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Colorado Public Utilities Commission
| Colorado Public Utilities Commission | |
 | |
| General information | |
| Office Type: | Nonpartisan |
| Office website: | Official Link |
| Compensation: | $153,966 |
| 2025 FY Budget: | $23,157,086 |
| Total Seats: | 3 |
| Term limits: | None |
| Structure | |
| Length of term: | 4 years |
| Authority: | Colorado Revised Statutes, Section 40-2-101 |
| Selection Method: | Appointed by the governor |
| Current Officeholder(s) | |
| Eric Blank, Megan Gilman, Tom Plant | |
| Other Colorado Executive Offices | |
| Governor • Lieutenant Governor • Secretary of State • Attorney General • Treasurer • Controller • Commissioner of Education • Agriculture Commissioner • Insurance Commissioner • Natural Resources Exec. Director • Labor Executive Director • Public Utilities Commission • Colorado State Board of Regents | |
The Colorado Public Utilities Commission is an independent, quasi-executive agency in the Colorado state government and a subdivision of the state's Department of Regulatory Agencies. The commission is responsible for regulating the state's public utilities: telecommunications, electric, gas, and water firms. It also oversees municipal utilities and electric associations, and supervises railroad and motor carrier (trucking, taxi, towing) firms.[1]
The commission is composed of three members who are appointed by the governor to four-year terms.[1]
Current officeholders
The current officeholders are:
- Eric Blank (nonpartisan)
- Megan Gilman (nonpartisan)
- Tom Plant (nonpartisan)
Authority
Colorado statute establishes the public utilities commission.[2]
Colorado Revised Statutes, Section 40-2-101
|
(1) A public utilities commission is hereby created, which shall be known as the public utilities commission of the state of Colorado... |
Qualifications
Commissioners must be qualified electors in Colorado, meaning they must be residents of the state and at least 18 years old. Additionally, no more than two commissioners may be of the same political party.[2]
Colorado Revised Statutes, Section 40-2-101
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(2) No more than two members of the public utilities commission shall be affiliated with the same political party, and any appointment to fill a vacancy shall be for the unexpired term. Each commissioner shall be a qualified elector of this state. |
Appointments
Commissioners are appointed to four-year terms by the governor and confirmed by a majority vote of the state Senate.[2]
Colorado Revised Statutes, Section 40-2-101
|
A public utilities commission is hereby created... to consist of three members who shall be appointed by the governor with the consent of the senate. |
Term limits
There are no term limits specified for public utilities commissioners.[1][2]
Vacancies
There is no specific procedure for dealing with vacancies in the office of public utilities commissioner.[1][2]
Duties
The Public Utilities Commission is responsible for regulating Colorado's telecommunications, electric, gas, and water utilities. It also has partial control over municipal utilities and electric associations. The commission reviews and approves requests for rate increases, establishes standards for business practices, certifies service providers, and analyzes market and economic conditions, as well as companies' financial statements. It holds administrative law hearings to give stakeholders (companies, community organizations, etc.) an opportunity to debate potential rules. [1]
Divisions
As of January 13, 2021, divisions within the Public Utilities Commission included:[3]
- Energy
- Telecommunications
- Economics
- Transportation
- Administrative Hearings
- External Affairs
- Policy Advisory
- Rail/Transit Safety and Water
- Gas Pipeline Safety
- Administrative Services
- Research and Emerging Issues
State budget
- See also: Colorado state budget and finances
The budget for the Colorado Public Utilities Commission in the 2024-2025 Fiscal Year was $23,157,086.[4]
Compensation
- See also: Compensation of state executive officers
Commissioners' salaries are determined by law.
2023
In 2023, each commissioner received a salary of $153,966, according to the Council of State Governments.[5]
2022
In 2022, each commissioner received a salary of $149,508, according to the Council of State Governments.[6]
2021
In 2021, each commissioner received a salary of $145,152, according to the Council of State Governments.[7]
2020
In 2020, each commissioner received a salary of $116,112 according to the Council of State Governments.[8]
2019
In 2019, each commissioner received a salary of $140,928 according to the Council of State Governments.[9]
2018
In 2018, each commissioner received a salary of $136,824 according to the Council of State Governments.[10]
2017
In 2017, each commissioner received a salary of $122,712 according to the Council of State Governments.[11]
2016
In 2016, each commissioner received a salary of $122,712, according to the Council of State Governments.[12]
2015
In 2015, each commissioner received a salary of $114,948, according to the Council of State Governments.[13]
2014
In 2014, the commissioners each received a salary of $114,948, according to the Council of State Governments.[14]
2013
In 2013, the commissioners each received a salary of $114,948, according to the Council of State Governments.[15]
2010
In 2010, the commissioners each received a salary of $114,948, according to the Council of State Governments.[16]
Historical officeholders
Note: Ballotpedia's state executive officials project researches state official websites for chronological lists of historical officeholders; information for the Colorado Public Utilities Commission has not yet been added because the information was unavailable on the relevant state official websites, or we are currently in the process of formatting the list for this office. If you have any additional information about this office for inclusion on this section and/or page, please email us.
Recent news
The link below is to the most recent stories in a Google news search for the terms Colorado Public Utilities Commission. These results are automatically generated from Google. Ballotpedia does not curate or endorse these articles.
Contact info
Address:
1560 Broadway, Suite 250
Denver, CO 80202
Phone: (303) 894-2000
See also
| Colorado | State Executive Elections | News and Analysis |
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External links
Footnotes
- ↑ 1.0 1.1 1.2 1.3 1.4 Colorado Department of Regulatory Agency, "About the PUC," accessed January 13, 2021
- ↑ 2.0 2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 Colorado Revised Statutes, "40-2-101," accessed January 13, 2021
- ↑ Colorado Public Utilities Commission, "Organization," accessed January 13, 2021
- ↑ Colorado General Assembly, "Appropriations Report Fiscal Year 2024-25," accessed January 15, 2025
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2023 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed January 15, 2025
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2022 Table 4.11: Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," provided to Ballotpedia by CSG personnel
- ↑ Issuu, "The Book of the States 2021," accessed September 22, 2022
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2020," accessed January 13, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2019," accessed January 13, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2018," accessed January 13, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "The Book of the States 2017," accessed January 13, 2021
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2016," accessed August 27, 2016
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries, 2015," accessed August 27, 2016
- ↑ Council of State Governments, "Selected State Administrative Officials: Annual Salaries," accessed November 14, 2014
- ↑ The Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2013, Table 4.11," accessed February 2, 2014
- ↑ The Council of State Governments, "Book of the States 2010 -- Table 4.11," accessed July 18, 2011
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