Energy customers — many of whom say they are being crushed by gas and electricity bills that have doubled, tripled and even quadrupled in the last few months — accepted the Colorado Public Utility Commission’s invitation to comment on skyrocketing energy prices. 

It wasn’t pretty for commissioners Tuesday, but it was well attended.

Dawn Fetzko, a customer, said she learned about the public meeting while watching the news.

“We’re working trying to earn a living and now trying to earn a living to pay our utility bill,” she said. “I know my utility bill went from $150 to a shocking $365 in one month.”

“It’s no secret that everybody is drowning in Xcel bills across Colorado,” Sabrina Padilla testified. “I really hope that these stories today are really taken into consideration because there’s thousands and thousands of people who do not have the courage to come up here today to express their struggles.”

Commissioners have been receiving a flood of complaints about soaring bills, Chairman Eric Blank acknowledged.

In response, the commission held a Zoom listening session Tuesday, where they heard an outpouring of grief and anger — as well as pleas for help — from dozens who signed up for the meeting. Nearly 90 people attended the public comment session.

Commissioner John Gavan said it was probably the most people he’s seen to speak at a commission public comment hearing.

On Monday, the Commission approved Xcel Energy’s interim application to bend its quarterly adjustment for natural gas costs downward — resulting in a roughly 15% bill reduction for both residential and small commercial natural gas customers, as well as lesser savings for other customers.

But that news didn’t stop the complaints from the public Tuesday.

Thirty-nine people testified, but at least 88 signed up to speak.

Padilla, who works with the Chronic Care Collaborative described a heartbreaking story of a man who had to choose real discomfort just to get by.

“I just spoke with an older gentleman on SSI who sits in his home all day in a winter jacket and has his heat all the way down to 60 degrees to keep his bill down,” Padilla said. “And he does that so he can wear his oxygen 24/7. He’s sacrificing his body temperature to wear his oxygen to keep his bill down.”

The Collaborative is an organization comprised of 50 different voluntary health organizations representing a wide range of chronic diseases which partners with Xcel and Black Hills Energy on helping disabled people with their energy bills.

“We hear the concerns about higher costs for everything — from groceries to gasoline to monthly energy bills — and we recognize the impacts these pressures have on our customers and on the communities we serve,” according to a statement Wednesday from a Black Hills spokesperson. “At Black Hills Energy, we’re continuing to support and empower our customers to use less energy through conservation and energy efficiency programs, while managing their monthly budgets with our Budget Billing option and energy assistance programs for those who need it.”

Lakewood resident Eva Boyd excoriated the commissioners for what she said is their failure to look after the public’s interests.

“I’ve been living here for about 26 years,” Boyd said. “January 2022’s bill was $124. December 2022 was $194. The next one that I’m going to pay in February is $295, which to me is absolutely mind boggling.”

Boyd added: “You’re supposed to be looking out for us. And somebody already said it here: You shouldn’t be looking out for corporations.”

Nichole Broach accused the commissioners of disrespecting attendees.

“I have seen you guys smirk, chuckle, laugh and roll your eyes at people describing their issues here today,” Broach said. “This is unacceptable. Ms. Gilman had to tell you that it was not funny. I do not believe that you serve your people, you do not serve your community and you do not serve your state.”

Andrea Rudowicz told the commissioners that she had a gas leak at her home. An Xcel repairmen told her that her neighborhood was known to have old gas regulators that leak when it’s cold.

“The Xcel Energy employee informed me that our particular neighborhood had faulty old regulators that the employees were very much aware of and had told the supervisors, but nothing was done,” Rudowicz said. “If we’re paying the high gas prices, I expect that our equipment is operating correctly. And I want to add that my particular meter wasn’t the only one in my neighborhood.”

Commissioners declined to engage in discussion or answer questions on the advice of the agency’s attorneys.

Chairman Blank said that because the PUC is a quasi-judicial body and has proceedings before it now, commissioners cannot discuss or answer questions from the public without the potential for prejudicing the cases.

John Henry, a customer, suggested that utility executives should be present for future meetings to answer questions from the public.

“I think it would be a very strong position to be in to have one or more executives on the next call so they can hear it and in some cases even put their feet to the fire and let them respond to some of the questions that have come out here in this session,” said Henry.

Blank vowed to “get a handle on this.”

“I just want to end with a personal comment to those of you who think I’m laughing at people’s suffering,” said Blank. “I would just say I lost my wife to pancreatic cancer several years ago and I know what it means to experience hardship and I can just assure you I am not laughing at anyone suffering and that we’re going to do whatever we can to try and get a handle on this.”

Xcel officials warned customers for months 2023 bills would rise because of increased natural gas prices. Natural gas is an unregulated market, so ratepayer bills are adjusted based on gas cost increases or decreases. Utilities don’t make any profit or charge interest on fuel pass-through costs, which can hit ratepayers hard if unusual weather and market conditions collide to drive up prices.

The Colorado Public Utilities Commission was created by the General Assembly in 1913 and took over regulation of power and gas utilities in 1961. Since then the authority of the PUC has varied with legislative changes.

Today, the PUC has at least some degree of jurisdiction over hundreds of fixed utilities and more than 10,000 motor carriers in Colorado.

It’s current mission statement: “The Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) serves the public interest by effectively regulating utilities and facilities so that the people of Colorado receive safe, reliable, and reasonably-priced services consistent with the economic, environmental and social values of our state.”