Ratepayer Coalition opposes Xcel Energy’s proposed settlement on Rush Creek
Xcel Energy announced that the company reached a settlement with multiple intervening parties on the Rush Creek Wind Farm. Xcel needed the settlement to keep on its already greatly compressed time line as the Denver Post reported on September 6, “The settlement between Xcel Energy and multiple parties heads off three days of hearings before the Colorado Public […]
Xcel Energy, PUC, and OCC are Irresponsible by Ratepayers
By Amy Oliver Cooke and Michael Sandoval Is it time to eliminate the Office of Consumer Counsel (OCC) and elect our Commissioners who serve on the Public Utilities Commission (PUC)? Maybe. Our recent insider perspective on the so-called approval process by supposedly neutral regulators leaves us pondering that very question. The most recent Xcel Energy […]
Rep. Shawn Mitchell: No on SB 200: Resist federal control
Gov’t-run “exchanges are cogs in the machinery of the federal bill. SB 200 creates increased bureaucracy & the framework for subsidies — costs for most of us — & mandates, while conveniently concentrating the action in a perfect shooting gallery for the same special interests & connected players that drag the current system.” Shawn Mitchell in the Denver Post.
Colo. Senate passes SB 11-200, would create politically-controlled health insurance exchange
On April 27 the Colorado state Senate passed SB 11-200, which could establish a government-controlled health insurance exchange. Read up on why this is a bad idea.
HB 1291 second reading: snuggies, moderates and the gavel
Great quotes from today’s Senate floor debate on HB 1291, which saw republicans Scott Renfroe, Kevin Lundberg and Shawn Mitchell collaborate with democrat Lois Tochtrop to save money for Xcel ratepayers. Two pro-consumer amendments that closely mirror SB 236 and SB 237 were defeated. Senator Lois Tochtrop: “I’m buying stock in snuggies because that’s all […]
Colo. SB11-200: Shawn Mitchell on opposing state-run insurance exchange
Government-run exchanges “are just the next layer [of political meddling in health care]: a government solution to government problems. But it’s worse than déjà vu. Exchanges are likely to exacerbate the problem of political distortion.”
Representative Looper a voice for ratepayers
My apologies to Representative Marsha Looper for not including her name as one of the seven no votes on HB 1291. As my colleague William Yeatman wrote, it was Rep. Looper along with Representative Jim Kerr who initially asked for a hearing on the Air Quality Control Commission’s State Implementation Plan that is the foundation […]
Amendment for ObamaCare waiver stalls Colo. Health Insurance Exchange, SB 11-200
Reps. Amy Stephens and Shawn Mitchell stall the CO health insurance exchange bill (SB 11-200) with amendment that requires a waiver from ObamaCare mandates before exchange can be implemented.
Energy legislation to watch in 2011
The 2011 legislative session began in earnest last week in Colorado. Below are several bills we are watching. SB11-058 Electric Utilities Employ Least-Cost Planning for New Resource Acquisition Senator Scott Renfroe (R-SD13) is the prime sponsor. The Public Utilities Commission must consider “cost” when deciding on new energy facilities and resource acquisition. Cost to ratepayers […]
