Title
Review of a Draft Decision and Order and Draft Resolution Adopting Transmission Formula Rate Template And The Implementation Protocols For Establishing An Annual Transmission Revenue Requirement For Transmission Owner Filing Submittals For The Southwest Power Pool Regional Transmission Organization’s Open Access Transmission Tariff
Presenter:
Travas Deal, Chief Executive Officer, Colorado Springs Utilities
Tristan Gearhart, Chief Planning and Finance Officer, Colorado Springs Utilities
David Beckett, Senior Attorney, City Attorney’s Office - Utilities Division
Summary:
The City Attorney’s Office - Utilities Division will present a Decision and Order and Resolution for Colorado Springs Utilities’ Southwest Power Pool (SPP) Transmission Owner Filing based upon the October 14, 2025, public hearing held for Colorado Springs Utilities’ SPP Transmission Owner Filing filed on September 9, 2025.
Background:
On September 9, 2025, Colorado Springs Utilities filed the SPP Transmission Owner Filing, including a resolution, formula rate template (Template), implementation protocols (Protocols), and all supporting documentation to enable Utilities to implement a Template and Protocols (together the Formula Rate), so long as approved by the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC), to establish the mechanism and process for annual calculation, to include any true-up and updates, of the Annual Transmission Revenue Requirement (ATRR) and underlying calculated rates. The Staff of Utilities proposed that the implementation of the Formula Rate take effect on the day on which Utilities transfers functional control of Utilities’ transmission facilities to SPP (scheduled for April 1, 2026, as of the date of the Resolution) and that the Formula Rate shall remain in effect unless changed by subsequent transmission owner filings to SPP. The Staff of Utilities also proposed Colorado Springs Utilities’ initial 2026 ATRR that would take effect.
In accordance with the City Code of the City of Colorado Springs § 12.1.108, copies of the filing were available for public inspection in the City Clerk office beginning on September 9, 2025. Utilities filed supplemental information to the 2026 Rate Case on October 1, 2025, and October 9, 2025. Notices of the proposed changes were provided by publication in The Gazette on September 11, 2025, and October 3, 2025. The OATT Rescission Filing was also posted on the Colorado Springs Utilities’ website at www.csu.org, and electronic and paper copies were provided to City Council members.
The draft Decision and Order summarizes Colorado Springs Utilities’ SPP Transmission Owner Filing and the record of the public hearing held on October 14, 2025. The Decision and Order also contains City Council’s initial directions at that public hearing regarding the SPP Transmission Owner. The final Decision and Order and final Resolution presented for approval by City Council at the October 28, 2025, meeting includes any City Council directed revisions from the October 27, 2025, Work Session meeting.
Previous Council Action:
City Council held a public hearing on October 14, 2025, regarding Colorado Springs Utilities’ SPP Transmission Owner Filing filed on September 9, 2025.
Financial Implications:
The Decision and Order and the Resolution authorize Utilities to use the Formula Rate, so long as approved by the FERC, to establish the mechanism and process for annual calculation, to include any true-up and updates, of the ATRR and underlying calculated rates, as well as the initial 2026 ATRR and underlying calculated rates, effective on the day on which Utilities transfers functional control of Utilities’ transmission facilities to SPP (scheduled for April 1, 2026, as of the date of the Resolution) as reflected in the SPP Transmission Owner Filing.
City Council Appointed Board/Commission/Committee Recommendation:
N/A
Stakeholder Process:
Public hearing held on October 14, 2025.
Alternatives:
N/A
Proposed Motion:
Move approval of the Resolution.
Summary of Ordinance Language
N/A