Second Regular Session
              Sixty-eighth General Assembly
                    STATE OF COLORADO
                                                 INTRODUCED
                                                           
                                                           
 LLS NO. 12-0577.01 Duane Gall x4335     HOUSE BILL 12-1121
                    HOUSE SPONSORSHIP
 Scott,
 
                   SENATE SPONSORSHIP
 (None),
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 House Committees
 Senate Committees
 
 
 Transportation
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
                         A BILL FOR AN ACT
       Concerning enactment of the utility ratepayers' bill of
            rights for customers of investor-owned utilities in
            Colorado.
       
       
                           Bill Summary
       
            (Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does
       not reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted. If this bill
       passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that
       applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at
       http://www.leg.state.co.us/billsummaries.)
       
            In statutes governing the conduct of rate-making proceedings by
       the Colorado public utilities commission (commission), the bill lists basic
       principles to be followed by the commission and by investor-owned
       public utilities seeking approval of rate increases. The principles include:
                 Keeping in mind that investor-owned utilities exist for the
                 benefit of consumers as well as utility shareholders, and
                 that the interests of consumers should always be among the
                 utility's highest priorities;
                 Requiring utilities to share rate increase information with
                 the public in a transparent and understandable form,
                 including illustrating the cost impact to specific customers
                 in addition to the hypothetical average customer;
                 A prohibition on charging ratepayers for research and
                 development costs or for complying with environmental
                 regulations that have not yet been imposed; and
                 A prohibition on recovering, from ratepayers, the utility's
                 legal fees and costs incurred in seeking rate increases.
       
       
       
       Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:
            SECTION 1.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 40-3-106.5 as
       follows:
            40-3-106.5.  Ratepayers' bill of rights - guidelines for
       commission - legislative declaration. (1)  The general assembly
       finds, determines, and declares that the interests of working
       Colorado families, small businesses, and other consumers of the
       products and services of investor-owned public utilities are
       often not adequately recognized in the commission's
       proceedings. Therefore, the commission shall always keep the
       following basic principles in mind whenever determining the
       rates to be charged for public utility service by investor-owned
       utilities:
            (a)  The interests of consumers, in addition to those of
       shareholders, should be the investor-owned public utility's
       highest priorities. The commission should require every
       investor-owned public utility to focus on the needs of the
       consumer, including providing reasonable rates, improved
       customer service, and fair treatment.
            (b)  Investor-owned public utilities shall share
       transparent and understandable rate increase information with
       the public when making a rate increase request, including using
       advanced information-processing capabilities to estimate, upon
       request, the monthly cost to specific customers or identified
       groups of customers rather than only to a hypothetical
       average customer.
            (c)  Investor-owned public utilities shall not charge
       ratepayers for research and development costs.
            (d)  Investor-owned public utilities shall not pass on costs
       for complying with proposed federal environmental regulations
       until those regulations have been enacted by the federal
       government.
            (e)  Investor-owned public utilities shall not charge
       ratepayers for attorney fees and related costs in pursuing rate
       increases.
            (f)  The commission shall protect ratepayers first by
       requiring the provision of utility service at the least cost
       consistent with providing reliable service for residential, small
       business, commercial, and industrial consumers.
            SECTION 2.  Applicability. The provisions of this act apply to
       all cases filed on or after the effective date of this act.
            SECTION 3.  Safety clause. The general assembly hereby finds,
       determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate
       preservation of the public peace, health, and safety.