The bill enhances the role of the Colorado Electric Transmission Authority by:
Authorizing Recurring Studies: Allows the authority to conduct studies on transmission capacity needs regularly and present a statewide transmission plan every 3 years to the Public Utilities Commission and legislature, starting September 1, 2027.
Incorporating Advanced Transmission Technologies: Mandates consideration of advanced transmission technologies—hardware/software that improves capacity, efficiency, reliability, or resiliency—in studies and project identification.
Designating the Authority as a Statewide Transmission Coordinator: Tasks the authority with coordinated statewide planning, participation in regional/interregional planning, and creating an expert advisory panel for reviewing models and assumptions.
Revising Electric Resource Plan Requirements: Requires electric utilities to:
Include a transmission plan identifying necessary resources/projects.
Evaluate advanced technologies or explain exclusions.
Provide modeling data to support statewide coordination.
Creating Incentives: Permits the commission to design incentives for utilities using advanced transmission technologies.
Updating 10-Year Plans: Mandates electric utilities to consider advanced technologies in their 10-year transmission plans.
This bill promotes a forward-looking, technology-driven approach to improving Colorado's electric transmission infrastructure.
Summary
Current law requires the Colorado electric transmission authority
(authority) to conduct a study on the need for expanded transmission capacity in the state and prepare a final report of the study on or before January 31, 2025. Section 2 of the bill authorizes the authority to conduct the study on a recurring basis and requires the authority to present a statewide transmission plan, based on the results of the study, to the Colorado public utilities commission (commission) and the legislature every 3 years, beginning on or before September 1, 2027. Section 2 requires the authority to consider advanced transmission
technologies in the study and identify certain projects that use advanced transmission technologies. Advanced transmission technologies is defined in section 1 as hardware or software technologies that increase the capacity, efficiency, reliability, or resiliency of an existing or new transmission facility. Section 3 designates the authority as a statewide transmission
coordinator. Among other duties, the authority is required to facilitate coordinated statewide planning; engage with regional and interregional planning processes; and establish an expert advisory panel to review and provide feedback on model inputs, assumptions, and approaches.
Under current law, an electric utility must submit an electric
resource plan to the commission for approval. Sections 4 and 5 require an electric utility to:
•
Include in the electric resource plan a transmission plan that identifies certain transmission resources and projects;
•
Incorporate in the electric resource plan an evaluation of advanced transmission technologies or submit to the commission an explanation of why advanced transmission technologies are not included in the electric resource plan; and
•
Provide model inputs and assumptions and other system information or methodology consultation necessary to support the authority in acting as a statewide transmission coordinator. Section 4 allows the commission to design incentives for a retail
electric utility that utilizes advanced transmission technologies. Section 6 requires an electric utility to consider advanced
transmission technologies in the electric utility's 10-year transmission plan.
