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- Colorado Public Utilities Commission Rule 3627
CPUC Rule 3627
Colorado Public Utilities Commission Rule 3627
Participate in the company's transmission planning process
Overview
The Colorado Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) requires electric utilities such as Xcel Energy to submit annual 10-year plans for additional electric transmission projects in Colorado. Included in this rule (known as CPUC Rule 3627) is a requirement that utilities provide government agencies and other stakeholders with an opportunity for "meaningful participation" in the planning process.
Xcel Energy is in the process of developing its next 10-year transmission plan, which will be submitted to the CPUC in early 2012. Explore this web page to learn more about how Xcel Energy is meeting the requirements of CPUC Rule 3627.
Project Descriptions
Details of the projects over the next 10 years are included in the 86-page document linked below. Transmission Planned Projects and Maps are listed below.
What's New!
Virtual Workshops
CPUC Rule 3627 requires Xcel Energy and other utilities to file transmission plans every two years. Included in this rule is a requirement that government agencies and other stakeholders be given an opportunity for meaningful participation in the planning process. The purpose of this requirement is to obtain input from stakeholders about alternative solutions to electric transmission. The input received from stakeholders is to be evaluated by the utilities and addressed in their final transmission plans.
To comply with CPUC Rule 3627, Xcel Energy developed a public participation program that included stakeholder workshops. More than 1,000 stakeholders (e.g., officials at all levels of government, environmental groups, energy developers, planning and economic agencies, and advocacy groups) were invited to attend the company-sponsored transmission planning workshops held in August 2011. The public, along with other groups and individuals who are interested in transmission planning, was also invited to attend.
| Region I | Region II | Region III |
| Tuesday, Aug. 23 1-3 p.m. and 6 - 8 p.m. Clarion Hotel 701 8th Street Greeley, CO 80631 |
Wednesday, Aug. 24 1-3 p.m. and 6 -8 p.m. Crowne Plaza - Airport 15500 E. 40th Avenue Denver, CO 80239 |
Wednesday, Aug. 31 1 -3 p.m. and 6-8 p.m. School District Admin. Office 839 Whiteriver Avenue Rifle, CO 81650 |
Each workshop was two-hours long and began and ended with an open house, during which time attendees viewed displays about topics such as transmission planning and the planned projects and visited with staff from Xcel Energy. Participants also had an opportunity to view and comment on maps of each project and complete a survey designed to solicit their input about alternative solutions and other matters related to transmission planning and the projects. The middle of each workshop consisted of a presentation by Xcel Energy on transmission planning and the planned projects followed by an opportunity for questions from the audience. The locations for the workshops were chosen based on their proximity to the planned projects.
The following links contain information presented at the stakeholder workshops:
- Existing Transmission Lines and Planned Projects
- Transmission Planning
- Station 1-Transportation Planning Drivers
- Denver Area Transmission and Substation System
- SB 100 Project Map
- SB-100 Projects
- Transmission Ownership in Colorado
- Public Participation
- Conservation and Renewables
- Powerpoint Presentation
Frequently Asked Questions
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Q:What is CPUC Rule 3627?A:CPUC Rule 3627 is a recently adopted measure by the Colorado Public Utilities Commission that requires electric utilities to file 10-year plans for additional electric transmission projects in Colorado. Each utility’s plan, which is required to be filed every other year, must meet the following goals: the proposed projects do not negatively impact the system of any other transmission provider or the overall transmission system; the proposed projects avoid duplication of facilities; the proposed projects reflect the development of joint projects; the proposed projects are coordinated with other state providers. The rule also requires each utility to provide government agencies and other stakeholders with an opportunity for “meaningful participation” in the planning process.
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Q:Why was CPUC Rule 3627 adopted?A:The purpose of CPUC 3627 is to establish a process to coordinate the planning for additional electric transmission in Colorado which is conducted in a comprehensive, transparent, state-wide basis, taking into account the needs of all stakeholders. Further, this rule seeks to ensure that this process considers input from government agencies and stakeholders about “alternative solutions” to transmission planning issues.
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Q:Who must comply with CPUC Rule 3627?A:The public participation requirements of CPUC Rule 3627 apply to all electric utilities in the state of Colorado (including Xcel Energy) except for municipality owned utilities and certain cooperative electric associations.
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Q:How will input received from stakeholders be used by Xcel Energy?A:CPUC Rule 3627 requires Xcel Energy to evaluate the alternative solutions it received during stakeholder outreach and to prepare recommendations for inclusion in its ten-year plan. Additionally, Xcel Energy is required to provide a summary of stakeholder participation and input in the plant and to provide a summary of its recommendations to stakeholders, as well as provide those who participated in the planning process with filings related to the rule.
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Q:What are alternative solutions?A:Possible alternative solutions to the planned projects include termination points for electric transmission lines or other possible alternatives. Xcel Energy is also looking for input from stakeholders about environmental and societal concerns and any other issues they may have about electric transmission planning in Colorado. In addition, Xcel Energy is looking for input from stakeholders about plans they may have that could impact electric load projections. For example, information about land use plans in a community, planned renewable energy facilities in an Energy Resource Zone or a Generation Development Area, or significant expansion or contraction plans for a large energy user could be factors for evaluation in Xcel Energy’s 10-year plan.
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Q:How will Xcel Energy involve stakeholders in transmission planning?A:Xcel Energy is committed to an open, transparent and collaborative process for involving stakeholders in its transmission planning process. To meet the requirement of “meaningful participation,” the company will provide stakeholder participation opportunities in summer 2011 in communities located near the six relevant electric transmission projects. These opportunities include transmission planning workshops to be held in Greeley (Region 1), Aurora (Region 2) and Rifle (Region 3). Prior to holding the workshops, Xcel Energy will send mailings to stakeholders in the targeted categories and place ads in local community newspapers. Xcel Energy will also host this website wherein visitors can learn about the transmission process and submit question and comments.
