C.R.S. Section 40-15-604
Electric utility obligations

(1)

An electric utility that exercises any rights under section 40-15-602 (1)(a) or (1)(b) for the provision of commercial broadband service shall:

(a)

Not discriminate among commercial broadband suppliers, including broadband affiliates, in offering or granting rights to install or attach any attached facilities; or

(b)

Charge fees that are nondiscriminatory among commercial broadband suppliers for a substantially similar lease or use of the capacity of attached facilities owned or controlled by the electric utility, but only to the extent an electric utility chooses, in its sole discretion, to offer the lease or use to a particular commercial broadband supplier.

(2)

An electric utility that has a broadband affiliate and, if applicable, the broadband affiliate shall:

(a)

Charge just and reasonable attachment fees, including recurring fees, that are related to the costs associated with such attachments, such as a just and reasonable share of the carrying costs of the per-pole investment, including ongoing maintenance of the pole based on the portion of the usable space on the pole occupied by the attachment;

(b)

Provide all commercial broadband suppliers access to all poles and similar support structures owned by the electric utility or broadband affiliate for the purpose of attaching equipment for the provision of commercial broadband service. Access provided in accordance with this subsection (2)(b) must be provided:

(I)

On a just, reasonable, and nondiscriminatory basis; and

(II)

Under terms and conditions that are no less favorable than the terms and conditions offered to broadband affiliates, including terms and conditions regarding application requirements, technical requirements, electric lineworker health and safety requirements, administrative fees, timelines, and make-ready requirements; and

(c)

Charge fees that are nondiscriminatory among commercial broadband suppliers for a substantially similar lease or use of the capacity of attached facilities owned or controlled by the electric utility or broadband affiliate and that are equal to or less than the fees that the electric utility charges to its broadband affiliates, but only to the extent an electric utility or broadband affiliate chooses, in its sole discretion, to offer the lease or use to a particular commercial broadband supplier.

(3)

Subject to the requirements of subsection (1) of this section, nothing in this section requires an electric utility to offer or grant a right to access or use an electric easement or to use attached facilities or electric service infrastructure owned or controlled by the electric utility in a manner that would, in the electric utility’s reasonable discretion, materially interfere with the electric utility’s construction, maintenance, or use of any electric utility infrastructure for the provision of electric service.

(4)

Intentionally left blank —Ed.

(a)

An electric utility with a broadband affiliate shall not unreasonably withhold authorization or delay its decision whether to provide authorization to a commercial broadband supplier to install, maintain, own, operate, or use the commercial broadband supplier’s attached facilities on electric service infrastructure owned or controlled by the electric utility. An electric utility may only withhold authorization pursuant to this subsection (4) if the reason for withholding authorization is that:

(I)

There is insufficient capacity for the attached facilities; or

(II)

Concerns of safety or reliability or generally applicable engineering purposes weigh against granting the authorization.

(b)

An electric utility that withholds authorization pursuant to this subsection (4) shall promptly notify the commercial broadband supplier in writing of the reasons for withholding authorization.

(5)

An electric utility shall not directly provide retail commercial broadband service but may cause or allow a broadband affiliate to offer retail commercial broadband service. As long as an electric utility maintains its exclusive right to provide electric service to customers within its exclusive service territory, both the electric utility that has a broadband affiliate and the broadband affiliate shall:

(a)

Maintain or cause to be maintained an accounting system for the broadband affiliate separate from the electric utility’s accounting system, using generally accepted accounting principles or another reasonable and customary allocation method;

(b)

Cause a financial audit to be performed by an independent certified public accountant, within two years after commencement of commercial operation of retail commercial broadband service and at least once every two years thereafter, with respect to the broadband affiliate’s provision of commercial broadband service, including an audit of the allocation of costs for property and services that are used in both the provision of commercial broadband service and the electric utility’s provision of electric service; and

(c)

Intentionally left blank —Ed.

(I)

Not cause or allow the electric utility to use its exclusive right to provide electric services within its exclusive territory to cross-subsidize the broadband affiliate or its provision of commercial broadband service, whether by: Below fair market value pricing; payment of capital or operating costs properly charged to the broadband affiliate under applicable accounting rules; or use of any revenue from or subsidy for the provision of electric service to provide commercial broadband service below market value, except in connection with the electric utility’s provision of electricity.

(II)

Nothing in this subsection (5)(c) prohibits an electric utility from:

(A)

Entering into a transaction with a broadband affiliate on terms and conditions substantially similar to those that would be agreed to between two similarly situated parties in an arm’s length commercial transaction;

(B)

Loaning funds to a broadband affiliate if the interest rate on the loan is no less than the electric utility’s lowest cost of capital;

(C)

Exchanging services or materials for other services or materials of equivalent value;

(D)

Providing reduced-cost commercial broadband service to low-income retail customers; or

(E)

Conducting and funding due diligence, operational analysis, entity set-up, and associated noncapital expenditures relating to and prior to the establishment of a broadband affiliate.

(6)

Upon request of a commercial broadband supplier, an electric utility and any broadband affiliate subject to this section shall cause an officer of the electric utility and an officer of the broadband affiliate to certify that the electric utility and the broadband affiliate, respectively, are in compliance with this section. If a dispute arises between an electric utility or its broadband affiliate and an unaffiliated commercial broadband supplier:

(a)

Regarding matters addressed in this part 6, the parties to the dispute have standing to file a claim or cause of action in any court of competent jurisdiction in the state; and

(b)

The following are discoverable and admissible as evidence in court regarding the electric utility’s and its broadband affiliate’s compliance with this section:

(I)

Any certification requested and produced pursuant to this subsection (6);

(II)

The terms and conditions applied to the electric utility’s or broadband affiliate’s offer to or grant of a right to the unaffiliated commercial broadband supplier to install, maintain, own, operate, or use attached facilities; and

(III)

Any audit required to be performed pursuant to subsection (5) of this section.

(7)

Notwithstanding any provision of this part 6 to the contrary, an electric utility that is subject to regulation under 47 U.S.C. sec. 224, as amended, and the FCC regulations promulgated pursuant to that federal law, is not subject to this section.

(8)

Nothing in this part 6:

(a)

Subjects an electric utility to regulation by the FCC;

(b)

Constitutes an exercise of, or an obligation or intention to exercise, the right of the state under 47 U.S.C. sec. 224 (c) to regulate the rates, terms, and conditions for pole attachments, as defined in 47 U.S.C. sec. 224 (a)(4); or

(c)

Constitutes a certification, or an obligation or intention to certify, to the FCC under 47 U.S.C. sec. 224.

Source: Section 40-15-604 — Electric utility obligations, (accessed Dec. 24, 2024).

40‑15‑101
Legislative declaration 40‑15‑102
Definitions 40‑15‑103
Application of part 40‑15‑104
Powers of local government 40‑15‑105
Nondiscriminatory access charges 40‑15‑106
Cross-subsidization prohibited - illegal restraint of trade 40‑15‑107
Powers of commission - inspection of books and documents - confidentiality of information obtained through audit 40‑15‑108
Cost methodologies 40‑15‑109
Assurance of interconnections - averaging of rates 40‑15‑110
Provision of regulated and deregulated service 40‑15‑111
Regulation of the discontinuation or rearrangement of basic local exchange service - measured or message rate service not required 40‑15‑112
Unauthorized change of telecommunications provider 40‑15‑113
Unauthorized charge for services 40‑15‑201
Regulation by commission 40‑15‑202
Certificate required 40‑15‑203
Manner of regulation - refraining from regulation 40‑15‑203.5
Simplified regulatory treatment for rural telecommunications providers 40‑15‑204
Transfer of certificate 40‑15‑205
Violations 40‑15‑207
Reclassification of services and products 40‑15‑208
High cost support mechanism - Colorado high cost administration fund - creation - purpose - operation - rules - report - repeal 40‑15‑209
Net neutrality conditions for internet service providers to receive high cost support mechanism money - definitions 40‑15‑301
Regulation by the commission 40‑15‑302
Manner of regulation - rules 40‑15‑302.5
Resellers of toll services - registration required 40‑15‑303
Transfer of certificate 40‑15‑304
Violations 40‑15‑305
Time period for consideration of deregulation of emerging competitive telecommunications service 40‑15‑307
Switched access 40‑15‑401
Services, products, and providers exempt from regulation - definition 40‑15‑402
No regulation by the commission - no certificate required 40‑15‑403
General assembly may reregulate 40‑15‑404
Dispute - interconnection or access 40‑15‑501
Legislative declaration - purpose and scope of part 40‑15‑502
Expressions of state policy 40‑15‑503
Opening of competitive local exchange market - process of negotiation and rule-making - issues to be considered by commission - definition 40‑15‑503.5
Financial assurance - rules 40‑15‑509
Transfer of certificate 40‑15‑510
Violations 40‑15‑601
Definitions 40‑15‑602
Electric easements - commercial broadband service - broadband affiliates - notice required 40‑15‑603
Statute of limitations - damages - limitations on damages 40‑15‑604
Electric utility obligations
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Current through Fall 2024

§ 40-15-604’s source at