Colorado OKs 5 percent Xcel rate increase
COLORADO - Colorado regulators have approved an electricity rate increase that will raise Xcel Energy residential customers' bills by about $2.94 a month starting July 1.
The state Public Utilities Commission said electric bills for Xcel's small-business customers will rise by about $4.42 a month.
The total rate increase is $112.2 million, or about 5 percent. Xcel had asked for $159.3 million.
Minneapolis-based Xcel is Colorado's largest electric utility with 1.4 million customers.
Earlier, Xcel proposed a $180.2 million rate increase to start January 1, on top of the increase that was approved.
Xcel says that request would increase typical monthly residential customer's bill by $4.98 and the typical small-business customer's bill by $5.40.
Related News

PG&E restoring power after intentional shut-offs affect 20,500 customers
SAN FRANCISCO - Pacific Gas and Electric Co. field crews have begun restoring power to approximately 20,500 customers in Butte and Yuba counties after the utility shut off electricity because of gusty winds and dry weather conditions.
More than half of the affected customers had electricity again as of 1:47 p.m. Sunday, according to PG&E, and by 4 p.m. all of Yuba County power had been restored.
The utility also cut electricity for about 1,600 customers in parts of Napa, Solano and Yolo counties, primarily in the Lake Berryessa area. Power to those areas was switched off at 6:15 a.m. Saturday but was…