Equity Framework
The Colorado Public Utilities Commission staff, under the guidance of the Energy Equity Project, crafted an agency Equity Framework to be adopted and implemented by the Director of the Commission. The Equity Framework considers four dimensions of equity (recognitional, procedural, distributive, and restorative); contain aspirational Guiding Principles to guide and shape our work; provides an overview of key agency roles and activities across regulated industries and teams; and establishes goals for agency teams to consider equity in their work as we continue the process of implementing Senate Bill 21-272.
PUC Director White thanks for the fifteen participants that formed the Commission’s Equity Advisory Focus Group. The group included participants from the community, advocacy, and government entities. The PUC appreciates the Equity Advisory group that worked throughout 2024 on informing the PUC’s equity work.
Equity Framework
The Equity Framework is a strategic document that puts forth the Commission's commitment to embed equity and environmental justice within its practices, in alignment with the mandate of Senate Bill 21-272. It contains a set of guiding principles to help focus the scope of the agency’s equity initiatives, overviews of each team within the agency, and team-specific and cross-cutting actions the agency can take to increase equitable outcomes in its work.
This document is a culmination of a year-long effort. The PUC engaged the public, agency staff, equity experts at the Energy Equity Project, and agency leadership to comprehensively assess the agency and make recommendations to improve equity across its processes and practices.
Equity Proceedings
The PUC opened Proceeding No. 22M-0171ALL to investigate how to consider equity in all of the Commission's work pursuant to Senate Bill 21-272. This includes overseeing and regulating the functions of public utilities and ensuring utility customers are aware of and able to engage on issues the Commission is considering. The Proceeding was referred to Commissioner Gilman as Hearing Commissioner.
The Commission has opened Proceeding No. 25R-0468ALL to incorporate consideration of equity in the agency’s Rules of Practice and Procedure. More rulemaking information can be found here.
Staff Capstone Report
The Capstone report represents the culmination of over two years of work and stakeholder collaboration to understand how to implement Senate Bill 21-272, and the Equity Framework puts forth the agency’s initial efforts and commitment to embed equity and environmental justice within our practices.
The capstone report provides a thematic summary of all stakeholder comments that Staff received throughout the proceeding and staff’s recommendations for the Commission to consider in upcoming rulemakings.
