Colorado Politics: I have a sticky note in my kitchen that reminds me of Xcel Energy’s peak hours, when they charge higher rates for electricity. From 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., I avoid running the laundry or the dishwasher because energy is already the highest bill I pay for my family. I have to strategize — if I run the laundry after peak ends, will I remember to move it before bedtime? Or will I forget, and have to redo it in the morning? As a single parent, these small choices are always on my mind. And, ultimately, the options available to me are the result of the decisions made by a state agency: the Public Utilities Commission (PUC).

The PUC makes decisions every day that affect not just Coloradans’ energy bills, but also our health and climate. The PUC decides what kind of energy our electric grid uses, where energy infrastructure can be built, and how much our utilities can charge us for gas and electricity. Few Colorado state agencies touch people’s lives so directly, yet even experts can struggle to understand and participate in the PUC’s decision-making process. As the state legislature considers updating the PUC’s mandate this session, they must make the PUC more accessible to the people it affects — that is to say, all Coloradans.

As an Adams County commissioner, I know the value of democracy. Our commission gathers with the residents of Adams County regularly to hear about issues affecting them. They bring us vital information and new perspectives that improve our decision making. 

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