In the last newsletter we introduced you to Senate Bill 87 which allows for a medical exemption from Xcel Energy's tiered rate structure. Xcel Energy, The Public Utilities Commission (PUC), The National Multiple Sclerosis Society Colorado-Wyoming Chapter, The Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition, Mental Health America Colorado, The Epilepsy Foundation, The Area Agency on Aging, and The Lupus Foundation have worked together on this issue.
On August 15, 2011, The National MS Society Colorado-Wyoming Chapter met with the PUC Commissioner James Tarpey. Some insight was offered as to how we could be of help to the PUC in proposed rulemaking for medical exemptions from tiered rates. We also discussed some key issues we saw with the proposed rule.
On August 24, 2011, the proposed rulemaking for the medical exemption was discussed at the PUC Commissioners meeting. After this meeting, the Commissioners proposed some questions and rules that they asked constituents for public comment on. The National MS Society Colorado-Wyoming Chapter sent an action alert out to all of our activists affected by the tiered rate structure asking them for their comment to the proposed rulemaking set forth by the PUC. An email was also sent out to the PUC listserv. Since then, the PUC as well as Xcel and others have addressed our comments and are working diligently on this issue.
We will continue to provide you with updates on this issue. For more information on the issue or the PUC listserv, please contact the Chapter's Public Policy Coordinator, Erin O'Reilly at erin.oreilly@nmss.org or 303-698-5412.