Colorado Public Utilities Commission Should Stop Raising Rates on Utilities

Today, The LIBRE Initiative, an organization committed to empowering the Latino community, announced a campaign to educate and activate the Latino community in Colorado on higher energy costs directly being caused by the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC).

Despite recently announcing plans to allow Xcel energy to provide much needed temporary relief to its customers, the Latino community in the state needs to know that unelected government officials are largely responsible for higher energy costs.

As part of their efforts to educate the Latino community, The LIBRE Initiative will run social media ads and organize activists and volunteers to make their voice heard.

Latino Advocacy Group Says Higher Energy Costs Punishing Low Income Latinos

Angel Merlos, strategic director for The LIBRE Initiative, issued the following statement:

“Make no mistake. The Latino community in Colorado is still hurting from inflation, stagnant wages and economic uncertainty. Unfortunately, Colorado Latinos now need to contend with another gut punch of punch of needing to pay more for energy because the PUC is allowing utility companies to raise rates.

The PUC’s recent announcement to allow energy companies to temporarily reduce customer’s energy bills is not a long-term fix. The real solution is an all of the above policy that allows affordable and reliable energy while creating the space for innovation for alternative energy resources. But one thing we certainly don’t need is the government picking winners and losers in the energy industry wreaking havoc to Colorado families in the process.” 

Electric bills have increased by about 25% compared to last year, while natural gas bills are 75% higher compared to last year. And the 15% temporary reduction in energy costs is still higher than it was last year.