2023 Colorado Revised Statutes › Title 40 - UTILITIES (§§ 40-1-101 — 40-43-104) › PUBLIC UTILITIES (§§ 40-1-101 — 40-17.5-105) › GENERAL AND ADMINISTRATIVE (§§ 40-1-101 — 40-9.8-104) › Article 6.5 - OFFICE OF THE UTILITY CONSUMER ADVOCATE (§§ 40-6.5-101 — 40-6.5-109) › Section 40-6.5-104 - Representation by the director - powers of the office

(1)
The director shall represent the public interest and, to the extent consistent therewith, the specific interests of residential consumers, agricultural consumers, and small business consumers by appearing in proceedings before the commission and appeals therefrom in matters that involve proposed changes in a public utility's rates and charges; in matters involving rule-making that have an impact on the charges, the provision of services, or the rates to consumers; and in matters that involve certificates of public convenience and necessity for facilities employed in the provision of utility service, the construction of which would have a material effect on the utility's rates and charges.
(2)
In determining whether to appear in a proceeding of the commission, the director shall consider the importance and the extent of the public interest involved. In evaluating the public interest, including the impact on rates and charges to consumers, the director shall give due consideration to statutory decarbonization goals set forth in sections
25-7-102(2)(g)
and
40-2-125.5(3)
, just transition in accordance with section
40-2-133
, environmental justice, and the short- and long-term effect of the proceedings upon various classes of consumers, so as not to jeopardize the interest of one class in an action by another. If the director determines that there may be inconsistent interests among the various classes of the consumers that the director represents in a particular matter, the director may choose to represent one of the interests or to represent no interest. Nothing in this section limits the right of any person to petition or make complaint to the commission or otherwise intervene in proceedings or other matters before the commission.
(3)
The director shall be served with notices of all proposed gas and electric tariffs, and the director shall be served with copies of all orders of the commission affecting the charges of agricultural consumers, residential consumers, and small business consumers.
(4)
The office may intervene in matters before the commission that relate to a telecommunications service proceeding, including a rule-making proceeding, that has an impact on the provision or quality of telecommunications service.
(5)
The office shall not recommend that the commission take any action that would interfere with the administration or determination of employees' wages, health insurance, or retirement benefits negotiated between a regulated utility and a labor union through collective bargaining.
Amended by 2021 Ch. 477,§6, eff. 9/1/2021.
Amended by 2015 Ch. 297,§4, eff. 6/5/2015.
L. 84: Entire article added, p. 1045, § 1, effective July 1. L. 2015: (3) amended, (SB 15-271), ch. 297, p. 1225, § 4, effective June 5. L. 2021: Entire section amended, (SB 21-103), ch. 3410, p. 3410, § 6, effective September 1.