2018 Colorado Revised Statutes
Title 12 - Professions and Occupations
General
Article 23 - Electricians
§ 12-23-104. Board powers and duties - rules
(1) (a) The board, annually in the month of July, shall elect from its membership a chair and vice-chair. The board shall meet at least annually and at such other times as it deems necessary.
(b) A majority of the board shall constitute a quorum for the transaction of all business.
(2) In addition to all other powers and duties conferred or imposed upon the board by this article, the board is authorized to:
(a) Adopt, and from time to time revise, such rules and regulations not inconsistent with the law as may be necessary to enable it to carry into effect the provisions of this article. In adopting such rules and regulations, the board shall be governed when appropriate by the standards in the most current edition of the national electrical code or by any modifications to such standards made by the board after a hearing is held pursuant to the provisions of article 4 of title 24, C.R.S. These standards are adopted as the minimum standards governing the planning, laying out, and installing or the making of additions, alterations, and repairs in the installation of wiring apparatus and equipment for electric light, heat, and power in this state. A copy of such code shall be kept in the office of the board and open to public inspection. Nothing contained in this section prohibits any city, town, county, city and county, or qualified state institution of higher education from making and enforcing any such standards that are more stringent than the minimum standards adopted by the board, and any city, town, county, city and county, or qualified state institution of higher education that adopts such more stringent standards shall furnish a copy thereof to the board. The standards adopted by the board shall be prima facie evidence of minimum approved methods of construction for safety to life and property. The affirmative vote of two-thirds of all appointed members of the board is required to set any standards that are different from those set forth in the national electrical code. If requested in writing, the board shall send a copy of newly adopted standards and rules and regulations to any interested party at least thirty days before the implementation and enforcement of such standards or rules and regulations. Such copies may be furnished for a fee established pursuant to section 24-34-105, C.R.S.
(b) Repealed.
(c) Register apprentices and register and renew the registration of qualified electrical contractors and examine, license, and renew licenses of journeymen electricians, master electricians, and residential wiremen as provided in this article;
(d)
(I) Administer oaths, take affirmations of witnesses, and issue subpoenas to compel the attendance of witnesses and the production of all relevant papers, books, records, documentary evidence, and materials in any hearing, investigation, accusation, or other matter coming before the board. The board may appoint an administrative law judge pursuant to part 10 of article 30 of title 24, C.R.S., to take evidence and to make findings and report them to the board.
(II) Upon failure of any witness to comply with such subpoena or process, the district court of the county in which the subpoenaed person or licensee resides or conducts business, upon application by the board or director with notice to the subpoenaed person or licensee, may issue to the person or licensee an order requiring that person or licensee to appear before the commission or director; to produce the relevant papers, books, records, documentary evidence, or materials if so ordered; or to give evidence touching the matter under investigation or in question. Failure to obey the order of the court may be punished by the court as a contempt of court.
(e) Cause the prosecution and enjoinder, in any court of competent jurisdiction, of all persons violating this article and incur necessary expenses therefor. When seeking an injunction, the board shall not be required to prove that an adequate remedy at law does not exist or that substantial or irreparable damages would result if an injunction is not granted.
(f) Inspect and approve or disapprove the installation of electrical wiring, renewable energy systems, apparatus, or equipment for electric light, heat, and power according to the minimum standards in the national electrical code or as prescribed in this article. With respect to:
(I) An inverter-based hydroelectric energy facility generating one hundred kilowatts or less, regardless of whether the facility is connected to utility or other distribution lines, an inspector shall inspect a hydroelectric energy installation in accordance with the minimum standards set forth in the edition of the National Electrical Code in effect on May 29, 2015; however, if a microhydro assembly manufactured for the purpose of generating electricity in a microhydro system uses an inverter that is listed and identified for interconnection service, the inspector shall deem the system's equipment compliant with section 705.4 of the edition of the National Electrical Code in effect on May 29, 2015. For purposes of this paragraph (f), a "microhydro system" means a hydroelectric generation system that generates one hundred kilowatts or less.
(II) An induction-based hydroelectric energy facility generating one hundred kilowatts or less, regardless of whether the facility is connected to utility or other distribution lines, the installation of a hydroelectric energy turbine, induction generator, and control panel shall be certified:
(A) To a listing standard by a field evaluation body or nationally recognized testing laboratory; or
(B) By a professional engineer, by means of signing and stamping documentation of the project, as required in a form and manner determined by the board, indicating that the installation meets design criteria set forth in the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers' (IEEE) standard for interconnecting distributed resources with electric power systems.
(f.3) Apply any hydroelectric energy provisions of an updated National Electrical Code, notwithstanding any provision in paragraph (f) to the contrary, if the National Electrical Code is updated to address hydroelectric energy specifically.
(f.5) Regulate a licensed master electrician, journeyman electrician, or residential wireman who, acting within his or her scope of competence, supervises a solar photovoltaic installation pursuant to section 40-2-128, C.R.S.;
(g) Review and approve or disapprove requests for exceptions to the national electrical code in unique construction situations where a strict interpretation of the code would result in unreasonable operational conditions or unreasonable economic burdens, as long as public safety is not compromised;
(h) Conduct hearings in accordance with the provisions of section 24-4-105, C.R.S.; except that the board may appoint an administrative law judge pursuant to part 10 of article 30 of title 24, C.R.S., to conduct such hearings;
(i) Repealed.
(j) Enter into reciprocal licensing agreements with the electrical board, or its equivalent, of another state or states where the qualifications for electrical licensing are substantially equivalent to licensure requirements in Colorado;
(k) Find, upon holding a hearing, that an incorporated town or city, county, city and county, or qualified state institution of higher education fails to meet the minimum requirements of this article if the local inspection authority, including a qualified state institution of higher education, has failed to adopt or adhere to the minimum standards required by this article within twelve months after the board has adopted the standards by rule pursuant to this subsection (2);
(l) Issue an order to cease and desist from issuing permits or performing inspections under this article to an incorporated town or city, county, city and county, or qualified state institution of higher education upon finding that the public entity or qualified state institution of higher education fails to meet the minimum requirements of this article pursuant to paragraph (k) of this subsection (2);
(m) Apply to a court to enjoin an incorporated town or city, county, city and county, or qualified state institution of higher education from violating an order issued pursuant to paragraph (l) of this subsection (2).
