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DENVER, CO — The House Energy and Environment Committee today passed the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) Sunset (HB26-1326). This legislation would extend the critical functions of the PUC while modernizing the commission to meet the needs of consumers and businesses.
“From utilities and cell phones to renewable energy investments, the PUC touches the lives of nearly every Coloradan,” said Majority Leader Monica Duran, D-Wheat Ridge. “Our bill not only extends the critical functions of the PUC, but modernizes the agency to ensure it’s more streamlined and efficient. We need a dynamic and modern PUC that’s able to respond to the task at hand, and this bill enacts important measures to improve the commission, protect jobs, and focus on consumers and ratepayers.”
“The safety and security of our transportation services and utility infrastructure matters, and we’re taking steps to ensure our PUC is appropriately resourced and efficient,” said Rep. Jenny Willford, D-Northglenn. “Without the bill, the PUC will not be able to continue its critical work, and it’s our responsibility to put forth legislation that keeps Coloradans safe and connected. HB26-1326 takes bold action to help protect ratepayers, strengthen transportation safety and modernize the commission.”
HB26-1326 passed committee by a vote of 9-4. The PUC is the primary regulator of Colorado’s electric, gas, water, telecommunications and transportation services. Without this bill, the PUC would expire on September 1, 2026. This bill extends PUC's critical functions for another seven years while modernizing and boosting transparency within the agency. In 2019, the PUC Sunset established a minimum value for the cost of carbon pollution. This helped modernize benefits to ratepayers and improve Colorado's clean energy transition. HB26-1326 continues Colorado’s clean energy transition that will lower utility costs and foster new jobs.
Meeting Colorado’s renewable energy goals
To help Colorado meet its energy goals, this bill updates and streamlines clean energy reporting requirements and scheduling for utility companies. As amended, this bill would boost transparency and accountability by allowing the PUC to investigate how to streamline and integrate energy planning proceedings and report its findings to the General Assembly. The bill would also help electrical utilities secure more renewable energy assets, such as wind and solar, by requiring the PUC to conduct a study regarding the barriers companies face towards joint procurement, or collaborative purchasing for a large-scale investment.
Safety improvements
This bill takes steps to improve rail, pipeline and transportation safety and security in Colorado. Under HB26-1326, state rail oversight would be aligned with federal law for consistency. The bill also includes the creation of an oversight program that would review, approve and monitor the creation and implementation of passenger and freight rail in Colorado.
To improve consumer accountability and safety, this bill requires transportation network companies (TNCs), such as Uber and Lyft, to submit an annual report to the PUC that contains all safety-related incident reports involving the company or a rider. The bill would also require TNCs to provide the commission’s contact information to riders for increased transparency. HB26-1326 also requires activity buses, limos, and off-road scenic charters to receive scheduled inspections by the commission to ensure they are safe for travel.
Modernizing telecommunications and protecting consumers
Mobile, wireless, cellular, landlines and satellite telecommunications fall under the PUC’s purview and are charged a fee to provide service in Colorado to help maintain and expand our state’s telecommunications infrastructure. This bill extends the fee to include more telecommunications systems, including voice service providers (VoIP), such as Google Voice or Zoom Phone.
To boost consumer protections and crack down on bad actors, this bill increases fees for companies that purchase the no-call lists and sell them to other companies. The PUC would also be required to conduct a study into this and other income-based energy assistance programs to improve funding access and equity.