Wyoming Public Service Commission

Address

2515 Warren Avenue, Suite 300, Cheyenne, WY 82002

Phone

(307) 777-7427Fax (307) 777-5700

Website

psc.wyo.gov ↗

Utility landscape

• Rocky Mountain Power (PacifiCorp) IOU

  Most of Wyoming west of the Laramie Range, including Casper, Cheyenne, and western Wyoming

  Dominant IOU in Wyoming; filed a significant multi-year rate case in 2024 seeking recovery of coal plant costs and wildfire mitigation investments. WPSC scrutiny has intensified over PacifiCorp's resource adequacy planning and the pace of coal unit retirements under the Integrated Resource Plan.

• Black Hills Energy Wyoming (Black Hills Corporation) IOU

  Southeastern Wyoming, including Gillette and surrounding communities; provides both electric and natural gas service

  Filed a natural gas rate case in 2024 seeking infrastructure cost recovery tied to aging distribution system upgrades. Commission approved a partial increase with conditions on capital spending transparency.

• Powder River Energy Corporation (PRECorp) coop

  Northeastern Wyoming including Campbell, Crook, Johnson, and Weston counties

  As a G&T cooperative, PRECorp has been navigating transition pressures from its reliance on coal-fired wholesale power from Basin Electric; actively evaluating renewable procurement to hedge against carbon regulation exposure.

• Tri-County Electric Association coop

  Eastern Wyoming including Goshen, Platte, and Niobrara counties

  Operates as a distribution cooperative purchasing power from Basin Electric Power Cooperative; limited direct WPSC rate jurisdiction but subject to commission oversight for service quality and certain tariff matters.

• City of Gillette (Gillette Electric Utility) muni

  Municipal electric service within Gillette city limits, Campbell County

  Operates largely outside WPSC jurisdiction as a municipal utility; however, coal industry demand fluctuations significantly affect load planning and long-term rate stability in this energy-sector-dependent community.

• Cheyenne Light, Fuel and Power (Black Hills Corporation) IOU

  City of Cheyenne and surrounding Laramie County; electric and natural gas service

  Separate regulated subsidiary of Black Hills Corporation serving Wyoming's capital city; subject to ongoing WPSC review of cost allocation between electric and gas operations and pending grid hardening investment recovery.

Key issues

• Rocky Mountain Power coal plant cost stranding and early retirement risk: WPSC is actively scrutinizing PacifiCorp's 2025 IRP and whether Wyoming ratepayers should bear stranded asset costs for coal units scheduled for retirement before end of book life, particularly given Wyoming's statutory coal protections under W.S. 37-2-205.
• Wildfire liability and cost recovery: Following PacifiCorp's exposure from Oregon and California wildfire litigation, WPSC and Wyoming legislature are evaluating whether Wyoming-specific wildfire cost recovery mechanisms are warranted, with potential legislation and commission rulemaking anticipated in the 2026-2027 cycle.
• Transmission development and WIRES Act implications: Wyoming's push to export wind and solar energy to load centers requires significant new transmission investment; WPSC is engaged on cost allocation disputes tied to regional transmission planning under WECC and NorthernGrid processes.
• Natural gas infrastructure prudency reviews: Black Hills Energy and Cheyenne Light face commission scrutiny over capital expenditure prudency for gas distribution system replacements, with intervenors challenging projected cost escalation and project scope in pending rate proceedings.
• Broadband and rural electric cooperative diversification: Wyoming cooperatives including PRECorp are exploring broadband service expansion under FCC and USDA funding programs; WPSC is evaluating jurisdictional boundaries and cross-subsidization safeguards as cooperatives seek to deploy fiber infrastructure.

Upcoming

• 2026-09-15

  Rocky Mountain Power general rate case evidentiary hearing (estimated) — WPSC expected to convene hearing on PacifiCorp's pending Wyoming rate case addressing coal asset recovery, wildfire cost allocation, and transmission rider adjustments; final order anticipated Q1 2027.

• 2026-10-01

  Black Hills Energy Wyoming natural gas rate case compliance filing deadline (estimated) — Follow-on compliance tariff sheets due following 2024 partial rate order; commission staff review of actual capital expenditures versus approved forecast expected to trigger supplemental audit proceeding.

• 2026-11-12

  WPSC biennial resource adequacy and IRP review workshop (estimated) — Commission staff-convened technical workshop to review Rocky Mountain Power and Black Hills Corporation integrated resource plans, with particular focus on renewable integration timelines and coal unit retirement scheduling under Wyoming law.

• 2027-02-01

  Anticipated WPSC rulemaking initiation on wildfire cost recovery mechanisms (estimated) — Commission expected to open formal rulemaking docket in early 2027 following findings from legislative interim committee study authorized during 2026 Wyoming legislative session, with proposed rules addressing prudency standards and securitization eligibility.