First Regular Session Seventieth General Assembly STATE OF COLORADO INTRODUCED LLS NO. 15-0479.01 Jennifer Berman x3286SENATE BILL 15-120 SENATE SPONSORSHIP Jones, HOUSE SPONSORSHIP Winter, Senate Committees House Committees Agriculture, Natural Resources, & Energy A BILL FOR AN ACT Concerning a requirement that each provider of retail electric service in Colorado develop an electric grid modernization plan. 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://www.leg.state.co.us/billsummaries.) The bill requires all providers of retail electric service in Colorado, including municipal utilities and cooperative electric associations, to develop a grid modernization plan outlining how the provider, over a 10-year period, proposes to make measurable progress toward the following grid modernization objectives: Optimizing demand-side management; Optimizing supply-side management; Achieving advanced metering functionality within 5 years; Increasing electric grid reliability by improving integration capabilities for distributed resources; and Achieving advanced metering infrastructure functionality within 5 years. Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado: SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 40-4-120 as follows: 40-4-120. Grid modernization plans - legislative declaration - reporting - rules - repeal. (1) Legislative declaration. The general assembly finds and declares that modernizing Colorado's electric grid with a more secure and resilient infrastructure, more innovative technologies, and improvements in demand-side management will: (a) Provide a more reliable electric system that reduces losses from weather-related outages and grid inefficiencies, better integrates distributed resources like renewable energy and energy storage, and empowers customers to manage and reduce their energy costs; (b) Provide customers with the ability to make informed decisions about energy use and adopt cost-saving technologies and services; and (c) Drive economic activity and job creation within the energy services industry in Colorado. (2) Grid modernization plans. The commission shall require that each provider of retail electric service in Colorado subject to regulation by the commission submit a grid modernization plan to the commission that describes how the provider proposes to make measurable progress toward the following grid modernization objectives at the distribution level: (a) Optimizing demand-side management by: (I) Reducing peak demand; (II) Improving end-use efficiency; (III) Enabling demand response technologies; (IV) Enabling time-of-use rate designs; and (V) Securing and enabling consumer control of data; (b) Optimizing supply-side management by: (I) Improving efficiencies in supply delivery and resource management; (II) Improving emergency response capabilities through intelligent infrastructure; and (III) Reducing the number and duration of outages caused by extreme weather events; (c) Increasing electric grid reliability by improving integration capabilities for distributed resources including: (I) Renewable energy resources; (II) Electric vehicles; (III) Electricity storage technologies; and (IV) Microgrids; and (d) Achieving advanced metering infrastructure functionality within five years. For purposes of a grid modernization plan, advanced metering infrastructure functionality includes technologies that: (I) Enable a customer to wirelessly access energy-use data; (II) Provide energy-use data at a minimum of fifteen-minute intervals; and (III) Enable a customer to independently authorize third-party service companies to access real-time energy data. (3) Components of a grid modernization plan. In developing a grid modernization plan, a provider shall: (a) Include: (I) An outline of the timing and priorities of grid modernization efforts and investments over a ten-year period; (II) A plan for customer marketing, education, and outreach; (III) Defined measurable outcomes; (IV) Estimated costs for grid modernization and proposed cost-recovery practices; and (V) A short-term capital investment plan; and (b) Solicit stakeholders' input on the plan. (4) Schedule of grid modernization plan. (a) A provider shall submit a draft grid modernization plan to the commission within nine months after the effective date of this section. Once the draft plan is approved by the commission, the provider shall also submit a copy of the final plan to the Colorado energy office. The commission may establish the form and manner in which grid modernization plans should be submitted. (b) The commission shall provide: (I) Public notice of: (A) Any commission meetings regarding grid modernization plans; and (B) The time frames for providers' submissions of grid modernization plans; and (II) Upon receipt of a provider's draft grid modernization plan, a process for public comment on the grid modernization plan. (5) Review of plans. (a) Within three months after receiving a provider's draft plan, the commission shall review the draft plan, provide any commission or public feedback on the draft plan, and, in writing, approve a final plan. (b) A provider shall commence implementation of its final plan within three months after the date of the commission's written approval of the plan. (6) The commission shall preauthorize a capital investment identified in the provider's short-term capital investment plan developed pursuant to subparagraph (V) of paragraph (a) of subsection (3) of this section if the capital investment is associated with advanced metering infrastructure functionality using a future-year test. (7) Rules. The commission may promulgate rules to implement this section. (8) Repeal. This section is repealed, effective July 1, 2027. SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 40-3.5-108 as follows: 40-3.5-108. Grid modernization plans - repeal. (1) A municipally owned electric utility serving more than forty thousand meters shall submit a grid modernization plan meeting the requirements set forth in section 40-4-120 to the governing body overseeing the municipally owned electric utility. The governing body shall review the grid modernization plan in accordance with the review process set forth in section 40-4-120. The municipally owned electric utility shall submit its final plan to the Colorado energy office. (2) This section is repealed, effective July 1, 2027. SECTION 3. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 40-9.5-119 as follows: 40-9.5-119. Grid modernization plans - repeal. (1) A cooperative electric association shall submit a grid modernization plan that meets the requirements set forth in section 40-4-120 to the board of directors of the cooperative electric association. The board of directors shall review the grid modernization plan in accordance with the review process set forth in section 40-4-120. The cooperative electric association shall submit its final plan to the Colorado energy office. (2) This section is repealed, effective July 1, 2027. SECTION 4. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 24-38.5-102, add (4) as follows: 24-38.5-102. Colorado energy office - duties and powers - repeal. (4) (a) The Colorado energy office shall post on its web site all grid modernization plans that it receives pursuant to sections 40-4-120, 40-3.5-108, and 40-9.5-119, C.R.S. (b) On or before February 1, 2016, and annually thereafter, the Colorado energy office shall report on the progress of the grid modernization plans to the committees in the house of representatives and the senate that hear matters concerning energy. On or before February 1, 2026, the Colorado energy office shall give a final report on the implementation of the grid modernization plans. (c) Nothing in this subsection (4) provides the Colorado energy office with oversight of utilities. (d) This subsection (4) is repealed, effective July 1, 2027. SECTION 5. Safety clause. The general assembly hereby finds, determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate preservation of the public peace, health, and safety.