Landmark Clean Heat legislation from 2021 requires Colorado’s gas utilities to reduce greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions from gas burned inside their customers’ homes and buildings by 4 percent by 2025 and 22 percent by 2030. Environmental and public health advocates agree that energy efficiency and beneficial electrification at the individual household level is the best way to meet those requirements at the lowest cost. Unfortunately, Xcel Energy—the state’s largest utility and the first utility required to file a Clean Heat Plan under the 2021 law—missed the mark in its inaugural Clean Heat application.
It is now up to Colorado’s Public Utilities Commission to listen to what every day Coloradans are asking for, sort through the evidence that will be presented to them by consumer and climate advocates, and direct Xcel to make the right investments in the…