HB 24-1263

HB 24-1263 is a Colorado bill that updates the requirements for electricians' licenses. It changes how many hours of experience or training are needed for someone to become a journeyman electrician or residential wireman, allowing them to substitute up to 4,000 hours of practical work with photovoltaic systems installation training. The bill also removes some oversight responsibilities from utility companies regarding solar installations and simplifies the requirements for apprenticeship programs. Since it has been signed into law, these changes will now be implemented, affecting electricians, contractors, and anyone involved in electrical work or solar panel installations in Colorado.

Official Summary

Section 1 of the bill amends a definition and adds new definitions under the electricians' practice act. In current law, an applicant for a journeyman electrician's license or a residential wireman's license must provide evidence of having certain minimum years of apprenticeship experience, accredited training, or practical experience. For the purpose of these requirements, section 3 allows an applicant to have a minimum of 8,000 hours, rather than 4 years, of apprenticeship experience and to have a minimum of 4,000 hours, rather than 2 years, of practical experience. Specifically, an applicant for a journeyman electrician's license must furnish written evidence that: The applicant has at least 4 years or 8,000 hours of apprenticeship in the electrical trade or 4 years or 8,000 hours of practical experience in wiring for, installing, and repairing electrical apparatus and equipment for electric light, heat, and power; and At least 2 years or 4,000 hours of the applicant's experience is in commercial, industrial, or substantially similar work. An applicant for a residential wireman's license must furnish written evidence that the applicant has at least 2 years of accredited training or 2 years or 4,000 hours of practical experience in wiring one-, two-, three-, and four-family dwellings. Current law allows an applicant for a journeyman electrician's license or a residential wireman's license to substitute for required practical experience evidence of academic training or practical experience in the electrical field. Section 2 allows an applicant to also substitute evidence of training in photovoltaic systems installation. However, section 2 also states that the state electrical board (board) may, but is no longer required to, provide work experience credit for academic training, including military training. Section 2 also allows an applicant for a journeyman electrician's license or a residential wireman's license to claim up to 4,000 hours of practical experience by working: As an individual who is certified by the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP) to install photovoltaic systems (NABCEP PV installation professional); or As an apprentice to an NABCEP PV installation professional, so long as the supervising NABCEP PV installation professional provides proof of employment and an affidavit attesting that the applicant earned the hours as an apprentice. For every 2 hours that an applicant works as described, the applicant may claim one hour of practical experience until July 1, 2029. Under current law, for all applicants seeking work experience credit toward licensure, the board gives credit for electrical work that is not required to be performed by or under the supervision of a licensed electrician if the applicant can show that the particular experience received or the supervision under which the work has been performed is adequate. Section 3 states the board may give such credit but is not required to do so. Section 4 requires that, for an apprentice who holds an active residential wireman license, an electrical contractor, an apprenticeship program, or a state apprenticeship agency that employs the apprentice must report qualifying years or hours of work experience only for commercial, industrial, or substantially similar work. Section 4 also ensures that an individual who possesses an active residential wireman or master electrician license is not required to take the journeyman electrician license examination. Section 4 also allows an apprentice to request an exemption from the board from future examination requirements, regardless of whether the apprentice has failed to pass the license examination in 2 consecutive 3-year periods. Section 5 requires the department of regulatory agencies (DORA) to: Uphold the rules and regulations of the current edition of the national electrical code, including applying the code to all equipment from the point at which service transformers generate voltage to usable systems for consumers, including all associated wiring; risers, whether overhead or underground; and metering systems; Cooperate with utility companies to maintain safe clearances and safe working distances for the utilities based on the current edition of the national electrical code; and Allow each utility to install its proper metering equipment with the assistance of qualified electrical personnel. Section 5 also states that all electrical equipment is subject to inspection by an authority having jurisdiction to conduct electrical inspections. Under current law, the contract for any public works project that does not receive federal money in an amount of $1,000,000 or more must require the general contractor or other firm to which the contract is awarded to submit, at the time the mechanical, electrical, or plumbing subcontractor is put under contract, documentation to the agency of government that certifies that all firms identified participate in apprenticeship programs registered with the United States department of labor's office of apprenticeship or a state apprenticeship agency recognized by the United States department of labor (registered apprenticeship program) and have a proven record of graduating apprentices. Section 6 states that for the purposes of this requirement, an apprentice who has obtained a residential wireman, journeyman electrician, or master electrician license while enrolled in a registered apprenticeship program is considered a graduate. Section 7 removes, effective July 1, 2029, language that, for photovoltaic installations with a direct current design capacity of less than 300 kilowatts, allows the performance of all photovoltaic electrical work, the installation of photovoltaic modules, and the installation of photovoltaic module mounting equipment to be subject to on-site supervision by a certified photovoltaic energy practitioner designated by the NABCEP. Section 7 also removes language: Stating that neither the public utilities commission nor a utility has responsibility for monitoring or enforcing compliance with statutory requirements concerning solar photovoltaic installations (installations); Requiring an applicant for funding or for an initial contract proposal for an installation (applicant) to obtain certain information; and Requiring a qualifying retail utility to obtain from an applicant and retain, for at least one year after completion of an installation, copies of all documentation submitted by the applicant in connection with the installation. Section 7 also states that, as used in the context of photovoltaic electrical work, for ground-mounted systems, "grounding" includes the wiring of bonding jumpers and grounding conductors. "Grounding" does not include work related to the racking assembly, racking construction, or the physical mounting of modules.(Note: This summary applies to this bill as introduced.)

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