Beezley Bill to Lower Utility Rates for Medical Patients Signed into Law

DENVER—When Xcel Energy’s tiered rate plan went into effect last June, consumers with high energy needs because of medical conditions were among the hardest hit.  Those Coloradans are one step closer to seeing their electric bills go back down this summer, thanks to a measure that was signed into law this week.

Under the tiered rate plan, the price many customers pay in the summer is determined by how much electricity they use, without regard to whether they use that electricity to provide life supporting machines and technologies. 

Senate Bill 87, sponsored by State Rep. Don Beezley, R-Broomfield, allows the Public Utilities Commission to develop rules that exempt medical patients from the costly tiered rate plan. 

“People who need to use medical equipment or have heat sensitive conditions like multiple sclerosis use more energy, pushing them into a higher tier,” said Beezley.  “This law will lower energy costs for some of the most vulnerable people.” 

The law immediately went into effect with the governor’s signature. 

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