Date: 02/15/2012

Final
BILL SUMMARY for HB12-1121

HOUSE COMMITTEE ON TRANSPORTATION

Votes: View--> Action Taken:
Moved substitute motion prepared amendment L.002.
Moved to adopt prepared amendment L.004 (Attachmen
Moved to refer House Bill 12-1121, as amended, to 		Pass Without Objection

PASS



05:11 PM -- House Bill 12-1121

The committee took a brief recess.

05:26 PM

The committee came back to order. Representative Scott, prime sponsor, presented House Bill 12-1121. This bill specifies basic principles for investor-owned utilities (IOUs) to follow when seeking approval of rate increases, and for the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) in assessing those requests. These principles include ensuring that consumer interests are among the IOUs highest priorities, and requiring IOUs to share rate increase information with the public in a transparent and understandable form. In addition the bill prohibits IOUs from charging ratepayers for costs associated with:

• research and development;
• compliance with proposed environmental regulations that have not yet been enacted by the federal government; and
• legal fees and other costs incurred when seeking rate increases.

Finally, the bill directs the PUC to require the provision of utility service at the least cost consistent with providing reliable service for all customer classes. Representative Scott discussed the provisions of the bill.

The following people testified on the bill:

05:28 PM -- Mr. Richard Mignogna, representing himself, testified in support of the bill. Mr. Mignogna distributed handouts to the committee (Attachments D and E).

120215AttachD.pdf120215AttachE.pdf

05:39 PM -- Ms. Polly Page, representing the Colorado Consumer Coalition, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Page responded to questions from the committee.

05:47 PM -- Ms. Amy Oliver Cooke, representing the Independence Institute, testified in support of the bill. Ms. Cooke responded to questions from the committee.

05:55 PM

Representative Scott read a letter by Catherine Benavidez, who was not able to attend the meeting.
BILL:HB12-1121
TIME: 06:00:19 PM
MOVED:Scott
MOTION:Moved to adopt prepared amendment L.004 (Attachment F). The motion failed due to the passage of a substitute motion.
SECONDED:Brown
VOTE
(None)
Barker
Brown
Fischer
Hamner
Jones
Priola
Ramirez
Scott
Tyler
Williams A.
Young
Looper
Vaad
YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION:

120215AttachF.pdf

6:03 PM

Representative Hamner asked if the amendment falls under the title of the bill. Representative Vaad determined that the proposed amendment does fall under the title of the bill. The committee discussed undue burden. Members of the committee commented on the proposed amendment.
BILL:HB12-1121
TIME: 06:06:26 PM
MOVED:Priola
MOTION:Moved a substitute motion, prepared amendment L.002 (Attachment G). The motion passed without objection.
SECONDED:Brown
VOTE
(None)
Barker
Brown
Fischer
Hamner
Jones
Priola
Ramirez
Scott
Tyler
Williams A.
Young
Looper
Vaad
YES: 0 NO: 0 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: Pass Without Objection

120215AttachG.pdf

06:07 PM

Representative Scott commented on renewable rates.
BILL:HB12-1121
TIME: 06:08:41 PM
MOVED:Scott
MOTION:Moved to refer House Bill 12-1121, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole. The motion passed on a vote of 10-3.
SECONDED:Ramirez
VOTE
(None)
Barker
Yes
Brown
Yes
Fischer
No
Hamner
No
Jones
Yes
Priola
Yes
Ramirez
Yes
Scott
Yes
Tyler
No
Williams A.
Yes
Young
Yes
Looper
Yes
Vaad
Yes
YES: 10 NO: 3 EXC: 0 ABS: 0 FINAL ACTION: PASS




06:11 PM

The committee adjourned.