DENVER, Colo. – June 2, 2020 – Black Hills Energy yesterday submitted a regulatory rate review proposal to the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to recover investments made in natural gas infrastructure across Colorado. These critical investments were made to ensure the safe and reliable delivery of natural gas to customers’ homes and businesses and meet compliance requirements of state and federal regulations. Black Hills Energy provides natural gas service to approximately 194,000 customers across more than 100 communities in Colorado.
“Safety and reliability are top priorities, so we’re continually assessing and making necessary upgrades to our system with a critical eye toward long-term resilience and safe operation of our infrastructure,” said Vance Crocker, Black Hills Energy’s vice president of Colorado operations. “These important enhancements enable us to continue to meet the needs of our system, while ensuring that natural gas service remains cost-effective to Coloradans. We’re committed to working with the Colorado Public Utilities Commission through this process.”
Between July 2018 and December 2020, Black Hills Energy invested $144 million needed to continue providing customers safe, efficient and reliable energy. With these significant improvements to the natural gas system, as proposed, residential customer bills will increase based on geographic location and usage. The increase for commercial customers will vary, based on rate class, load factors and total usage. The rate review does not affect the cost of the natural gas delivered by Black Hills Energy, as the natural gas commodity cost is a market-based direct pass-through to customers, meaning there is no mark-up or profit for the utility.
If approved, the new natural gas service delivery rates would take effect in March 2022. To learn more about this rate review, please visit blackhillsenergy.com/reliableCO.
Customers who would like information about saving energy, or bill payment assistance, should call Black Hills Energy at 888-890-5554 or visit www.bhesavemoney.com.