Distribution System Plans
Distribution System Plans
In 2019 the Colorado General Assembly passed Senate Bill 19-236 (SB 19-236). Among other requirements, SB 19-236 directed the PUC to promulgate rules establishing the filing of Distribution System Plans. At a high-level, the legislation directed the Commission to establish the requirements, cadence, and contents for the filing of distribution system plans, including consideration of nonwires alternatives (NWAs). The Commission issued final rules on October 26, 2021 in Decision No. C21-0665. The rules established a biennial filing cadence for Distribution System Plans.
SB 24-218 further evolved distribution system planning by requiring the development of Distribution System Plans that affordably and reliably support the implementation of:
- Federal, state, regional, and local air quality and decarbonization targets, standards, plans, and regulations;
- The transportation, affordable housing, new infill housing, and building electrification policies of state and local law, including Air Quality Control Commission rules related to transportation electrification and building performance standards;
- State agency, local agency, and local government plans and requirements related to housing, economic development, critical facilities, transportation, and building electrification.
It also directs utilities to prioritize system upgrades targeted at improving infrastructure for income-qualified or Disproportionately Impacted communities with residential capacity constraints.
Upcoming Public Comment Hearings
None at this time.
Current Open Proceedings
Public Service of Colorado (Xcel Energy)
Public Service 2025-2029 Distribution System Plan
Public Service Company of Colorado, Xcel Energy, initiated Proceeding No. 24A-0547E on Dec. 16, 2024, for approval of its 2025-2029 Distribution System Plan. On Jan. 31, 2025, Public Service filed its Aggregator Virtual Power Plant Program (VPP), Proceeding No. 25A-0061E. The Commission consolidated these applications because of the similarity and overlap of issues to Proceeding No. 24A-0547E.
In this Proceeding, Public Service seeks approval of its Distribution System Plan, filed pursuant to SB 24-218 and 24-207. The Company requests approval of: (1) certain distribution system planned investments over the plan time frame, and its planning methodologies; (2) a new bill rider called the “Grid Modernization Adjustment Clause” and the associated cost approval framework; (3) approval of several “non-wire alternative” proposals, which could be alternatives to traditional distribution projects; and (4) tariff changes related to the distribution system and undergrounding-related efforts in non-franchised areas. Overall, the Company requests approximately $4.9 billion in total distribution-related capital spending in the 2025 to 2029 timeframe, to be recovered through a new rider on bills.
Related to the Virtual power plant portions of this proceeding, the Company requests approval to implement a virtual power plant program, which is defined by Colorado statute as a Commission-approved program that achieves the collective management of dispatchable demand or distributed energy resources connected to the utility distribution grid. The Company’s VPP application includes requests for Commission approval of a tariff for performance based compensation for qualified VPPs and proposes to spend about $78.5 million to acquire 25 MW of capacity per year for a period of 5 years.
| Milestone | Summary | Scheduled Completion Date |
| Application Filed | Filed date of the Application | December 16, 2024 |
| Application Deemed Complete | Date the Commission decides the Application has all the information required by rule to support the request. This date starts the decision deadline – either 120 days or 250 days after the Application is deemed complete. | |
| Supplemental Direct Testimony | The Commission may order supplemental direct testimony be filed by the Applicant if it believes that more information is necessary to complete the record regarding the requested action. | May 19, 2025 |
| Public Comment Hearing | Public Comment Hearings can be virtual and/or in person hearings. The public is allowed to comment orally on the rate change and requested actions. | August 26, 2025 (virtual) |
| Answer Testimony | Testimony filed by parties to the proceeding to present their perspectives on the Application and requested actions. | June 26, 2025 |
| Technical Conference | Sometimes used to better understand the Application and its impacts to customers. | N/A |
| Rebuttal & Cross-Answer Testimony | Testimony filed by the Applicant (Rebuttal) and parties (cross-answer) in response to the Answer Testimony. | July 30, 2025 |
| Stipulations/Settlement Agreements | Agreements on parts or all the issues presented in the Application. | August 15, 2025 |
| Evidentiary Hearing | Hearing held on the merits of the Application. All parties and the Applicant provide oral testimony in response to cross-examination by other parties and the Commission. | August 25-29 & September 2-5, 2025 |
| Statements of Position | Final legal statements from the Applicant and all parties. | September 26, 2025 |
| Commission Decision | Final ruling on all issues presented in the proceeding. | Expected November 2025 |
Black Hills
Black Hills Distribution System Plan
Black Hills Colorado Electric filed its application on Jan. 31, 2025, for its 25-2029 Distribution System Plan. By Decision No. C25-0221-I on March 25, 2025, the Commission designated Commissioner Eric Blank as hearing Commissioner for this Proceeding No. 25A-0062E.
| Milestone | Summary | Scheduled Completion Date |
| Application Filed | Filed date of the Application | January 31, 2025 |
| Application Deemed Complete | Date the Commission decides the Application has all the information required by rule to support the request. This date starts the decision deadline – either 120 days or 250 days after the Application is deemed complete. | |
| Supplemental Direct Testimony | The Commission may order supplemental direct testimony be filed by the Applicant if it believes that more information is necessary to complete the record regarding the requested action. | May 12, 2025 |
| Public Comment Hearing | Public Comment Hearings can be virtual and/or in person hearings. The public is allowed to comment orally on the rate change and requested actions. | |
| Answer Testimony | Testimony filed by parties to the proceeding to present their perspectives on the Application and requested actions. | May 30, 2025 |
| Technical Conference | Sometimes used to better understand the Application and its impacts to customers. | N/A |
| Rebuttal & Cross-Answer Testimony | Testimony filed by the Applicant (Rebuttal) and parties (cross-answer) in response to the Answer Testimony. | June 23, 2025 |
| Stipulations/Settlement Agreements | Agreements on parts or all the issues presented in the Application. | July 2, 2025 |
| Evidentiary Hearing | Hearing held on the merits of the Application. All parties and the Applicant provide oral testimony in response to cross-examination by other parties and the Commission. | July 25, 2025 |
| Statements of Position | Final legal statements from the Applicant and all parties. | Aug. 22, 2025 |
| Commission Decision | Final ruling on all issues presented in the proceeding. | Expected November 2025 |
- Previous Distribution System Plan Proceedings