Energy Storage:

In 2018, Colorado established the right for electric consumers to use energy storage systems and directed the Colorado Public Utilities Commission (CPUC) to develop interconnection rules for customer-sited energy storage systems (SB18-009). From 2018 – 2019, the CPUC established new mechanisms for utilities to procure energy storage systems and adopted rules requiring utilities to include energy storage in their electric resource planning processes (HB18-1270). Electric utilities in Colorado are also required to produce distribution system plans that include energy storage.

In 2021, the CPUC began considering energy storage as a non-wires alternative in utility planning and procurement and authorized utilities to promote behind-the-meter technologies, like batteries, under energy efficiency programs (SB21-072; HB21-1238). Colorado updated interconnection rules to streamline the process for DERs including battery storage through CPUC rulemaking in 2023.

The Colorado Energy Office offers grants to support energy storage in schools, community resilience hubs, and low-income and rural communities through the Microgrids for Community Resilience (MCR) Grant Program.