(1)

(a) The term "securities", when used in articles 1 to 7 of this title, includes stocks, bonds, notes, and other evidences of indebtedness.

(b) The requirements of this section apply only to public utilities providing electricity or gas service.

(2) The power of every gas corporation and of every electrical corporation operating as a public utility as defined in section 40-1-103 that derives more than five percent of its consolidated gross revenues in the state of Colorado as a public utility, or derives a lesser percentage if said revenues are realized by supplying an amount of energy which equals five percent or more of this state's consumption, to issue or assume securities and to create liens on its property situated within this state is a special privilege, hereby subjected to the supervision and control of the commission. Such public utility, when authorized by order of the commission and not otherwise, may issue or assume securities with a maturity date of more than twelve months after the date of issuance for the following purposes: The acquisition of property; the construction, completion, extension, or improvement of its facilities; the improvement or maintenance of its service; the discharge or lawful refunding of its obligations; the reimbursement of moneys actually expended for said purposes from income or from any other moneys in the treasury not secured by or obtained from the issue of securities within five years next prior to the filing of an application with the commission for the required authorization; or any of such purposes or any other lawful purpose authorized by the commission.

(3) Such public utility, by written petition filed with the commission setting forth the pertinent facts involved, shall make application to the commission for an order authorizing the proposed issue or assumption of securities and the application of the proceeds therefrom to the purpose specified. The commission, with or without a hearing and upon such notice as the commission may prescribe, shall enter its written order approving the petition and authorizing the proposed securities transactions unless the commission finds that such transactions are inconsistent with the public interest or that the purpose thereof is not permitted or is inconsistent with the provisions of this section.

(4) Such public utility may issue or renew, extend, or assume liability on securities, other than stocks, with a maturity date of not more than twelve months after the date of issuance and secured or unsecured, without application to or order of the commission; but no such securities so issued shall in whole or in part be refunded by any issue of securities having a maturity of more than twelve months except on application to and approval of the commission.

(5) All applications for the issuance or assumption of securities shall be placed at the head of the commission's docket and shall be disposed of promptly, within thirty days after the petition is filed with the commission unless it is necessary for good cause to continue the same for a longer period. Whenever such application is continued beyond thirty days after the time it is filed, the commission shall enter an order making such continuance and stating fully the facts necessitating the continuance.

(6) No provision of this section nor any act or deed performed in connection therewith shall be construed to obligate the state of Colorado to pay or guarantee in any manner whatsoever any security authorized, issued, or assumed under the provisions of this section.

(7) All securities issued or assumed without application to and approval of the commission, except the securities mentioned in subsection (4) of this section, shall be void.

(8) The commission shall provide for a serial number or other device to be placed on the face of any such securities for the proper and easy identification thereof.

(9) Notwithstanding any provision of law to the contrary, the commission may approve a petition from a public utility proposing an investment in any of the following if the commission determines that such investment is not otherwise inconsistent with the public interest or that such investment is not otherwise inconsistent with this section:

(a) Any public-private initiative with the department of transportation, as defined in section 43-1-1201 (3), C.R.S.;

(b) Bonds issued for turnpikes in accordance with part 2 of article 3 of title 43, C.R.S.; or

(c) Repealed.

(d) Any other public-private initiative program for transportation system projects in Colorado authorized by law.