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HB 26-1246

failed

Consumer-Regulated Electric Utilities

Plain-English Summary

AI-generated

HB 26-1246 is a Colorado bill that allows certain businesses to set up their own electricity systems for their facilities without needing approval from the state's public utilities commission. This applies to new industrial, commercial, and data center buildings that don't already have an electric provider. The bill lets these companies build their power systems in existing public spaces as long as they follow safety rules. Since it has been signed into law, businesses can now start setting up these independent electricity systems according to the guidelines laid out by the legislation.

Official Summary

The bill defines a "consumer-regulated electric utility" as an electric generation and supply system constructed for the sole purpose of serving new industrial, commercial, data center, or other nonresidential loads not previously served by a provider of retail electric service.The bill states that a consumer-regulated electric utility is not a public utility and is not subject to regulation by the public utilities commission (commission), unless the consumer-regulated electric utility elects to interconnect with the electric grid in a service territory of a public utility that is subject to regulation by the commission.A consumer-regulated electric utility may construct and operate a facility within an existing public right-of-way, subject to applicable permitting, restoration, and public safety requirements.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

Details

Chamber
House
First action
2026-04-30
Latest action
2026-02-18
Last action desc.
Introduced In House - Assigned to Energy & Environment
OpenStates
View source ↗

Sponsors

Topics

Energy

Related Legislation

This bill affects (27)

relates
HB 26-1213(2026A)· signed
Sunset Biomass Utilization Grant Program
relates
HB 24-1263(2024A)· signed
Licensure of Electricians
relates
SB 25-280(2025A)· signed
Data Center Development & Grid Modernization Act
relates
SB 22-073(2022A)· signed
Alternative Energy Sources
relates
SB 24-218(2024A)· signed
Modernize Energy Distribution Systems
relates
SB 18-064(2018A)· signed
Require 100% Renewable Energy By 2035
relates
HB 25-1177(2025A)· signed
Utility Economic Development Rate Tariff Adjustments
relates
SB 17-301(2017A)· signed
Energy-related Statutes
relates
SB 17-145(2017A)· failed
Electric Utility Distribution Grid Resource Acquisition Plan
relates
SB 18-246(2018A)· signed
Renewable Energy Standard Repeal Senate Bill 13-252
relates
SB 18-003(2018A)· signed
Colorado Energy Office
relates
SB 24-039(2024A)· signed
Nuclear Energy as a Clean Energy Resource
relates
SB 25-165(2025A)· signed
Licensure of Electricians
relates
HB 17-1299(2017A)· failed
Transportation Legislation Review Committee Interim Hearing Electric Utility Energy Storage
relates
SB 18-009(2018A)· signed
Allow Electric Utility Customers Install Energy Storage Equipment
relates
SB 23-079(2023A)· signed
Nuclear Energy As A Clean Energy Resource
relates
HB 18-1428(2018A)· signed
Authorize Utility Community Collaboration Contract
relates
SB 22-118(2022A)· signed
Encourage Geothermal Energy Use
relates
HB 23-1080(2023A)· signed
Reliable Alternative Energy Sources
relates
HB 23-1074(2023A)· signed
Study Workforce Transitions To Other Industries
relates
SB 24-150(2024A)· signed
Processing of Municipal Solid Waste
relates
HB 22-1140(2022A)· signed
Green Hydrogen To Meet Pollution Reduction Goals
relates
HB 25-1040(2025A)· signed
Adding Nuclear Energy as a Clean Energy Resource
relates
SB 25-139(2025A)· signed
Grocery & Utility Bill Reduction Measures
relates
SB 23-016(2023A)· signed
Greenhouse Gas Emission Reduction Measures
relates
HB 18-1271(2018A)· signed
Public Utilities Commission Electric Utilities Economic Development Rates
relates
SB 24-207(2024A)· signed
Access to Distributed Generation

Affected by (7)

amends
HB 26-1213(2026A)· signed
Sunset Biomass Utilization Grant Program
amends
HB 26-1225(2026A)· signed
Distributed Energy Resources Requirements
relates
HB 26-1007(2026A)· signed
Improve Customer Use Distributed Energy Resources
relates
SB 26-102(2026A)· failed
Large-Load Data Centers
relates
HB 26-1030(2026A)· failed
Data Center & Utility Modernization
relates
SB 26-142(2026A)· signed
Development of Thermal Energy Resources
repeals
HB 26-1326(2026A)· signed
Sunset Public Utilities Commission

Votes

Postpone House Bill 26-1246 indefinitely.
2026-04-30 · House · passYes: · No: · Other:
Refer House Bill 26-1246, as amended, to the Committee of the Whole.
2026-04-30 · House · failYes: · No: · Other:
Adopt amendment L.002
2026-04-30 · House · passYes: · No: · Other:
Adopt amendment L.009
2026-04-30 · House · passYes: · No: · Other:
Adopt amendment L.008
2026-04-30 · House · passYes: · No: · Other:
Adopt amendment L.003
2026-04-30 · House · passYes: · No: · Other:
Adopt amendment L.013
2026-04-30 · House · passYes: · No: · Other:
Adopt amendment L.006
2026-04-30 · House · passYes: · No: · Other:
Adopt amendment L.010
2026-04-30 · House · passYes: · No: · Other:
Adopt amendment L.014
2026-04-30 · House · passYes: · No: · Other:
Adopt amendment L.001
2026-04-30 · House · passYes: · No: · Other:
Adopt amendment L.004
2026-04-30 · House · passYes: · No: · Other:
Adopt amendment L.007
2026-04-30 · House · passYes: · No: · Other:
Adopt amendment L.016
2026-04-30 · House · passYes: · No: · Other:
Adopt amendment L.005
2026-04-30 · House · passYes: · No: · Other: