Rep. Dan Woog Pushes to Expand Colorado PUC to Five Members

A $511 million. That’s the total value of pending electricity and gas rate increases currently sitting before the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC). And right now, the people regulating that money are arguing the panel is too small.

Rep. Dan Woog, a Frederick Republican, wants to change that. He’s pushing a compromise to expand the three-member commission to five members. It’s not about firing anyone. It’s about "ideological diversity," according to Robert Kenney, president of Xcel Energy’s Colorado subsidiary. Xcel is the single biggest utility in the state, serving 1.6 million electric customers and 1.5 million natural gas customers. They’ve been loud about it.

“We’re simply not getting a good representation on the PUC with three people,” Woog said. “It’s just of the utmost importance that we have people there that understand different parts of the state.”

Let’s look at the math. The fiscal note from last session estimated the cost of a five-member commission at just under $1 million. That’s the price of admission for what Kenney calls "better public policy outcomes." He argues that testing ideas against people with different perspectives leads to better decisions. It’s not a commentary on the three specific commissioners currently in office. It’s structural.

The PUC oversees 178 companies. We’re talking taxis, telecommunications, railroads, pipelines, and the big ones: electric and gas utilities. Xcel is the elephant in the room. They’re the ones with the $511 million in rate hikes pending. They want a bigger say in how the regulator is structured.

Critics say the commission is prioritizing green energy mandates over cost savings. Others argue it’s focused on urban centers like Denver and Fort Collins while ignoring rural areas. Xcel has criticized the size of some of its own rate and resource decisions. It’s a bit of a paradox: the regulated entity wants to change the regulators.

Erin Overturf, clean energy director for Western Resource Advocates, sees a different angle. “The PUC has been performing well in its role of protecting consumers from potential exploitation from monopoly utilities,” she said. She views the push for expansion as a coordinated effort from utilities to undermine faith in the commission.

House Bill 1326, the Sunset Public Utilities Commission bill, is racing through the legislative session. It extends the PUC’s operations for 11 years. A compromise amendment was added for a study of the commission’s composition, budget, and operations. It’s a way to buy time. It’s a way to study the problem before fixing it.

For context, consider what this means for folks on the Western Slope. The PUC sets the rates you pay for electricity and natural gas. If the commission expands, the dynamics of how those rates are approved could shift. Xcel wants more voices at the table. They argue that three people can’t adequately represent the diverse needs of the entire state, from the Front Range to the valleys.

But who pays for that expansion? Just under $1 million. That’s taxpayer money, or rather, utility ratepayer money, since the PUC funds itself through fees. It’s a small number compared to the pending rate hikes, but it’s a recurring cost.

The bill is moving fast. It’s in the final days of the session. The story isn’t just that the commission is being reauthorized. It’s that the structure is being debated while the money is still on the table. Xcel wants five members. The current setup has three. The cost is low. The political stakes are high.

The practical bottom line? You’re paying for the regulators who regulate your bills. If the commission expands, the oversight changes. The rates might change. And the $511 million in pending increases will be reviewed by a different set of eyes. Whether that leads to lower bills or just different arguments is unclear. But the push is real. The money is there. And the debate is just beginning.