After shooting through most of its energy efficiency budget for this year, Xcel Energy has suspended all its programs for businesses and asked state regulators for an additional $34 million above the $93.6 million already agreed on.
"They experienced a gold rush from the cannabis industry and fumbled it in the usual manner and the usual manner is when they do something wrong, they come to the ratepayers for more money," said Joseph Pereira, deputy director of the Utility Consumer Advocate office.
But both those advocating for additional funding and those opposing it agreed that Xcel Energy should have done a better job monitoring the program.
The PUC staff said it "does not consider Public Service's questionable management of those programs to be a compelling reason justifying the imposition of additional costs onto ratepayers."
In a scenario akin to robbing Peter to pay Paul, Blank suggested moving funds from the 2025-26 budget to fill the 2024 gap, which the other commissioners agreed on in principle.
Read more at The Colorado Sun.