Dive Summary:

• The Colorado Public Utilities Commission (PUC) has decided to consider whether the municipal utility of Boulder can serve 5,800 county customers outside the city limits.
• Xcel Energy, which is facing a takeover of its electricity distribution business in Boulder along with two substations, filed the request for review, arguing the PUC must assign service territories. 
• The city of Boulder argues the PUC does not have the power to decide service territories and that the Colorado constitution grants the city power to take over the substations by eminent domain.

From the article:

Boulder's municipal-utility plan includes two substations that serve the city and about 5,800 county customers.

The two substations are necessary to ensure the most reliable and cost-effective system for a municipal utility, according to Heather Bailey, the city's director of energy strategy and electric-utility development.