Consumer Information Page
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here to see the OCC fact sheet. (Click
here for pdf.) Consumers benefit from the OCC's work!
Click
here to read the OCC's press releases.
As part of its mission, the Colorado Office of Consumer Counsel provides a variety of information to consumers, in order to help them make choices about their gas, telephone, and electric service. If you are interested in information listed below, click on the appropriate link to access that information. If you have any questions, or would like additional information, please call us at (303) 894-2121, or send us e-mail at Office of Consumer Counsel.
Read the December 2008 issue of the OCC
Consumer News. (You need Adobe's free Acrobat
reader to view this page.)
Effective June 1, 2011, the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) directed Xcel (Public Service) to charge its residential customers using a tier or block rate structure for June, July, August, and September. The first tier is for all electricity consumed at or below 500 kilowatt hours (kWh) during those months at 4.604¢. The second tier is for all electricity consumed above 500 kWh 9.0¢. Since Public Service's average residential customer uses 637 kWh in a month, the average customer will be charged for electricity from the two tiers. The PUC has prepared a consumer publication on the tier rate structure, "Understanding 'Tiered' or 'Inverted Block' Seasonal Electric Rates," which can be downloaded by clicking here.
Public Service has prepared a table that customers may examine to determine what they can expect for monthly bills based on the number of kWhs they use in a month during the four months when tiered rates are changed. For example a customer who uses 600 kWhs in a month can expect to pay $23.02 for the 500 kWhs in the first tier and $9.00 for the 100 kWhs in the second tier. This customer would also pay $38.36 for the Service and Facility charge as well as charges from various riders. Thus a customer that consumes 600 kWhs can expect a monthly bill of $70.38 under the tiered pricing structure (please note that that these amounts exclude Franchise Fees and Sales Taxes because these fees vary by locale).
Click here to view Public Service's information on Tiered Rates.
For those customers who need to have electrically powered medical equipment operating nearly every hour of every day, the OCC encourages you to become aware that use of certain electrical appliances (air conditioners, electric stoves, and electric clothes dryers) can dramatically impact your monthly electricity consumption. By limiting your use of these three appliances, it can help to keep your monthly electricity bill low.
In order to assist customers in paying their monthly electricity bill, Public Service offers a variety of payment options. Click here to view all the various payment options offered by Public Service.
Public Service also offers an Average Monthly Payment plan which spreads your heating and cooling costs over the entire year at no additional charge to you. Public Service will take into account your energy costs, historical usage and seasonal fluctuations in energy use to give you a more predictable bill each month. Click here to learn more about the Average Monthly Payment plan.
Finally, Public Service offers a custom billing date option, Custom Due Date, that allows you to set your own billing due date. Choose any date less than 25 days from the last billing cycle date and at least 10 days from next month's scheduled billing date. Custom Due Date works with all billing and payment methods. Click here to learn more about the Custom Billing Date Program.
Public Utilities Commission Information on Tiered Rates
Press Release from Xcel on Tiered Rates for Summer 2011
Federal Gift Card Rules Effective August 22, 2010
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The Federal Reserve Board on March 23, 2010 announced final rules to restrict the fees and expiration dates that may apply to gift cards. The rules protect consumers from certain unexpected costs and require that gift card terms and conditions be clearly stated.
The final rules prohibit dormancy, inactivity, and service fees on gift cards unless: (1) the consumer has not used the certificate or card for at least one year; (2) no more than one such fee is charged per month; and (3) the consumer is given clear and conspicuous disclosures about the fees. Expiration dates for funds underlying gift cards must be at least five years after the date of issuance, or five years after the date when funds were last loaded.
The Board's rules generally cover retail gift cards, which can be used to buy goods or services at a single merchant or affiliated group of merchants, and network-branded gift cards, which are redeemable at any merchant that accepts the card brand.
The final rules are issued under Regulation E to implement the gift card provisions in the Credit Card Accountability Responsibility and Disclosure Act of 2009.
The final rules are effective August 22, 2010.
Click on the following links for additional information concerning the electric industry, the gas industry, and the telephone industry, as it effects residential, small business, and agricultural ratepayers in the Colorado.
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