PUC approves alternative notice forms for Public Service gas filing, tells company to keep wording factual

The Public Utilities Commission on Jan. 7 approved alternative forms of notice requested by Public Service Company of Colorado in its gas rate proceeding but told the company the Commission's approval covers form, not the content of the notices.

Lindsay Dundas, commission counsel, told the panel that the company asked to use a digital legal notice (Denver Post website), post the full rate case on its public website, email prior-party customers and send a bill insert to retail natural gas customers. Commissioners agreed those methods meet statutory notice requirements but Commissioner Gilman urged the final order to state explicitly that approval is for the form and not an endorsement of the companies' wording.

This notice should plainly inform customers of the company's request for bill increases and provide details about how customers can find more information, Gilman said, urging language that prevents the notices from being used as an advertising platform for company policy preferences. Dundas recommended the order clarify that the Commission approves the attachments as filed only for form and that the Commission's words are not adopted as the company's promotional content.

The panel agreed that, given timing constraints for notices already in process, the Commission would not require edits to materials already going out but would remove or prohibit editorial statements in future filings. The Commission directed staff to issue an ABC decision documenting that distinction.

The matter was pulled from the consent agenda for separate consideration and approved as modified during the Jan. 7 meeting. The Commission did not record a roll-call vote on the record; commissioners verbally indicated agreement.