• Xcel plans 2027 issuance of JTS Supplemental RFP
• Incremental Pool Need model to stagger RFP releases

Xcel Energy is planning to issue its Just Transition Solicitation (JTS) Base RFP in 3Q26, delaying the procurement by a few months, according to an update given to the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) on March 31.

The utility stated that the delay is in part due to issues around load forecast elements, transmission analyses, and contract negotiation issues. Xcel Energy’s subsidiary, Public Service Company of Colorado (PSCo), has filed an Applications for Rehearing, Reargument, or Reconsideration (ARRR) of two discrete decision points regarding modeling for the cost to serve large loads and the calculation of the Denver Metro transmission credit.

The ARRR is currently pending before the CPUC.

Xcel said that, in contrast to past practice where the standard Electric Resource Planning (ERP) Phase II involved a single RFP, the JTS Phase II framework includes multiple staggered RFPs over two different RAPs spanning 2031 and 2033 with incremental pool need (INP) between solicitations. This is intended to provide a viable “pool” of backup bids.

The timeline of that framework shows the JTS Base RFP to be issued this year, followed by JTS Transmission Portfolio filings later this year and mid-2027, then a JTS Supplemental RFP in 2027 and INP between solicitations.

A new ERP filing is expected in 2028, which will kick off a new set of RFPs.

“The approved JTS Phase II Framework provides a more flexible and adaptable resource acquisition process in the face of prospective large loads, and market and geopolitical challenges,” Xcel said, adding that the INP concept was designed to help provide flexibility to quickly develop generation and capacity resources to address near-term system uncertainty caused by project failures and system load growth.

Load forecast

In Xcel’s annual electric demand and energy forecast, based on the JTS proceeding, it shows that summer native load peak demand in 2026 is 7,085 MW, and 7,227 MW in 2027, 7,288 MW in 2028, 7,466 MW in 2029, 7,601 MW in 2030, and then 8,021 MW in 2033.

Xcel noted that this forecast includes any incremental growth associated with incremental, transmission-connected large customer loads and “continues to disagree with this assumption.”

Xcel added that it will update the load forecast 30 days prior to issuing the JTS Base RFP.

The utility highlighted that in its most recent load and resources (L&R) snapshot, Xcel faces generation capacity deficits of over 400 MW in the summer of 2027 and winter of 2028.

Xcel believes that snapshot, as well as the load forecast, understates the potential load growth underway in Colorado from customers with a “reasonable expectation for electric service.” It added that the L&R assumes that all Near-Term Procurement (NTP) RFP projects will execute as approved and that there are not future generation failures that will stress the utility’s operations.

Xcel said that it remains “concerned that while the L&R tables may show a positive position in the years after 2028, the margin for success is razor thin. All things will need to go to plan or the company will likely tip back into a resource adequacy deficit.”

*This story was originally published exclusively for NPM subscribers.

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