What is the primary reason for the requested natural gas rate increase by Public Service Company of Colorado?

The primary reason is to support fundamental infrastructure investments aimed at ensuring safe and reliable service for customers, enabling the clean energy transition, and achieving clean heat goals in Colorado. This includes approximately $145 million related to plant investments and an increase in the requested Return on Equity (ROE) from 9.2% to 10.25%.

When will customers actually see the higher natural gas rates reflected on their bills?

While PSCo has requested the new rates to be effective November 1, 2024, they have proposed to defer the collection of these increased rates until February 15, 2025. This is to mitigate the immediate impact on customer bills. The collected revenues will then be spread over a 12-month period beginning on that deferred date.

What is the proposed Return on Equity (ROE) that PSCo is seeking in this rate case?

PSCo is seeking a 10.25% Return on Equity (ROE) in this rate case. This represents an increase from the 9.2% ROE authorized in the previous rate case, and it accounts for approximately $32 million of the total revenue request.

How does this rate increase request compare to the previous one?

The total base revenue request is $171 million, which represents an approximate 9.5% increase for the average residential customer bill. Key components driving this increase include substantial plant-related investments and an improved ROE. The utility is also proposing a unique deferral strategy for rate collection to lessen the immediate burden on consumers.

XEL/XELLL 8-K SEC Disclosure

Summary

Xcel Energy Inc. (XEL) announced through its wholly-owned subsidiary, Public Service Company of Colorado (PSCo), a significant request to increase retail natural gas rates. Filed on January 29, 2024, with the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (CPUC), the request seeks an approximate 9.5% increase in average residential customer bills, totaling $171 million in additional annual revenue. This proposed rate hike is driven primarily by investments in fundamental infrastructure aimed at ensuring safe and reliable service, supporting the clean energy transition, and meeting clean heat goals in Colorado. The utility is seeking a 10.25% Return on Equity (ROE) and has based its request on a 2023 test year and a $4.2 billion retail rate base. Importantly, PSCo has proposed to defer the collection of these increased rates until February 15, 2025. This deferral is intended to mitigate the immediate impact on customer bills, particularly as it follows the expiration of a rider designed to recover Winter Storm Uri costs. The revenues from the deferred period would then be collected over the subsequent 12 months. Investors should monitor the CPUC's decision and timeline for this rate increase, as it will impact PSCo's future earnings and cash flows, as well as customer affordability.

Key Highlights

1PSCo filed a request for a $171 million (approximately 9.5%) increase in retail natural gas rates.
2The rate increase request is primarily driven by $145 million in plant-related investments and other operating expenses.
3PSCo is seeking a 10.25% Return on Equity (ROE), an increase from 9.2% in the previous rate case.
4The proposed effective date for the new rates is November 1, 2024.
5PSCo has proposed to defer the collection of increased rates until February 15, 2025, to ease customer bill impacts.
6Revenues from the deferred period are planned to be collected over a 12-month period starting February 15, 2025.
7The request supports infrastructure investments for reliable service and clean energy transition goals in Colorado.

XCEL ENERGY INC 8-K Report, Corporate Update (Jan 29, 2024)

Summary

Key Highlights

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