Opinion ID: 1144835
Heading Depth: 1
Heading Rank: 2

Heading: Customer Conservation Programs

Text: Appellants next argue that the commission, without the support of substantial evidence in the record, approved expenses for the customer conservation programs established by the PSC. Again we note that [f]indings and conclusions of the commission on disputed questions of fact, when based on competent evidence, are final and not subject to review by the courts. P. U. C. v. Watson, 138 Colo. 108, 330 P.2d 138 (1958). We have reviewed the extensive testimony and exhibits in the record relating to energy conservation, and find that there is substantial evidence to support the finding of facts by the commission. As an example, the president of the PSC testified that the best way to measure the effect of conservation is by the average annual usage per customer among residential customers. The commission found that the evidence showed that [g]as usage per customer on an annual basis has been reduced about 2 Mcf for a total of $1,200,000 Mcf. In response to the claim by a witness for appellant MPCSO that the conservation programs have not been proven to be cost effective, the commission stated that, while it would be appropriate for Public Service to evaluate carefully the cost effectiveness of its various conservation programs, we do not agree that the absence of a cost/benefit analysis at this time justifies the `below the line' treatment    advocated by the witness. That is a judgment of the commission which, lacking any indication of abuse of discretion, we are not at liberty to overrule, even if we should be so inclined. See Parrish v. P. U. C., 134 Colo. 192, 301 P.2d 343 (1956). We find no merit to appellants' argument that customer conservation programs are similar to the sale of appliances and thus do not warrant public utility treatment. We conclude that there is substantial evidence in the record to support the finding of the commission that the cost of customer conservation programs is allowable as a ratemaking expense. [1]