First Regular Session
Seventy-fifth General Assembly
STATE OF COLORADO
INTRODUCED
LLS NO. 25-0383.01 Josh Schultz x5486
SENATE BILL 25-165
Senate Committees House Committees
Business, Labor, & Technology
A BILL FOR AN ACT
C
ONCERNING ELECTRICAL WORK REGULATED IN THE STATE .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
.)
Section 1 of the bill amends a definition and adds new definitions
under the electricians' practice act.
Current law requires an applicant for a journeyman electrician's
license or a residential wireman's license to provide evidence of having
certain minimum years of apprenticeship experience, accredited training,
or practical experience. For the purpose of these requirements, section 2
allows an applicant for a journeyman electrician's license to have a
minimum of 8,000 hours, as an alternative to 4 years, of certain
SENATE SPONSORSHIP
Pelton B. and Daugherty,
HOUSE SPONSORSHIP
(None),
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. apprenticeship or practical experience and an applicant for a residential
wireman's license to have a minimum of 4,000 hours, as an alternative to
2 years, of certain practical experience.
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 also 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,
military training, photovoltaic systems installation training, or
substantially similar training.
Current law requires that, for all applicants seeking work
experience credit toward licensure, the board give 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 experience or
supervision is adequate. Section 3 allows the board to give the credit, but
it is not required to do so.
Section 4 requires that, for an apprentice who holds a residential
wireman's 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 allows an
individual who possesses an active residential wireman's or master
electrician's license to not take the journeyman electrician license
examination.
Section 5 requires the department of regulatory agencies to:
! Uphold the rules and regulations of the current edition of
the national electrical code, including applying the code to
certain equipment;
! Cooperate with utilities 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.
Current law requires that the contract for any public works project
that does not receive federal money in an amount of $1,000,000 or more
require the general contractor or other entity to submit documentation to
the agency that certifies that all firms identified:
! Participate in an apprenticeship program 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.
SB25-165
-2- Current law allows for photovoltaic installations with a direct
current design capacity of less than 300 kilowatts, the performance of all
photovoltaic electrical work, the installation of photovoltaic modules, and
the installation of photovoltaic module mounting equipment (applicable
work) to be subject to on-site supervision by a certified photovoltaic
energy practitioner designated by the NABCEP. Section 6 requires that
the photovoltaic energy practitioner is also working for a contractor that
is not a registered electrical contractor; is registered with the department
of regulatory agencies as a photovoltaic installer no later than December
31, 2025; is a business in good standing with the state; and employs a
NABCEP PV installation professional.
Section 6 also removes language:
! Stating that neither the public utilities commission nor a
utility is responsible for monitoring or enforcing
compliance with statutory requirements concerning solar
photovoltaic installations (installations); and
! Requiring a qualifying retail utility to obtain and retain all
documentation submitted in connection with an installation.
Section 6 also defines "photovoltaic electrical work" as electrical
work performed on a photovoltaic system that is covered electrical work
in accordance with the national electrical code.
Section 7 addresses photovoltaic electrical work for installations
of at least 300 kilowatts, requiring that the work must:
! Comply with electrical permitting requirements and be
performed by an electrical contractor;
! Include a contemporaneous review of the work; and
! Be subject to compliance checks by state electrical
inspectors or individuals appointed by the director of the
division of professions and occupations in the department
of regulatory agencies.
Be it enacted by the General Assembly of the State of Colorado:1
SECTION 1. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 12-115-103, amend2
(3); and add (7.5), (7.7), and (9.5) as follows:3
12-115-103. Definitions. As used in this article 115, unless the4
context otherwise requires:5
(3) "Electric light, heat, and power" means the standard types of6
electricity that are supplied by an electric utility, regardless of whether the
7
source is an electric utility or the inverter output circuit of a photovoltaic8
SB25-165-3- system, direct-current lighting system, or a similar circuit from another1
type of renewable energy system or electric vehicle charging2
infrastructure, and used and consumed in a real estate improvement or3
real estate fixture REGULATED IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE NATIONAL4
ELECTRICAL CODE, EXCLUDING CHAPTER 8, "COMMUNICATION SYSTEMS ".5
(7.5) "NABCEP"
MEANS THE NORTH AMERICAN BOARD OF6
C
ERTIFIED ENERGY PRACTITIONERS.7
(7.7) "NABCEP
PV INSTALLATION PROFESSIONAL" MEANS AN8
INDIVIDUAL WHO IS CERTIFIED BY THE NABCEP TO INSTALL9
PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEMS.10
(9.5) "PV
INSTALLATION TRAINING" MEANS TRAINING CONCERNING11
PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEMS INSTALLATION PRACTICES DESCRIBED IN THE "PV12
I
NSTALLATION PROFESSIONAL JOB TASK ANALYSIS" DOCUMENT13
PUBLISHED BY THE NABCEP.14
SECTION 2. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 12-115-110, amend15
(2)(a)(I), (2)(a)(II), (2)(b) introductory portion, (2)(b)(II), (3)(a), (3)(b)16
introductory portion, and (3)(b)(II); and add (6) as follows:17
12-115-110. License requirements - rules - continuing18
education - repeal. (2) Journeyman electrician. (a) An applicant for19
a journeyman electrician's license shall furnish written evidence that the20
applicant has had the following:21
(I) At least four years'
OR EIGHT THOUSAND HOURS' apprenticeship22
in the electrical trade or four years'
OR EIGHT THOUSAND HOURS' practical23
experience in wiring for, installing, and repairing electrical apparatus and24
equipment for electric light, heat, and power;25
(II) At least two of the applicant's years'
YEARS OR FOUR26
THOUSAND HOURS OF THE APPLICANT 'S experience required by subsection27
SB25-165
-4- (2)(a)(I) of this section has been in commercial, industrial, or1
substantially similar work; and2
(b) An applicant shall be permitted to MAY substitute for required3
practical experience evidence of academic training or practical experience4
in the electrical field, which shall be IS credited as follows:5
(II) If the applicant has academic training, including military6
training
OR PV INSTALLATION TRAINING, that does not qualify under7
subsection (2)(b)(I) of this section, the board shall
MAY provide work8
experience credit for the training or for substantially similar training9
established by rule.10
(3) Residential wireman. (a) An applicant for a residential11
wireman's license shall furnish written evidence that the applicant has at12
least two years of accredited training or two years
OR FOUR THOUSAND13
HOURS of practical experience in wiring one-, two-, three-, and14
four-family dwellings.15
(b) An applicant shall be permitted to
MAY substitute for required16
practical experience evidence of academic training in the electrical field,17
which shall be IS credited as follows:18
(II) If the applicant has academic training, including military19
training
OR PV INSTALLATION TRAINING, that is not sufficient to qualify20
under subsection (3)(b)(I) of this section, the board shall
MAY provide21
work experience credit for the training according to a uniform ratio22
established by rule.23
(6) (a) F
OR THE PURPOSES OF SUBSECTIONS (2)(a)(I) AND (3)(a) OF24
THIS SECTION, UNTIL JULY 1, 2029, AN APPLICANT EARNS PRACTICAL25
EXPERIENCE BY WORKING:26
(I) T
WO THOUSAND HOURS AS AN NABCEP PV INSTALLATION27
SB25-165
-5- PROFESSIONAL;1
(II) U
P TO TWO THOUSAND HOURS AS AN APPRENTICE TO AN2
NABCEP
PV INSTALLATION PROFESSIONAL, SO LONG AS THE SUPERVISING3
NABCEP
PV INSTALLATION PROFESSIONAL PROVIDES PROOF OF THE4
APPLICANT'S EMPLOYMENT AND AN AFFIDAVIT ATTESTING THAT THE5
APPLICANT EARNED THE HOURS AS AN APPRENTICE ; OR6
(III) U
P TO FOUR THOUSAND HOURS AS AN NABCEP PV7
INSTALLATION PROFESSIONAL, IF THE APPLICANT SUBMITS ADDITIONAL8
DOCUMENTATION TO THE BOARD , INCLUDING PAYROLL RECORDS , WORK9
ORDERS, PROJECT DESCRIPTIONS, OR OTHER RELEVANT MATERIALS THAT10
DOCUMENT SIGNIFICANT SOLAR INDUSTRY WORK THAT QUALIFIES AS11
ELECTRICAL HOURS. THE BOARD SHALL REVIEW THE DOCUMENTATION12
AND DETERMINE HOW MANY HOURS OF PRACTICAL EXPERIENCE THE13
APPLICANT EARNS BEYOND THE TWO THOUSAND HOURS PERMITTED BY14
SUBSECTION (6)(a)(I) OF THIS SECTION.15
(b) F
OR EVERY TWO HOURS THAT AN APPLICANT WORKS AS16
DESCRIBED IN SUBSECTION (6)(a)(II) OR (6)(a)(III) OF THIS SECTION, THE17
APPLICANT EARNS ONE HOUR FOR THE PURPOSES OF SUBSECTIONS (2)(a)(I)18
AND (3)(a) OF THIS SECTION.19
(c) T
HIS SUBSECTION (6) IS REPEALED, EFFECTIVE AUGUST 1, 2034.20
SECTION 3. In Colorado Revised Statutes, amend 12-115-11121
as follows:22
12-115-111. Credit for experience not subject to supervision23
of a licensed electrician. For all applicants seeking work experience24
credit toward licensure, the board shall
MAY give credit for electrical25
work that is not required to be performed by or under the supervision of26
a licensed electrician if the applicant can show that the particular27
SB25-165
-6- experience received or the supervision under which the work has been1
performed is adequate.2
SECTION 4. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 12-115-115, amend3
(4)(a); and add (3)(d) as follows:4
12-115-115. Apprentices - supervision - registration -5
discipline - rules. (3) (d) F
OR AN APPRENTICE WHO HOLDS AN ACTIVE6
RESIDENTIAL WIREMAN'S LICENSE, AN ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR , AN7
APPRENTICESHIP PROGRAM REGISTERED WITH THE UNITED STATES8
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR 'S OFFICE OF APPRENTICESHIP, OR A STATE9
APPRENTICESHIP AGENCY RECOGNIZED BY THE UNITED STATES10
DEPARTMENT OF LABOR THAT EMPLOYS THE APPRENTICE IN THIS STATE11
SHALL REPORT QUALIFYING YEARS OR HOURS OF WORK EXPERIENCE ONLY12
FOR COMMERCIAL, INDUSTRIAL, OR SUBSTANTIALLY SIMILAR WORK , AS13
REQUIRED BY SECTION 12-115-110 (2)(a)(II).14
(4) On and after January 1, 2021, contingent on the availability of15
existing resources within the department or the receipt of gifts, grants,16
and donations pursuant to subsection (7) of this section:17
(a) (I) An apprentice who has been registered for at least six years,18
has completed eight thousand hours of practical training, and
meets all19
other journeyman electrician license requirements specified in section20
12-115-110,
AND DOES NOT POSSESS AN ACTIVE RESIDENTIAL WIREMAN 'S21
OR MASTER ELECTRICIAN'S LICENSE shall take the journeyman electrician22
license examination at least every three years in alignment with the23
license renewal cycle until the apprentice receives a passing score.24
(II) If an apprentice has failed to pass the license examination in25
two consecutive three-year periods, the apprentice may request an26
exemption from the board from future examination requirements. The27
SB25-165
-7- board shall grant the exemption if the board determines that the1
apprentice has legitimate educational or professional circumstances that2
justify the exemption. The board shall promulgate ADOPT rules3
concerning the process of requesting and approving license examination4
exemptions.5
SECTION 5. In Colorado Revised Statutes, add 12-115-125 as6
follows:7
12-115-125. Duties of department relating to electrical work.8
(1) T
HE DEPARTMENT SHALL:9
(a) U
PHOLD THE RULES AND REGULATIONS OF THE CURRENT10
EDITION OF THE NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CODE IN ITS ENTIRETY, INCLUDING11
APPLYING THE CODE TO ALL EQUIPMENT FROM THE POINT AT WHICH12
SERVICE TRANSFORMERS GENERATE VOLTAGE TO USABLE SYSTEMS FOR13
CONSUMERS, INCLUDING ALL ASSOCIATED WIRING ; RISERS, WHETHER14
OVERHEAD OR UNDERGROUND ; AND METERING SYSTEMS;15
(b) C
OOPERATE WITH UTILITIES TO MAINTAIN SAFE CLEARANCES16
AND SAFE WORKING DISTANCES FOR THE UTILITIES BASED ON THE17
CURRENT EDITION OF THE NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CODE ; AND18
(c) A
LLOW EACH UTILITY TO INSTALL ITS PROPER METERING19
EQUIPMENT WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF QUALIFIED ELECTRICAL PERS ONNEL .20
(2) A
LL EQUIPMENT IS SUBJECT TO INSPECTION BY AN AUTHORITY21
HAVING JURISDICTION TO PERFORM ELECTRICAL INSPECTIONS .22
SECTION 6. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 40-2-128, amend23
(1)(a)(I)(A) and (2)(a)(I); repeal (1)(a)(II); and add (2)(a.5) as follows:24
40-2-128. Solar photovoltaic installations - supervision -25
qualifications of electrical contractors - definitions. (1) For all26
photovoltaic installations allowed under section 40-2-124 with a direct27
SB25-165
-8- current design capacity of less than three hundred kilowatts:1
(a) (I) (A) The performance of all photovoltaic electrical work, the2
installation of photovoltaic modules, and the installation of photovoltaic3
module mounting equipment is subject to on-site supervision by a4
certified photovoltaic energy practitioner, as designated by the North5
American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners (NABCEP)
AND THAT6
IS WORKING FOR A PHOTOVOLTAIC INSTALLER , or a licensed master7
electrician, licensed journeyman electrician, or licensed residential8
wireman, as
THOSE TERMS ARE defined in section 12-115-103.9
(II) Neither the commission nor the utility shall have
10
responsibility for monitoring or enforcing compliance with this section.11
It shall be the responsibility of the applicant to obtain the information12
required by subparagraph (I) of this paragraph (a), and it shall be the13
responsibility of the qualifying retail utility to obtain from the applicant14
and retain, for at least one year after completion of the installation, copies15
of all documentation submitted by the applicant in connection with the16
installation.17
(2) As used in this section, unless the context otherwise requires:18
(a) (I) "Photovoltaic electrical work" means wiring, grounding, or19
repairing electrical apparatus and equipment in a photovoltaic distributed20
generation system MEANS ELECTRICAL WORK PERFORMED ON A21
PHOTOVOLTAIC SYSTEM THAT IS COVERED ELECTRICAL WORK IN22
ACCORDANCE WITH THE NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CODE , INCLUDING23
ARTICLES 100, 690, 90.2 (1), AND 90.2 (3) OF THE NATIONAL ELECTRICAL24
CODE.25
(a.5) "P
HOTOVOLTAIC INSTALLER" MEANS A CONTRACTOR THAT :26
(I) I
S NOT A REGISTERED ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR , AS DEFINED27
SB25-165
-9- IN SECTION 12-115-103 (4);1
(II) I
S REGISTERED WITH THE DEPARTMENT OF REGULATORY2
AGENCIES AS A PHOTOVOLTAIC INSTALLER NO LATER T HAN DECEMBER 31,3
2025;4
(III) I
S A BUSINESS IN GOOD STANDING WITH THE STATE ; AND5
(IV) E
MPLOYS A NABCEP PV INSTALLATION PROFESSIONAL, AS6
DEFINED IN SECTION 12-115-103 (7.7).7
SECTION 7. In Colorado Revised Statutes, 12-115-107, amend8
(2)(f) as follows:9
12-115-107. Board powers and duties - rules - definitions.10
(2) In addition to all other powers and duties conferred or imposed upon11
the board by this article 115, the board is authorized to:12
(f) (I) Regulate a licensed master electrician, journeyman13
electrician, or residential wireman who, acting within his or her
THEIR14
scope of competence, supervises a solar photovoltaic installation pursuant15
to section 40-2-128.16
(II) On and after January 1, 2020, All photovoltaic electrical work17
for installations of at least three hundred kilowatts, including the18
interconnection of the modules, grounding of the modules, any balance19
of system wiring, and the customer-side point of connection to the utility20
grid, must:21
(A) Be performed by a licensed master electrician, licensed22
journeyman electrician, licensed residential wireman, or properly23
supervised electrical apprentices; and must24
(B) Comply with all applicable requirements of this article 115,25
including sections 12-115-109 and 12-115-115, and all applicable rules26
of the board;27
SB25-165
-10- (C) COMPLY WITH ELECTRICAL PERMITTING REQUIREMENTS AND1
MUST BE PERFORMED BY AN ELECTRICAL CONTRACTOR PURSUANT TO2
SECTION 12-115-120;3
(D) I
NCLUDE A CONTEMPORANEOUS REVIEW PURSUANT TO4
SECTION 12-115-120 (10) TO ENSURE THAT THE REQUIREMENTS OF THIS5
ARTICLE 115 HAVE BEEN MET; AND6
(E) B
E SUBJECT TO COMPLIANCE CHECKS BY A STATE ELECTRICAL7
INSPECTOR OR AN INDIVIDUAL APPOINTED BY THE DIRECTOR TO PERFORM8
COMPLIANCE CHECKS PURSUANT TO SECTION 12-115-119. COMPLIANCE9
CHECKS PERFORMED UNDER THIS SECTION MUST BE CONSISTENT WITH THE10
NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CODE AND STATE AND LOCAL ELECTRICAL CODES .11
(III) (A) A
S USED IN THIS SECTION, "PHOTOVOLTAIC ELECTRICAL12
WORK" MEANS ELECTRICAL WORK PERFORMED ON A PHOTOVOLTAIC13
SYSTEM THAT IS COVERED ELECTRICAL WORK IN ACCORDANCE WITH THE14
NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CODE , INCLUDING ARTICLES 100, 690, 90.2 (1),15
AND 90.2 (3) OF THE NATIONAL ELECTRICAL CODE.16
(B) "P
HOTOVOLTAIC ELECTRICAL WORK " INCLUDES THE17
PREINSTALLATION ASSEMBLY OF PHOTOVOLTAIC M ODULES TO18
PHOTOVOLTAIC MODULE MOUNTING EQUIPMENT FOR INSTALLATION ON19
SITE.20
(C) "P
HOTOVOLTAIC ELECTRICAL WORK " DOES NOT INCLUDE SITE21
PREPARATION, TRENCHING OR EXCAVATING , HAULING, OR OTHER WORK22
THAT IS NOT SPECIFICALLY DESCRIBED IN SUBSECTION (2)(f)(III)(A) OR23
(2)(f)(III)(B)
OF THIS SECTION.24
SECTION 8. Act subject to petition - effective date. This act25
takes effect at 12:01 a.m. on the day following the expiration of the26
ninety-day period after final adjournment of the general assembly; except27
SB25-165
-11- that, if a referendum petition is filed pursuant to section 1 (3) of article V1
of the state constitution against this act or an item, section, or part of this2
act within such period, then the act, item, section, or part will not take3
effect unless approved by the people at the general election to be held in4
November 2026 and, in such case, will take effect on the date of the5
official declaration of the vote thereon by the governor.6
SB25-165
-12-