Xcel Rate Request

The Colorado Public Utilities Commission is holding a hearing Monday on a $141.9 million rate increase request.  Xcel says average monthly bills would increase by about $4, commercial bills $5.30.  Xcel says it needs the increase to pay for the loss of a wholesale contract with Black Hills Electric, and other costs including a $10 million plan to clear pine beetle-killed trees from Xcel's transmission and distribution lines.