A Bill for an Act
Page 1, Line 101Concerning measures to improve a customer's ability to use
Page 1, Line 102distributed energy resources.
Bill Summary
(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced and does not reflect any amendments that may be subsequently adopted. If this bill passes third reading in the house of introduction, a bill summary that applies to the reengrossed version of this bill will be available at http://leg.colorado.gov.)
The bill defines, and creates requirements for, portable-scale solar generation devices. In addition, the bill prohibits a provider of retail electric service or wholesale energy from, among other things, requiring a customer to obtain the provider's approval before installing or using a portable-scale solar generation device. The bill also prohibits a person from restricting, prohibiting, or imposing unreasonable conditions on the installation, use, or operation of a portable-scale solar generation device.
Under current law, a utility that is subject to regulation by the public utilities commission (commission) must allow for customer ownership and use of a meter collar adapter through the utility's interconnection standards. The bill requires the commission, on or before December 31, 2026, to revise existing commission interconnection rules to explicitly require commission-regulated utilities to allow for customer ownership and use of meter collar adapters and to prohibit commission-regulated utilities from requiring a production meter as a condition of interconnection for a customer-sited distributed energy resource.
The bill requires municipally owned utilities and cooperative electric associations to also allow for customer ownership and use of meter collar adapters and prohibits municipally owned utilities and cooperative electric associations from requiring a production meter as a condition of interconnection for a customer-sited distributed energy resource.
Page 2, Line 1Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:
Page 2, Line 2SECTION 1. Legislative declaration. (1) The general assembly
Page 2, Line 3finds and declares that:
Page 2, Line 4(a) With weather-related power outages on the rise, distributed
Page 2, Line 5generation systems, such as residential solar energy systems, create a
Page 2, Line 6clean, reliable energy source that, especially when paired with an energy
Page 2, Line 7storage system, is less vulnerable to natural disasters and grid failures;
Page 2, Line 8(b) Customers across the state are increasingly wanting to have
Page 2, Line 9more freedom and choice over their energy decisions and to increase the
Page 2, Line 10self-reliance and self-sufficiency of their families and communities;
Page 2, Line 11(c) Portable-scale solar generation devices plug in directly to a
Page 2, Line 12wall outlet and immediately provide energy to a home. These devices can
Page 2, Line 13play a meaningful role in addressing energy affordability statewide, and
Page 2, Line 14they are ideal for any small space, such as an apartment balcony or a
Page 2, Line 15small patio.
Page 2, Line 16(d) While clean energy technologies, including portable-scale
Page 3, Line 1solar generation devices, are becoming increasingly available for
Page 3, Line 2customers, interconnection fees and other utility processes can make the
Page 3, Line 3adoption of such technologies unnecessarily costly and burdensome;
Page 3, Line 4(e) It is the policy of the state and the intent of the general
Page 3, Line 5assembly to encourage the use of portable-scale solar generation devices
Page 3, Line 6and to limit obstacles to customers' use of these devices; and
Page 3, Line 7(f) Increasing renewable energy generation and allowing
Page 3, Line 8customers across the state to have more freedom, choice, and
Page 3, Line 9self-sufficiency over their energy decisions through the use of
Page 3, Line 10portable-scale solar generation devices is a matter of statewide concern.
Page 3, Line 11(2) The general assembly further finds that:
Page 3, Line 12(a) Customer-sited distributed energy resources, including rooftop
Page 3, Line 13solar and energy storage, are important tools to help customers manage
Page 3, Line 14bills, improve resilience, and support achievement of the state's clean
Page 3, Line 15energy and climate goals;
Page 3, Line 16(b) Ensuring efficient, low-cost, and timely interconnection of
Page 3, Line 17distributed energy resources is a matter of statewide concern;
Page 3, Line 18(c) Use of meter collar adapters can reduce or avoid costly and
Page 3, Line 19time-consuming service panel upgrades when interconnecting distributed
Page 3, Line 20energy resources, thereby lowering the costs of and barriers to
Page 3, Line 21customer-sited distributed energy resources for households and small
Page 3, Line 22businesses;
Page 3, Line 23(d) Cooperative electric associations are required to comply with
Page 3, Line 24the interconnection rules adopted by the public utilities commission, and
Page 3, Line 25municipally owned utilities are required to adopt interconnection
Page 3, Line 26standards that are functionally similar to those established by the public
Page 3, Line 27utilities commission;
Page 4, Line 1(e) However, existing law does not explicitly require that
Page 4, Line 2cooperative electric associations and municipally owned utilities must
Page 4, Line 3allow for customer use of meter collar adapters; and
Page 4, Line 4(f) Therefore, additional statutory direction is needed to ensure
Page 4, Line 5that all utilities in the state fully and efficiently accommodate the use of
Page 4, Line 6meter collar adapters.
Page 4, Line 7(3) The general assembly further finds that requiring separate
Page 4, Line 8production meters for customer-sited distributed energy resources in
Page 4, Line 9circumstances where net energy consumption can be accurately measured
Page 4, Line 10at the customer's billing meter adds unnecessary cost and complexity that
Page 4, Line 11discourage beneficial distributed energy resources.
Page 4, Line 12SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 40-2-140 as
Page 4, Line 13follows:
Page 4, Line 1440-2-140. Portable-scale solar generation devices -
Page 4, Line 15requirements - exemptions - definition.
Page 4, Line 16(1) As used in this section, "portable-scale solar
Page 4, Line 17generation device" or "device" means a photovoltaic system and
Page 4, Line 18associated equipment that:
Page 4, Line 19(a) Is designed or commissioned to supply a maximum power
Page 4, Line 20output of not more than one thousand nine hundred twenty
Page 4, Line 21watts to the electric grid; and
Page 4, Line 22(b) Is certified by a nationally recognized testing
Page 4, Line 23laboratory.
Page 4, Line 24(2) A portable-scale solar generation device must include
Page 4, Line 25a feature that prevents the device from energizing the electric
Page 4, Line 26grid during a power outage.
Page 4, Line 27(3) A customer that uses a portable-scale solar
Page 5, Line 1generation device may participate in a net metering program
Page 5, Line 2made available by the customer's utility pursuant to section
Page 5, Line 340-2-124 or 40-9.5-118 (2).
Page 5, Line 4(4) A provider of retail electric service or wholesale
Page 5, Line 5energy shall not require a customer to:
Page 5, Line 6(a) Obtain the provider's approval before installing or
Page 5, Line 7using a portable-scale solar generation device;
Page 5, Line 8(b) Pay the provider a fee related to a portable-scale
Page 5, Line 9solar generation device; or
Page 5, Line 10(c) Install any additional controls or equipment beyond
Page 5, Line 11what is integrated into a portable-scale solar generation
Page 5, Line 12device.
Page 5, Line 13(5) A portable-scale solar generation device that has a
Page 5, Line 14power output of not more than three hundred ninety-one watts
Page 5, Line 15is exempt from:
Page 5, Line 16(a) The solar photovoltaic installation requirements
Page 5, Line 17described in section 40-2-128; and
Page 5, Line 18(b) Any building safety code provisions or product listing
Page 5, Line 19provisions that would require alterations to the building's
Page 5, Line 20electrical wiring.
Page 5, Line 21(6) A person shall not adopt or enforce a restriction,
Page 5, Line 22covenant, bylaw, regulation, lease stipulation, or other rule
Page 5, Line 23that directly or indirectly restricts, prohibits, or imposes
Page 5, Line 24unreasonable conditions on the installation, use, or operation
Page 5, Line 25of a portable-scale solar generation device that meets the
Page 5, Line 26requirements described in this section. Any such restriction,
Page 5, Line 27covenant, bylaw, regulation, lease stipulation, or other rule is
Page 6, Line 1void as a matter of public policy.
Page 6, Line 2SECTION 3. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 40-2-124, amend
Page 6, Line 3(7)(b)(IV); and add (1.3) as follows:
Page 6, Line 440-2-124. Renewable energy standards - qualifying retail and
Page 6, Line 5wholesale utilities - definitions - net metering - legislative declaration
Page 6, Line 6- rules.
Page 6, Line 7(1.3) On or before December 31, 2026, the commission shall
Page 6, Line 8revise existing rules to:
Page 6, Line 9(a) Require a qualifying retail utility to allow for
Page 6, Line 10customer ownership and use of a meter collar adapter to permit
Page 6, Line 11the interconnection of distributed energy resources and for
Page 6, Line 12electrical isolation of the customer's site for energy backup
Page 6, Line 13purposes;
Page 6, Line 14(b) Require a qualifying retail utility to have a
Page 6, Line 15transparent process for approving customer-owned meter
Page 6, Line 16collar adapters that meet minimum safety requirements. The
Page 6, Line 17approval process must take no more than sixty days after the
Page 6, Line 18date of submission for approval of a specific meter collar
Page 6, Line 19adapter by the proposing party. A qualifying retail utility shall
Page 6, Line 20post on its website a public list of approved meter collar
Page 6, Line 21adapters and update the list at least annually. A qualifying
Page 6, Line 22retail utility shall approve a proposed customer-owned meter
Page 6, Line 23collar adapter that:
Page 6, Line 24(I) Is certified for compliance with the standards
Page 6, Line 25referenced in UL 414 and rated adequately for the connected
Page 6, Line 26equipment; and
Page 6, Line 27(II) Does not impede access to the sealed meter socket
Page 7, Line 1compartment or pull section of the service entrance station;
Page 7, Line 2(c) Require a qualifying retail utility to establish and
Page 7, Line 3publish in the qualifying retail utility's tariffs a process for a
Page 7, Line 4customer to request and install a meter collar adapter, which
Page 7, Line 5process must take no longer than thirty days and not be unduly
Page 7, Line 6burdensome to the customer;
Page 7, Line 7(d) Require a qualifying retail utility to allow for the
Page 7, Line 8installation of a meter collar adapter by a professional
Page 7, Line 9contractor with an active electrical contractor license; and
Page 7, Line 10(e) Prohibit a qualifying retail utility from requiring a
Page 7, Line 11production meter as a condition of interconnection for a
Page 7, Line 12customer-sited distributed energy resource.
Page 7, Line 13(7) (b) Each municipally owned utility shall allow a
Page 7, Line 14customer-generator's retail electricity consumption to be offset by the
Page 7, Line 15electricity generated from eligible energy resources on the
Page 7, Line 16customer-generator's side of the meter that are interconnected with the
Page 7, Line 17facilities of the municipally owned utility, subject to the following:
Page 7, Line 18(IV) Interconnection standards. Each municipally owned utility
Page 7, Line 19shall adopt and post small generation interconnection standards and
Page 7, Line 20insurance requirements that are functionally similar to those established
Page 7, Line 21in the rules
promulgatedpublic utilitiesPage 7, Line 22pursuant to this section; except that the municipally owned utility may
Page 7, Line 23reduce or waive any of the insurance requirements. If any
Page 7, Line 24customer-generator subject to the size specifications specified in
Page 7, Line 25
subparagraph (V) of this paragraph (b)Page 7, Line 26section is denied interconnection by the municipally owned utility, the
Page 7, Line 27utility shall provide a written technical or economic explanation of such
Page 8, Line 1denial to the customer. A municipally owned utility shall not
Page 8, Line 2require a production meter as a condition for interconnection
Page 8, Line 3for a customer-sited distributed energy resource. A municipally
Page 8, Line 4owned utility's interconnection standards must:
Page 8, Line 5(A) Allow for customer ownership and use of a meter
Page 8, Line 6collar adapter to permit the interconnection of distributed
Page 8, Line 7energy resources and for electrical isolation of the customer's
Page 8, Line 8site for energy backup purposes;
Page 8, Line 9(B) Include a transparent process for approving
Page 8, Line 10customer-owned meter collar adapters that meet minimum
Page 8, Line 11safety requirements. The approval process must take no more
Page 8, Line 12than sixty days after the date of submission for approval of a
Page 8, Line 13specific meter collar adapter by the proposing party. A
Page 8, Line 14municipally owned utility shall post on its website a public list
Page 8, Line 15of approved meter collar adapters and update the list at least
Page 8, Line 16annually. A municipally owned utility shall approve a proposed
Page 8, Line 17customer-owned meter collar adapter that is certified for
Page 8, Line 18compliance with the standards referenced in UL 414, is rated
Page 8, Line 19adequately for the connected equipment, and does not impede
Page 8, Line 20access to the sealed meter socket compartment or pull section
Page 8, Line 21of the service entrance station.
Page 8, Line 22(C) Include a process for a customer to request and
Page 8, Line 23install a meter collar adapter, which process must take no
Page 8, Line 24longer than thirty days and not be unduly burdensome to the
Page 8, Line 25customer; and
Page 8, Line 26(D) Allow for the installation of a meter collar adapter
Page 8, Line 27by a professional contractor with a valid electrician license
Page 9, Line 1issued pursuant to article 115 of title 12.
Page 9, Line 2SECTION 4. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 40-9.5-118, amend
Page 9, Line 3(2)(d) as follows:
Page 9, Line 440-9.5-118. Net metering - rules.
Page 9, Line 5(2) Each cooperative electric association shall allow a
Page 9, Line 6customer-generator's retail electricity consumption to be offset by the
Page 9, Line 7electricity generated from eligible energy resources on the
Page 9, Line 8customer-generator's side of the meter that are interconnected with the
Page 9, Line 9facilities of the cooperative electric association, subject to the following:
Page 9, Line 10(d) Interconnection standards. A cooperative electric association
Page 9, Line 11and a customer-generator shall comply with the interconnection standards
Page 9, Line 12and insurance requirements established in the rules
promulgatedPage 9, Line 13by the public utilities commission pursuant to section 40-2-124; except
Page 9, Line 14that the cooperative electric association may reduce or waive any of the
Page 9, Line 15insurance requirements; and except that the public utilities commission
Page 9, Line 16shall initiate a rule-making proceeding no later than October 1, 2008, for
Page 9, Line 17the purpose of addressing cooperative electric association system issues
Page 9, Line 18in its small generator interconnection procedures. A cooperative electric
Page 9, Line 19association shall not prevent or unreasonably burden the installation of a
Page 9, Line 20net metering system if such system includes protective equipment that
Page 9, Line 21prevents any export of customer-generated electricity from the customer's
Page 9, Line 22side of the meter. A cooperative electric association and a
Page 9, Line 23customer-generator shall comply with the rules adopted by the
Page 9, Line 24public utilities commission pursuant to section 40-2-124 (1.3)
Page 9, Line 25regarding meter collar adapters and production meters.
Page 9, Line 26SECTION 5. Act subject to petition - effective date. This act
Page 9, Line 27takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the
Page 10, Line 1ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly (August
Page 10, Line 212, 2026, if adjournment sine die is on May 13, 2026); except that, if a
Page 10, Line 3referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V of the
Page 10, Line 4state constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of this act
Page 10, Line 5within such period, then the act, item, section, or part will not take effect
Page 10, Line 6unless approved by the people at the general election to be held in
Page 10, Line 7November 2026 and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the
Page 10, Line 8official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.