First Regular Session
Seventy-fifth General Assembly
STATE OF COLORADO
REENGROSSED
This Version Includes All Amendments
Adopted in the House of Introduction
LLS NO. 25-0337.02 Christopher McMichael x4775
HOUSE BILL 25-1234
House Committees Senate Committees
Energy & Environment
A BILL FOR AN ACT
C
ONCERNING CONSUMER PROTEC TION FOR UTILITY CUSTOMERS .101
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 enacts various consumer protection measures to protect
electric and gas utility customers in Colorado.
Section 1 of the bill requires an electric or gas public utility
(utility) to protect the personal data of its customers. The utility is
prohibited from disclosing, selling, or reselling a customer's personal data
to:
! A state or federal government entity, unless the disclosure
is necessary for participation in a state or federal assistance
HOUSE
3rd Reading Unamended
March 17, 2025
HOUSE
Amended 2nd Reading
March 14, 2025
HOUSE SPONSORSHIP
Ricks and Joseph, Bacon, Bird, Boesenecker, English, Jackson, Lindsay, Rutinel, Story
SENATE SPONSORSHIP
Winter F.,
Shading denotes HOUSE amendment. Double underlining denotes SENATE amendment.
Capital letters or bold & italic numbers indicate new material to be added to existing law.
Dashes through the words or numbers indicate deletions from existing law. program; or
! A third party.
Under current law, utilities regulated by the public utilities
commission (commission) are prohibited from disconnecting a customer's
utility service for nonpayment under certain circumstances. Sections 2
through 4 add the following circumstances in which disconnection of
utility service for nonpayment is prohibited:
! During periods of extreme heat or cold, including during
the months of October through May;
! If the air quality index measures over 100; and
! During a period in which a residential customer has a
medical emergency, as evidenced by a medical certificate
from a licensed physician or health-care provider, and
requiring the utility to postpone the disconnection of
service for up to 180 days.
The bill also applies the prohibitions regarding disconnection of a utility
customer's service due to nonpayment to electric and gas municipal
utilities and cooperative electric associations that have not exempted
themselves from regulation by the commission.
Section 5 requires a utility to use money collected from the energy
assistance system benefit charge for direct bill payment assistance
year-round, including for customers participating in the low-income
energy assistance program when assistance through that program is
unavailable.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:1
SECTION 1. Legislative declaration. (1) The general assembly2
finds and declares that:3
(a) Consumer protection for utility customers is essential to the4
well-being of all Coloradans. Utility services, including
water and5
electricity, are vital to daily life. Safeguarding vulnerable populations,6
such as families with low incomes, seniors, and individuals with7
disabilities, is a priority. These groups are at heightened risk of8
exploitation, including unfair billing, discrimination, and utility9
disconnections. The state must ensure that all residents can access these10
essential services without fear of undue harm.11
1234-2- (b) In an era of advanced technology, the safeguarding of personal1
data, particularly related to utility usage, is necessary. The sharing of2
customer data with third parties, especially for purposes of surveillance3
or deportation, is a threat to privacy and safety. It is important that4
personal information collected by a public utility is not disclosed, sold, or5
resold to other governmental entities or third parties. The protection of6
data from these potentially harmful practices is essential to the privacy7
and security of residents, particularly those in immigrant and other8
vulnerable communities.9
(c) Utility disconnections during extreme weather or medical10
emergencies present significant risks to public health and safety. The loss11
of essential services, such as electricity, gas, or water, during extreme12
heat, cold, or medical crises, can lead to serious harm, especially for13
vulnerable individuals. Prohibiting the disconnection of utility service14
during these conditions protects the health and safety of all residents.15
16
(2) Therefore, the general assembly finds and declares that17
promoting consumer protection, safeguarding personal data, and18
expanding support for low-income households are fundamental to the19
well-being of all Coloradans.20
21
SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 26-1-109, add (10)22
as follows:23
26-1-109. Cooperation with federal government - grants-in-aid24
- low income home energy assistance program - applications.25
(10) Low-income home energy assistance program. (a) THE STATE26
DEPARTMENT SHALL NOT REQUIRE AN APPLICANT TO PROVIDE THEIR27
1234
-3- CITIZENSHIP OR IMMIGRATION STATUS ON ANY APPLICATION FOR1
ASSISTANCE PAYMENTS, UNLESS THE INFORMATION IS REQUIRED AS A2
CONDITION OF ELIGIBILITY FOR THE ASSISTANCE PAYMENTS .3
(b) THE STATE DEPARTMENT SHALL NOT SHARE INFORMATION4
RELATED TO THE CITIZENSHIP OR IMMIGRATION STATUS OF AN APPLICANT5
FOR OR RECIPIENT OF ASSISTANCE PAYMENTS WITH ANY FEDERAL LAW6
ENFORCEMENT AGENCY, UNLESS DISCLOSURE OF THE INFORMATION IS7
REQUIRED BY LAW OR COURT ORDER .8
(c) IF THE STATE DEPARTMENT DENIES AN INDIVIDUAL 'S9
APPLICATION FOR ASSISTANCE PAYMENTS DUE TO INSUFFICIENT OR10
INCOMPLETE DOCUMENTATION , THE STATE DEPARTMENT SHALL :11
(I) PROVIDE NOTICE TO THE APPLICANT WITHIN SEVEN CALENDAR12
DAYS THAT THEIR APPLICATION HAS BEEN DENIED DUE TO INSUFFICIENT OR13
INCOMPLETE DOCUMENTATION ; AND14
(II) INCLUDE, AS PART OF THE NOTICE PROVIDED PURSUANT TO15
SUBSECTION (10)(c)(I) OF THIS SECTION, A DEADLINE BY WHICH THE16
APPLICANT MAY CORRECT OR COMPLETE THEIR APPLICATION , WHICH17
DEADLINE MUST BE NO LESS THAN SIXTY DAYS AFTER THE DATE THE18
APPLICANT WAS SENT THE NOTICE, BUT NO LATER THAN JUNE 15 OF THE19
CALENDAR YEAR IN WHICH THE INDIVIDUAL SUBMITTED THEIR20
APPLICATION TO THE STATE DEPARTMENT .21
(d) (I) WHEN THE STATE DEPARTMENT DENIES AN INDIVIDUAL'S22
APPLICATION FOR ASSISTANCE PAYMENTS DUE TO INSUFFICIENT OR23
INCOMPLETE DOCUMENTATION, THE STATE DEPARTMENT SHALL NOTIFY24
THE INVESTOR-OWNED PUBLIC UTILITY OF WHICH THE INDIVIDUAL IS A25
CUSTOMER THAT THE INDIVIDUAL 'S APPLICATION IS PENDING REVIEW.26
(II) WHEN AN INVESTOR-OWNED PUBLIC UTILITY RECEIVES THE27
1234
-4- NOTICE FROM THE STATE DEPARTMENT PURSUANT TO SUBSECTION1
(10)(d)(I) OF THIS SECTION, THE INVESTOR-OWNED PUBLIC UTILITY SHALL2
PLACE A DISCONNECTION HOLD ON THE UTILITY SERVICE PROVIDED TO THE3
CUSTOMER, WHICH DISCONNECTION HOLD MUST BE IN EFFECT FOR NO LESS4
THAN SIXTY DAYS OR UNTIL THE INVESTOR-OWNED PUBLIC UTILITY5
RECEIVES NOTICE THAT THE CUSTOMER'S APPLICATION FOR ASSISTANCE6
PAYMENTS HAS BEEN APPROVED .7
(e) AS USED IN THIS SECTION, UNLESS CONTEXT OTHERWISE8
REQUIRES, "INVESTOR-OWNED PUBLIC UTILITY" MEANS A RETAIL ELECTRIC9
UTILITY OR RETAIL GAS UTILITY OPERATING IN THE STATE AND REGULATED10
BY THE PUBLIC UTILITIES COMMISSION, CREATED IN SECTION 40-2-101,11
AND DOES NOT INCLUDE A COOPERATIVE ELECTRIC ASSOCIATION OR12
MUNICIPALLY OWNED UTILITY. 13
SECTION 3. Safety clause. The general assembly finds,14
determines, and declares that this act is necessary for the immediate15
preservation of the public peace, health, or safety or for appropriations for16
the support and maintenance of the departments of the state and state17
institutions.18
1234
-5-