First Regular Session
Seventy-fifth General Assembly
STATE OF COLORADO
REVISED
This Version Includes All Amendments Adopted
on Second Reading in the Second House
LLS NO. 25-0583.01 Jennifer Berman x3286
SENATE BILL 25-068
Senate Committees House Committees
Transportation & Energy Energy & Environment
A BILL FOR AN ACT
C
ONCERNING A MUNICIPALLY OWNED UTILITY 'S VOLUNTARY101
ELECTION TO PARTICIPATE IN THE UNCLAIMED UTILITY102
DEPOSITS PROGRAM.103
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
HOUSE
Amended 2nd Reading
March 18, 2025
SENATE
3rd Reading Unamended
February 19, 2025
SENATE
2nd Reading Unamended
February 18, 2025
SENATE SPONSORSHIP
Snyder and Lundeen, Exum, Liston
HOUSE SPONSORSHIP
Pugliese and Paschal, Bradfield, Caldwell, English, Richardson
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. clarifies that a municipally owned electric or gas utility may elect to
participate in the program.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:1
SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, amend 40-8.5-1022
as follows:3
40-8.5-102. Applicability. (1) This article shall apply ARTICLE4
8.5
APPLIES to any electric or gas utility, as defined by section 40-8.5-103;5
except that this article shall apply
ARTICLE 8.5 APPLIES only to those6
cooperative electric associations, as defined by section 40-9.5-102, which7
THAT notify the commission that they elect to come under this article8
ARTICLE 8.5.9
(2) EXCEPT AS PROVIDED IN SECTION 40-8.5-106, THIS ARTICLE 8.510
DOES NOT APPLY TO MUNICIPALLY OWNED UTILITIES .11
SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 40-8.5-103, amend12
(3) and (4) as follows:13
40-8.5-103. Definitions. As used in this article 8.5, unless the14
context otherwise requires:15
(3) (a) "Electric utility" means every electrical corporation16
operating for the purpose of supplying electricity to the public for17
domestic, mechanical, or public uses and includes every public utility18
supplying electricity; except that this definition includes only those19
cooperative electric associations which THAT notify the commission20
that they elect to come under this article ARTICLE 8.5.21
(b) "ELECTRIC UTILITY" DOES NOT INCLUDE A MUNICIPALLY22
OWNED UTILITY.23
(4) "Gas utility" means every gas corporation operating for the24
purpose of supplying gas to the public for domestic, mechanical, or public25
068-2- uses and includes every public utility supplying gas; EXCEPT THAT THIS1
DEFINITION EXCLUDES MUNICIPALLY OWNED UTILITIES .2
SECTION 3. In Colorado Revised Statutes, amend 40-8.5-106 as3
follows:4
40-8.5-106. Unclaimed deposits. (1) Unclaimed deposits shall5
be paid by the electric and gas utilities into the fund designated by the6
commission pursuant to section 40-8.5-104.7
(2) A MUNICIPALLY OWNED UTILITY:8
(a) MAY ELECT TO PAY UNCLAIMED DEPOSITS INTO EITHER THE9
FUND DESIGNATED BY THE COMMISSION PURSUANT TO SECTION 40-8.5-10410
OR INTO A FUND DESIGNATED BY THE GOVERNING BODY OF THE11
MUNICIPALLY OWNED UTILITY TO ACCOMPLISH THE GOALS SET FORTH IN12
THIS ARTICLE 8.5; AND13
(b) SHALL DEFINE UNCLAIMED DEPOSITS IN A MANNER CONSISTENT14
WITH THE DEFINITION OF "UNCLAIMED MONEYS" SET FORTH IN SECTION15
40-8.5-103 (5).16
SECTION 4. Act subject to petition - effective date. This act17
takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the18
ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly; except19
that, if a referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V20
of the state constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of this21
act within such period, then the act, item, section, or part will not take22
effect unless approved by the people at the general election to be held in23
November 2026 and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the24
official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.25
068
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