The Senate Appropriations Committee advanced H710, which narrows the definition of electricity-generating facilities for renewable energy programs and would authorize the Public Utility Commission to establish a decommissioning fund and a prospective fee formula; the PUC must report back next year.

The Colorado Public Utilities Commission convened an evidentiary hearing July 27, 2026, on a broad settlement involving Public Service Company of Colorado. Commissioners pressed company witnesses on a 12‑month telemetry modernization process, a new gas‑service infrastructure fee for developers, and controls on capital spending.

A proposed settlement in the Public Service Company of Colorado rate case would roll roughly $161 million in transmission and distribution rider revenue requirements into base rates, while procedural choices — notably whether to use a year‑end or 13‑month average rate base — could change the company’s requested revenue increase by roughly $50–80 million, witnesses said.

Staff recommended and the commission voted to suspend 2026 community solar garden billing credits filed by Black Hills Colorado Electric and set the matter for hearing after protests from solar groups over calculation, negative credit mechanics and implementation of earlier rate-case directives.

The committee reviewed H.753 (ratepayer protections) with testimony from the Public Service Department and utilities about reporting, summer high-heat rules and physician certificates for medical exemptions; utilities warned of cost-shifting and administrative burdens while the department and some senators urged clarifying language and PUC rulemaking.

Commissioners said this week they have joined other local officials and citizens in filing motions at the Maryland Public Service Commission to oppose PSEGs proposed transmission project, citing a new route that runs closer to New Windsor and Court actions allegedly seeking to restrict hunting on private property.

Staff and the commission’s consultant recommended accepting the first day of results from the 2025–26 Standard Offer Service RFP and reported estimated residential bill increases across Potomac Edison, Pepco, Delmarva and BGE driven largely by capacity costs in the PJM market.