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Colorado Public Utilities Commission Agency Equity Framework
Colorado Public Utilities Commission Agency Equity Framework
Background
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.
Equity Framework
This strategic document 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.
Agency Equity Framework_FINAL.pdfBackground
The Colorado Public Utilities Commission 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. Public comments are welcome in this Proceeding at any time and no attorney is necessary.
Key Reference Materials
E-Filings Link: Proceeding No. 22M-0171ALL
April 2022 One Page Summary of the Proceeding
Staff Captone 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. The Equity Framework contains a description of each team within the PUC and identifies team-specific equity priorities that the agency can advance without changes to rules.
Thank you for your ongoing participation and contribution to both of these efforts.
Staff Capstone Report on Equity Initiatives (Proceeding 22M-0171ALL) - FINAL.pdfStaff Work Plan
On October 16, 2023, Staff of the Commission published a work plan to implement Senate Bill (SB) 21-272, which requires the Commission to incorporate equity in its work through rulemakings and other activities. The work plan outlines the various workshops and activities Staff will undertake to gather information about key SB 21-272 implementation questions, with a focus on preparing to create or modify agency rules. Staff will issue a capstone report summarizing Work Plan activities and proposing next steps for Commission consideration. This work is currently scheduled to continue until June 30, 2024.
To view and register for events, and to learn about prior work planning sessions, please visit the Events Page.
Proceeding 22M-0171ALL Work Plan (10-16-2023).pdfKey Proceeding Milestones
September 4, 2024: Commissioner Gilman issued a decision accepting the Staff Capstone Report, closing the proceeding, and directing Staff to bring forward proposed rules (Decision R24-0635).
July 22, 2024: Staff filed a Capstone Report summarizing stakeholder comments received, presenting recommendations for concepts to be included in proposed rules, and recommending the proceeding be closed to move into rulemaking.
February 23, 2024: Commissioner Gilman issued a decision seeking written comments on the concept of proportionate access to the benefits of retail customer programs (Decision R24-0114-I).
October 16, 2023: Staff filed a work plan scheduling work shops to gather information and prepare for rules.
September 15, 2023: Commissioner Gilman directed Staff to file a work plan to gather information to prepare for rulemakings regarding SB 21-272. Staff are also to submit a capstone report on or before June 30, 2024 (Decision R23-0625-I).
January 6, 2023: Commissioner Gilman scheduled a workshop on EnviroScreen and asked for stakeholder comments (Decision R23-0009-I).
September 29, 2022: The Commission referred the Equity Initiative Proceeding to Commissioner Gilman to oversee (Decision C22-0584-I).
May 12, 2022: The Commission issues a Press Release announcing Proceeding Information Meetings and requesting comments.
April 28, 2022: Decision No. C22-0239 opens the proceeding and establishes a scope and next steps. It also asks questions that participants may want to answer.
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