Posts tagged service
7,000 B.C. homes are without heating gas
Dec 6th
To supplement our Colorado crews working to restore natural gas service to customers in Boulder County affected by this morning’s outage, we have called in additional Xcel Energy crews from around the state and from Minnesota and Wisconsin. We have also contacted utilities in California and New Mexico plus private companies too. With temperatures hovering in the single digits, we want to restart service as quickly and safely as possible. Approximately 7,000 homes are without service. We estimate 90 percent of customers will have service by noon tomorrow. Crews will work around-the-clock to restore service to customers.
We will call customers in advance to alert them that crews will be in their neighborhoods to relight pilots for natural gas appliances. It is important that we can reach you with this information. If you have not given us your cell phone number in the past, please call us at 1-800-895-4999 to provide your cell phone number or another alternate phone number.
To help our crews restore your service tonight, please turn on an outside light if you will be available to let them into your home. A person who is at least 18 years old must be at home to allow our crews access to your home. If not, we will need to return later. Please do not attempt to re-light natural gas appliances yourself. Not only can your appliances or equipment be damaged by improper re-lights but you can place yourself and your family in danger.
Our employees will check your appliances and re-light them for you free of charge. The American Red Cross opened a warming shelter for people affected by the natural gas outage. The center is located at Douglass Elementary School, 840 75th St. near 75th Street and Baseline Road.
Cloud on the electric utility horizon?
Nov 18th
The City of Boulder this afternoon asked the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) to reconsider an Oct. 29 decision that would delay the city’s efforts to acquire Xcel Energy’s equipment and facilities for the purpose of creating a local electric utility.
The application for rehearing makes clear that Boulder concurs with many of the findings the PUC made on Oct. 29. The city remains 100 percent committed, for example, to working with the PUC on issues that are within the Commission’s jurisdiction and making sure that Boulder’s efforts do not negatively impact service or reliability for Xcel’s remaining customers.
However, there are some issues with which the city does not agree. In its filing today, the city asserts that the Commission transcended the questions it was asked to consider and issued an overly broad ruling that overlooked the powers granted to the city by the constitution. More specifically, the city argues that there are practical and legal reasons for the Commission to reconsider its conclusion that it has the authority to decide what assets Boulder can acquire. The city also explains more fully why it would be premature for the Commission to evaluate any transition plans until a condemnation proceeding has been initiated and discovery has been completed by the city.
“Boulder has no objection to, and in fact is eager to work with Commission staff to prepare the various plans necessary to make Boulder’s acquisition of the Public Service (Xcel) system that serves Boulder as cost-effective as possible, and to ensure that the electric system, both inside and outside of Boulder, is at least as safe and reliable as the current Public Service system,” Senior Assistant City Attorney Deb Kalish said in the filing. “However, Boulder has the constitutional and statutory right to determine which assets it will acquire and the timing of any condemnation action that may be filed.”
Heather Bailey, the city’s executive director for Energy Strategy and Electric Utility Development, said Monday that the PUC’s ruling with regard to these questions could have important implications.
“Boulder voters on Nov. 5 reaffirmed their desire to move forward with the creation of a local electric utility, provided that certain conditions can be met,” Bailey said. “Determining the order of the required proceedings – and the scope of authority for each deciding body – is essential to charting out both the timeline and necessary work plan for moving forward. We are hopeful that the PUC will consider the city’s arguments and help us gain clarity around these questions in a way that is consistent with Colorado law. We look forward to working with PUC staff and commissioners to address any concerns they have.”
The complete filing is attached to this press release.
–CITY–
Bus service to and from Lyons to begin on Monday
Nov 1st
Boulder County, Colo. – RTD, in collaboration with The Town of Lyons and Boulder County, will resume service on its Lyons area transit routes beginning Monday, Nov. 4. This includes the restoration of two RTD bus routes:
The Y route – Serving Lyons to Boulder via U.S. 36. The route runs between the Lyons Park-n-Ride (Broadway & 4th) and the Boulder Transit Center in Boulder (14th & Walnut)
The YL route – Serving Lyons to Longmont via U.S. 66 and 75th Street. The route runs between the Lyons Park-n-Ride (Broadway & 4th Ave.) and the 8th & Coffman Park-n-Ride in Longmont (8th Ave. & Coffman St).
The Y and YL routes had suspended operations since Sept. 12 as a result of the flood. Since that time, damage to the Town of Lyons has greatly improved, daytime access restrictions have been lifted, and area residents have begun to return to their homes. It is estimated that 70-80% of Lyons residents will have returned to their homes by the Nov. 4 restart date of the transit services.
Fares for the routes are $4 for the Y route and $5 for the YL route. Children 5 and under ride free. Seniors (65 and up), disabled, and K-12 students are eligible for a 50% reduced fare.
Lyons residents are also eligible to receive an EcoPass free of charge as part of a grant-funded pilot program through the end of 2014. EcoPasses can be obtained at Lyons Town Hall, temporarily relocated to Lyons Elementary School. The EcoPass provides free access to the Y and YL routes.
The Y and YL route both operate Monday through Friday. Some route stops may be temporarily moved to account for roadway damage
For more information about the Y and YL bus routes, including route maps and schedules, visit www.rtd-denver.com. Town officials at the Lyons Town Hall can be reached at 303-823-6622.