Will Colorado's utility-rate advocate for small business run out of gas?

The Colorado Office of Consumer Counsel — which speaks up for small businesses and individuals facing utility rate hikes — will go out of business July 1 unless the Legislature re-ups the agency.

Yet, as The Denver Post reports, no bill to renew the agency has been introduced at the statehouse so far, with just a few weeks left to go in the 2015 session.

The office advocates for small businesses and others when faced with rate hikes for electric, gas and telephone service. From 2008 to 2013,…