Learn About Clean Heat Plans

These meetings have concluded.

In 2021, the General Assembly required gas distribution utilities—utilities that procure and distribute gas to retail customers such as residents and local businesses—to reduce greenhouse gas emissions by 4% by 2025 and by 22% by 2030, from a 2015 baseline.

To show that they are meeting these targets, gas utilities will file “Clean Heat Plans” or CHPs with the Commission starting in 2023. A CHP may include a mix of supply-side resources which replace traditional gas and demand-side resources which reduce the gas customers use. Together, these are called clean heat resources, and include:

• Energy efficiency programs, which could allow you to add more insulation at a reduced cost.
• Recovered methane, including the gas that is captured at landfills and water purification facilities.
• Green hydrogen, where water is converted to hydrogen through electrolysis using renewable energy.
• Beneficial electrification, which could allow you to switch from a gas furnace to an electric heat pump for heating, or from a gas to an electric stove for cooking at a reduced cost.

We do not know precisely what combination of clean heat resources utilities will propose. However, state law requires that utility plans be of the lowest reasonable cost, meaning a reasonable cost that still allows them to manage reliability and other state goals, like environmental justice.

See the January 27, 2022 Proceeding Overview Meeting slides for more information about CHPs.

The Public Utilities Commission makes rules for several reasons, such as to provide customers clarity for what kind of treatment they can expect from a regulated entity, and to provide detail that goes beyond what is in legislation.

Through Senate Bill 21-264, the General Assembly directed the Commission to create rules that require utilities to file CHPs and take other actions to reduce carbon emissions. In response, the Commission opened Proceeding 21R-0449G in October 2021, and issued a notice of proposed rulemaking (Decision No. C21-0610). The Commission has since held multiple workshops and public comment hearings.

At a meeting on June 22, 2022, the Commission agreed to issue a modified version of its proposed rules and seek more comments. All documents related to this rulemaking can be found in the Commission’s E-Filings system under Proceeding 21R-0449G.

The Commission must make a final decision on the rules by December 1, 2022. The first CHP will be filed by Public Service Company of Colorado (Xcel Energy) on August 1, 2023. The Commission’s rulemaking will address CHPs and other issues related to gas service for Public Service, Atmos Energy, Black Hills Colorado Gas, and Colorado Natural Gas.

Register here for any of the six community meetings that the Commission is holding this summer in disproportionately impacted communities. To learn more about disproportionately impacted communities, visit puc.colorado.gov/equity.

The Commission will be holding public comment hearings later in the year. Information will be updated here and on the Commission’s public calendar.

You can submit written or verbal comments at any time the proceeding is open:

• Submitting written comments through the Commission’s Electronic Filing System (E-Filings) at https://www.dora.state.co.us/pls/efi/EFI.homepage.
• Submitting written comments using the Commission’s online form or through email at dora_puc_website@state.co.us. These comments will be posted in E-Filings for this Proceeding.
• Mailing comments to the Commission’s offices at: Colorado Public Utilities Commission, 1560 Broadway, Suite 250, Denver, CO 80202.
• Calling (303) 869-3490 to leave oral comments (English and Spanish options).

Please include “Proceeding No. 21R-0449G” in public comments.