Senate Bill 25-068 Engrossed

A Bill for an Act

• Page 1, Line 101Concerning a municipally owned utility's voluntary

• Page 1, Line 102election to participate in the unclaimed utility

• Page 1, Line 103deposits program.

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 unclaimed utility deposits program (program) helps finance electric and gas utility bill payment assistance for income-qualified households. The program is partially funded by electric and gas utilities' contributions of money that are owed to utility ratepayers but that has remained unclaimed by the ratepayers for more than 2 years. The bill clarifies that a municipally owned electric or gas utility may elect to participate in the program.

• Page 2, Line 1Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:

• Page 2, Line 2SECTION 1.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, amend 40-8.5-102 as follows:

• Page 2, Line 340-8.5-102.  Applicability. This article shall apply article 8.5

• Page 2, Line 4applies to any electric or gas utility, as defined by section 40-8.5-103;

• Page 2, Line 5except that this article shall apply article 8.5 applies only to those

• Page 2, Line 6cooperative electric associations, as defined by section 40-9.5-102, which

• Page 2, Line 7or municipally owned electric or gas utilities that notify the commission that they elect to come under this article article 8.5.

• Page 2, Line 8SECTION 2.  In Colorado Revised Statutes, 40-8.5-103, amend (3) and (4) as follows:

• Page 2, Line 940-8.5-103.  Definitions. As used in this article 8.5, unless the context otherwise requires:

• Page 2, Line 10(3)  "Electric utility" means every electrical corporation operating

• Page 2, Line 11for the purpose of supplying electricity to the public for domestic,

• Page 2, Line 12mechanical, or public uses and includes every public utility supplying

• Page 2, Line 13electricity; except that this definition includes only those cooperative

• Page 2, Line 14electric associations which and municipally owned electric utilities

• Page 2, Line 15that notify the commission that they elect to come under this article article 8.5.

• Page 2, Line 16(4)  "Gas utility" means every gas corporation operating for the

• Page 2, Line 17purpose of supplying gas to the public for domestic, mechanical, or public

• Page 2, Line 18uses and includes every public utility supplying gas; except that this

• Page 2, Line 19definition includes only those municipally owned gas utilities

• Page 2, Line 20that notify the commission that they elect to come under this article 8.5.

• Page 3, Line 1SECTION 3.  Act subject to petition - effective date. This act

• Page 3, Line 2takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the

• Page 3, Line 3ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly; except

• Page 3, Line 4that, if a referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V

• Page 3, Line 5of the state constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of this

• Page 3, Line 6act within such period, then the act, item, section, or part will not take

• Page 3, Line 7effect unless approved by the people at the general election to be held in

• Page 3, Line 8November 2026 and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.