Colorado PUC refers four Public Service billing complaints to judge
The referral will examine whether the utility threatened disconnections while customers disputed their bills; it is not a finding of wrongdoing.
The Colorado Public Utilities Commission on Wednesday referred four billing and disconnection complaints involving Public Service Company of Colorado to an administrative law judge after staff and commissioners raised concerns that the utility may have threatened actions barred by its tariffs and state rules.
The cases involve different customer billing disputes, Commissioner Dianne Primavera said during the commission’s July 15 meeting. At least one customer received a disconnection notice dated June 4 with a June 22 response deadline while saying an informal complaint was pending, according to the discussion. The public record does not identify all four customers or include a final ruling.
Commissioners referred the cases to an ALJ for a more detailed examination of the individual circumstances. Staff told the commission that tariffs and rules bar disconnection for nonpayment of amounts under a pending dispute or informal complaint. The referral is not a finding that Public Service violated those requirements.
Staff also told commissioners that formal complaints historically numbered about six to eight a year, compared with 11 in 2025 and 11 through the first half of 2026. Staff agreed to examine whether the increase reflects a broader rise in billing, customer-service or disconnection problems and report back as appropriate.
That question is separate from the commission’s earlier review of Xcel customer service. In an April 2025 update, PUC staff described a review of Xcel customer responsiveness, including billing errors and slow call-response times. The commission says it continues to gather customer complaints in Proceeding No. 25M-0265E. Those proceedings provide context but do not establish that the four referrals are part of a companywide pattern.
Customers with a disputed bill should first contact Xcel. If the issue remains unresolved, the PUC says customers can file a complaint; its Consumer Assistance office lists contact information for utility and billing issues.
The July 15 action did not announce refunds, credits, penalties or other remedies. The available record also does not state the exact tariff or rule citation, whether any customer was disconnected, or whether Public Service’s parent company, Xcel Energy, has specifically responded to the four cases. Xcel’s Colorado electric-rate-review page provides general payment-assistance information but does not address the referrals.