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Regulatory

Utility regulators conduct hearings and make decisions on behalf of Utah's consumers -- our energy future is shaped, in part, by these decisions.

You have the opportunity to tell them what you want!  See below for optional talking points and tips for contacting regulators. 

Utah's utilities (rural co-operatives and investor-owned utilities) are regulated by the following government agencies:

1. Utah Public Service Commission

The primary responsibility of the Commission is to ensure safe, reliable, adequate, and reasonably priced utility service. It conducts hearings and investigations of utility company operations in order to determine just and reasonable rates for service. The Commission strives to protect efficient, reliable, reasonably-priced utility service for customers, and to maintain financially healthy utility companies. These goals are attained through the regulatory decisions the Commission makes and through rules it adopts.

Commission hearings are open to the public.

Utility regulators rely on public input and testimony when making their decisions.

• Contact the Utah Public Service Commission

 

2. Committee of Consumer Services

The Committee of Consumer Services is Utah's utility consumer advocate, representing residential, small commercial and agricultural consumers of natural gas, electric and telephone service before the Utah Public Service Commission.

• How can you be heard by the Committee?
• Contact the Committee of Consumer Services

 

3. Division of Public Utilities

"The Division of Public Utilities promotes the public interest in utility regulation and works to assure that all utility customers have access to safe, reliable service at reasonable prices."

The Division of Public Utilities, makes recommendations to the Utah Public Service Commission for rate-making purposes, applications, hearings and other issues affecting quality of service. The Division also handles and investigates consumer complaints and monitors utility operations to ensure compliance with Public Service Commission rules, regulations and orders.

• Contact the Division of Public Utilities
• Ask a Question

Utah Clean Energy is actively involved in utility regulatory proceedings, advocating for renewable energy and energy efficiency.

YOU CAN MAKE YOUR VOICE HEARD!  Write letters, send emails, call!

The Utah Public Service Commission conducts hearings and makes decisions on behalf of Utah's consumers -- our energy future is shaped, in part, by these decisions.   You have the opportunity to tell them what you want!  See below for optional talking points and tips for contacting regulators. 

** NOTE: If your utility is a rural electric cooperative or a municipal power provider, you will need to contact the Board of Directors of the respective provider.

Optional Talking Points

• Thanks for the service.
• As a citizen, I want to see more energy efficiency and renewable energy resources, even if slightly more expensive initially.
• I am willing to pay more for renewable energy and energy efficiency programs to minimize the risks of:
  • Global Warming
• Volatile fuel-prices
• Air/water pollution
• Energy Security
• Public health costs
• Threats to long-term economic stability
• I do not want the cheapest, dirtiest energy sources selected on my behalf.
• Our current energy decisions will impact my children, my children’s children and future generations, and I want ALL risks (environmental, economic, and social) evaluated equally in the regulatory decision-making process.

Tips for Contacting Regulators

These tips are courtesy of Renewable Northwest Project www.rnp.org adapted from the ONE/Northwest website at www.onenw.org.

Tell the legislator who you are. Make it clear that you are a constituent (in their state or district), and that you vote. This matters to someone who may be seeking re-election.

Be brief and to-the-point. Focus your message, make it clear what you want the recipient to do, and make it known early in the email. Try to keep your email to one or two screens (maximum).

Be informed. In preparation for sending your email, learn the bill number, its current status and timeline, who sponsored the bill and who supports it. Mention these facts in your message.

Make your message personal. You'll make more impact by talking about your concerns and your feelings, and the impact an environmental issue may have on your community or yourself.

Be polite. An environmental issue may anger you, but an abusive message rarely has an impact. Don't temper your strong feelings, but remember that you are writing to have an impact, not just to get something off your chest. Use your passion constructively.

Be generous with praise if it is due. If your representative did something you like (especially something you asked them to do), send them a thank you message for a job well done. Above all else, support "friends" of the environment. In the current political climate, elected officials who support environmental protection need to know their efforts are appreciated.

Include your physical mailing address at the end of the letter. Due to the way most congressional offices are set up, it is highly likely they will respond to your email message with a letter. (Note: Many congressional offices use an automatic response to all incoming messages, so you can expect to receive an often generic form message back immediately from most of the addresses to which you send a message).

Follow your email message with a letter or phone call. Again, email is not the most effective way to make your views known. It is crucial to use other avenues of communication as well.