Landmark Legislation: Colorado Establishes the Right to Store Energy

Colorado’s 2018 Bill Gives Customers the Right to Store Energy on Their Property

Earlier this year, Colorado passed a landmark piece of legislation that cements Colorado residents’ right to install, interconnect, and use energy storage systems on their property. This bill, Senate Bill 18-009, was sponsored by Colorado Senators Stephen Fenberg and Kevin Priola, and is among the first in the nation to formally establish energy storage as a right.  

SB 18-009 sets guidelines for the Public Utility Commission to adopt rules that both allow for the installation of individual energy storage systems, as well as eliminate barriers such as restrictions or prohibitive fees to encourage installation. This bill also requires that the Utility Commission makes the review and approval processes straightforward, efficient, and affordable.

Colorado’s bill is particularly important in the context of increasing frequency of storms and extreme weather events. With the right to store energy, property owners will not only increase their energy independence but will also bolster energy resilience in the face of grid uncertainty.

SB 18-009 is the newest piece of Landmark Legislation added to NCEL and the USC Schwarzenegger Institute’s Digital Environmental Legislative Handbook.