HB 24-1370 Summary

• Establishes a gas infrastructure planning framework requiring dual-fuel utilities to work with local governments designated as "gas planning pilot communities" to identify and implement neighborhood-scale alternatives projects that decommission or avoid expanding gas distribution systems.

• Requires the Colorado Energy Office to issue a request for information by December 1, 2024, to identify up to five pilot communities, with applications due by April 30, 2025, and Commission approval by June 30, 2025.

• Mandates utilities provide detailed gas infrastructure project data to pilot communities, including project locations, costs, technical specifications, and customer impact information within established timeframes.

• Allows dual-fuel utilities to recover development costs for approved neighborhood-scale alternatives projects through both electric and gas business cost recovery mechanisms, regardless of whether the alternative energy service performs as expected.

• Appropriates $43,650 to the Colorado Energy Office and $29,678 to the Public Utilities Commission for 2024-25 to implement the program, with a requirement for third-party analysis of project outcomes by July 1, 2028.