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County questions grid capacity, waivers and renovation triggers as LECC moves forward
Summary
Board members pressed staff and experts about grid capacity, waivers for constrained utilities and whether major renovations trigger LECC requirements; staff said utilities are preparing, state does not grant blanket waivers but will approve implementation plans in constrained areas.
San Miguel County commissioners and members of the public asked detailed questions about whether the local grid can support electrification required by electric‑ready provisions, what waivers exist for constrained utilities or off‑grid homes, and how the code applies to renovations.
Board members voiced concerns that some neighborhoods might lack transformer capacity for large electrification loads. Kim Wills of Eco Action Partners said utilities engaged with the regional cohort report they are preparing for electrification and that most territory currently has capacity, though targeted transformer upgrades may be needed in some neighborhoods. “They have plenty of capacity throughout the grid. They’re planning for it,” Wills said.
Maldigo said the state will not issue blanket waivers that excuse jurisdictions from code requirements. Instead, jurisdictions and utilities can propose state‑approved implementation plans that phase requirements while utilities upgrade infrastructure — an approach used previously in Telluride. “You can’t get out of things, but you can come up with an implementation plan,” he said, describing a plan that sequences upgrades and fee increases to fund infrastructure work.
Attendees also asked whether major renovations — for example roof replacement or kitchen remodels — automatically trigger LECC requirements. Maldigo said the LECC applies to new construction and major renovations, but jurisdictions define the local threshold for what counts as a major renovation, so the county will have discretion when it writes its local amendment language.
The meeting included several technical asides on demand‑response capabilities, battery storage incentives (which Maldigo said are utility‑specific and not prescribed in the code), and the role of modular/manufactured housing (state jurisdiction). No changes were made to the county’s proposed schedule; staff will bring amendment language and implementation guidance to upcoming hearings.
