffrey Ackerman to the P Refer the appointment of Wendy Moser to the Public |
PASS PASS |
01:34 PM -- Confirmation of Public Utilities Commission
Doug Dean, Executive Director, Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC), discussed the role of the commission and introduced Wendy Moser as the Governor's appointment to the PUC.
01:37 PM
Wendy Moser -- of Highlands Ranch, appointed for a term expiring on January 7, 2019, and as a Republican -- discussed her experience and interest in serving on the PUC (Attachment B). Director Moser responded to questions from the committee about her experience as an employee of Black Hills Energy, Inc., and her interest in serving on the PUC.
170209 AttachB.pdf
01:40 PM
Senator Garcia announced that he distributed a packet of letters addressed to him that expressed concern about Director Moser's appointment (Attachment C). He also asked Director Moser to explain certain actions taken by Black Hills Energy, including recent rate increases.
170209 AttachC.pdf
01:55 PM
Director Moser responded to questions from the committee about the PUC rate adjustment process, PUC oversight of Black Hills Energy, the duties of the PUC, and other issues.
02:20 PM
Director Moser responded to questions from the committee about assistance available to low-income persons to help pay their utility bills and economic trends affecting the regulated utilities.
| BILL: | Conf 17-Public Utilities Commission | |
| TIME: | 02:31:59 PM | |
| MOVED: | Baumgardner | |
| MOTION: | Refer the appointment of Wendy Moser to the Public Utilities Commission to the full Senate with a favorable recommendation. The motion passed on a vote of 10-1. | |
| SECONDED: | ||
|
VOTE
|
||
|
Cooke
|
Yes
|
|
|
Coram
|
Yes
|
|
|
Donovan
|
Yes
|
|
|
Fenberg
|
Yes
|
|
|
Fields
|
Yes
|
|
|
Garcia
|
No
|
|
|
Jones
|
Yes
|
|
|
Marble
|
Yes
|
|
|
Scott
|
Yes
|
|
|
Baumgardner
|
Yes
|
|
|
Sonnenberg
|
Yes
|
|
|
YES: 10 NO: 1 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS
|
||
02:33 PM
Mr. Dean introduced Jeffrey Ackerman as the Governor's appointment to the PUC and explained that the appointee was a former employee of the PUC.
02:35 PM
Jeffrey Ackerman -- of Denver, appointed for a term expiring on January of 2021 as a Democrat and to serve as PUC chair -- discussed his experience and interest in serving on the PUC (Attachment B). He also responded to questions from the committee about economic trends affecting the regulated utilities; the duties of the PUC; the implementation of the federal Clean Power Plan; activities of the Colorado Energy Office that he used to head; and other issues.
02:50 PM
Director Ackerman responded to questions from the committee about regulated electric utilities; the rate setting process; assistance for low-income persons to pay their utility bills; the process for resolving erroneous bills; and other issues.
| BILL: | Conf 17-Public Utilities Commission | |
| TIME: | 03:18:43 PM | |
| MOVED: | ||
| MOTION: | Refer the appointment of Jeffrey Ackerman to the Public Utilities Commission to the full Senate with a favorable recommendation. The motion passed on a vote of 8-3. | |
| SECONDED: | ||
|
VOTE
|
||
|
Cooke
|
No
|
|
|
Coram
|
Yes
|
|
|
Donovan
|
Yes
|
|
|
Fenberg
|
Yes
|
|
|
Fields
|
Yes
|
|
|
Garcia
|
No
|
|
|
Jones
|
Yes
|
|
|
Marble
|
No
|
|
|
Scott
|
Yes
|
|
|
Baumgardner
|
Yes
|
|
|
Sonnenberg
|
Yes
|
|
|
Final YES: 8 NO: 3 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS
|
||
03:20 PM
The committee recessed.