The Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) announced a decision on June 5, 2025, to approve Xcel Energy’s Wildfire Mitigation Plan (WMP), Proceeding No. 24A-0296E. The parties in the WMP came together and agreed on a settlement of the case, which the Commission approved today, following with a final written order.
The settled terms for the Wildfire Mitigation Plan were proposed to the Commission as a resolution of the case—instead of continuing on with the litigation. On April 18, Public Service filed a settlement agreement which all parties to the case joined, and that resolved all of the issues—which is known as a unanimous and comprehensive settlement.
A diverse mix of parties intervened in this case including, the City of Boulder, Office of Utility Consumer Advocate, the City and County of Denver, Western Resource Advocates, Trial Staff of the PUC, the Colorado Energy Consumers and more.
Xcel Energy’s plan mitigation activities and investments include:
Wildfire Mitigation Plan includes:
- Undergrounding of about 50 miles of power lines
- Battery energy storage system rebates for critical facilities and customers in wildfire risk zones
- Rebuild major transmission lines
- Enhanced reporting and providing access to wildfire detection cameras to appropriate public safety partners
- Commitments on community outreach and engagement involving vegetation management
- A transmission and distribution pole location database
- Commitments by the Company regarding risk assessment and risk mapping, and related stakeholder processes
Public Safety Power Shutoff (PSPS) Plan includes:
- Commitments regarding outreach and engagement
- Integration of an incident command structure and filing of a “PSPS Playbook”
- Identification of critical customers and facilities to enable prioritization of these customers and provide enhanced communication, engagement and restoration work
The Company’s total projected budget for this application will be approximately $1.9 billion. Transmission-related wildfire mitigation costs will be recovered via the Company’s Transmission Cost Adjustment rider and non-transmission costs will be deferred for future recovery and recovered via a Wildfire Mitigation Adjustment rider (which will appear as a separate line item on bills, helping customers to better understand what they are paying for). Public Service also commits to file a financing order to securitize retail capital costs at the end of the plan period 2025-27, a step that will reduce ratepayer costs. The monthly bill impact will vary over time, reaching approximately $9 per month towards the end of the plan period, and then lowering after securitization.
The PUC held three virtual public comment hearings on the WMP to hear perspectives from the local affected communities and stakeholders.
About Wildfire Mitigation Plans:
Wildfire Mitigation Plans are a mechanism for utilities to receive Commission approval for wildfire risk mitigation actions and associated cost recovery. The primary objective of these plans is to reduce the risk and costs of wildfire to both the utility and the community. Such plans generally include activities related to inspection, repair and replacement of infrastructure along with increased protection measures such as vegetation management and undergrounding of lines. WMPs are a relatively new type of proceeding, and not formally required by the Commission. The first plan was submitted by Xcel Energy in July of 2020 (proceeding 20A-0300E).