A data-processing company intends to build its offices in Pueblo this year, having reached a special agreement with Black Hills Energy to provide power.

According to testimony filed with the Colorado Public Utilities Commission, Black Hills recruited the unnamed company to come to Pueblo and is asking the PUC to give fast attention to a rate plan and special contract for the business.

It is asking the PUC to make a final decision by April 22.

The data company's name, potential jobs and other key information were redacted from the public testimony. Black Hills estimated the company's economic impact on the Pueblo community would be between $25-$40 million during its first five years of operation.

"The new customer will be constructing a new facility located in Pueblo, Colorado, a new 50 megawatt data-processing facility, which will be the first of its kind in the company's service territory," according to the written testimony of Michael Harrington, regulatory manager for Black Hills Service Co.

At the weekly PUC meeting Wednesday, the three commissioners agreed to consolidate several legal filings in the case and have it heard by an administrative law judge, who would give the commissioners a recommended action at its April 10 meeting.

There was some discussion about guaranteeing that other Black Hills ratepayers will not be at risk for any costs from the project, but the commissioners were supportive of having Black Hills recruit more businesses for the Pueblo region.

New Commissioner John Gavan said, "Adding a 50 megawatt data-center to the Pueblo community would be advantageous and I support this. It could be the first of several."

Commissioner Frances Koncilja, a Pueblo native and sometime critic of Black Hills, said she wanted to look closely at the proposed rate plans and contract.

But she also credited the utility with recruiting a new employer.

"I don't want the (public relations) machine to get going that says the commission isn't supporting economic development," she said.

Data-processing companies use a lot of power for their computers. The testimony from Black Hills said it had reached a special agreement with the company to provide 50 megawatts from the electric market, not from the company's Pueblo Airport Generating Station.

That power station can produce 400 megawatts.

Vance Crocker, vice president of Black Hills Colorado Electric, filed testimony saying the company was able to recruit the data company by giving it an "economic development rate."

He said the company needs the PUC approval in April to meet its plan to be "fully running in 2019."

In his testimony, Harrington said the deal with the data company will not be subsidized by other Black Hills ratepayers.

"The company will specifically assign all of the costs of this market energy to this customer," he said.

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