Colorado will implement new rules July 1 for retail electric vehicle charging stations meant to increase transparency and ensure consistency for consumers and business owners. 

While the requirements will be enacted this year, the Colorado Division of Oil and Public Safety will not pursue enforcement measures until July 1, 2027. 

In a news release, Mahesh Albuquerque, the division’s director, called the new regulations a “significant step forward in ensuring consumer protection and marketplace consistency.” 

“As electric vehicle adoption continues to grow across our state, it is vital that drivers have confidence in the accuracy of the charging infrastructure, and that business owners have clear, fair standards to operate by,” Albuquerque said. “These rules establish that foundation of trust.”

According to the division, the goal is to ensure that consumers are charged accurately based on the electricity dispensed. 

These rules do not apply to free charging stations, private residences where there are no retail transactions or wholesale electricity delivery. They do apply to all owners and operators of retail electric vehicle charging stations in the state and require the following: 

• Any owner or operator of an existing retail EV charging station that charges a fee specifically for electricity to charge a vehicle and was placed into service before July 1, 2026, must register their equipment with the Division of Oil and Public Safety by Jan. 1. 
• Any owner or operator of a new retail EV charging station (as described above) placed into service after July 1, 2026, must register their equipment with the division within 30 calendar days after the first day the device is placed into service.
• All retail EV charging devices must be installed, tested and placed in service by a registered service agent. Results of this testing must be submitted to the division. 
• Devices installed after July 1, 2026, must submit a Placed in Service Form within 90 calendar days after the first day the device is placed into service.

Forms for new and existing chargers — as well as for the test results from the registered service agent — can be found on the Division of Oil and Public Safety’s website at OPS.Colorado.Gov/retail-electric-vehicle-charging.