The Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) recently approved a request from Xcel Energy-Colorado, Utility Consumer Advocate (UCA), Colorado Energy Office (CEO) and Trial Staff of the Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to extend the retirement date of the Comanche 2 coal unit by one year until the end of 2026.
The Pueblo-based Comanche Unit 2’s original retirement date was scheduled for December 31, 2025, but due to an unexpected outage on Unit 3, the largest of the units at the plant, Xcel filed for an extension of Unit 2. The cause of the outage, the steps necessary to repair it and the costs have not yet been reported.
“While Xcel could address the lost output of Comanche Unit 3 through market purchases, such purchases are often expensive and volatile, especially during high-use times, such as winter cold spells, which can lead to gas price spikes,” PUC said in a fact sheet.
From here, the commission will receive a report that includes an update on the repair and return to service status of Comanche Unit 3. This report will also include an initial plan to address ongoing needs and operational requirements for Unit 2, with a particular focus on operations of the unit after Unit 3 returns to service.
By June 1, 2026, Xcel will apply for any additional variances or resource approvals, building on the March report. As part of that filing, Xcel will include its analyses of potential paths forward to ensure affordable and reliable electricity for Colorado ratepayers, taking into consideration all available options and current ongoing planning efforts.
Source: www.coalage.com
