I am not sure how many of you paid attention to the little pamphlet we all received last Tuesday from Xcel Energy.\u00a0 It was a notice of rate change request,\u00a0a\u00a0petition they have filed with the Public Utility Commision (PUC).\u00a0 The petition was filed on June 12, 2008 and the notice they gave to us was received on July 29th.\u00a0 Of course, we have the right as consumers to file a protest in the form of a Motion to Intervene, so long as it is done within 45 days of the date the application was filed.\u00a0 Nicely enough, Xcel chose not to notify us until AFTER that deadline had passed.\u00a0 We plan to file a request for an extension to file a Motion to Intervene.\u00a0 This is to give us enough time to research and determine what, if any, arguments can be made to prevent Xcel Energy from raising our rates and estimated 10% (on top of the unregulated fuel surcharge they already apply).\u00a0 If we can unearth enough to support a Motion to Intervene, then we plan to file it with the PUC.\u00a0 Anyone who would like to assist us with this or take part in our motion is welcome to do so.\u00a0 I spoke with Norma Lopez, the Adminstrative Law Judge’s secretary, and she said that they see these protests done both ways, with separate individuals from a community filing separately and jointly.\u00a0 However, the more people who protest the late notice, the more likely we are to be able to get an extension.\u00a0<\/p>\n