Electrification Feasibility Reports

To help the city achieve net zero energy by 2040, the city amended the 2022 Denver Building and Fire Code for commercial and multifamily buildings to encourage the transition away from fossil fuels. As of March 1, 2023, Community Planning and Development no longer allows quick permits to replace the majority of gas-fired equipment in commercial or multifamily buildings. This means that you will need to provide additional information to the city, and most permits will go through the full review process. The Electrification Feasibility Report will be one of several paths you can take with a contractor to meet the new code requirements. An Electrification Feasibility Report can be completed up to two years before applying for a building permit. However, it may need to be updated during that time.

Resources for Contractors 

Who Does this Apply To?

Energize Denver’s electrification requirements apply to all existing commercial and multifamily buildings regulated by the Denver Energy Code’s Commercial Provisions. This includes commercial buildings, multifamily apartment buildings, and multifamily condominium buildings.

Single family dwellings, two-family dwellings, and townhomes are not subject to Energize Denver’s electrification requirements. If you have questions about whether or not your building is regulated by the Denver Energy Code’s Commercial Provisions, please contact Community Planning and Development's Architectural/Structural Plan Review atarchstruc.review@denvergov.org.

What is an Electrification Feasibility Report?

The Electrification Feasibility Report is a tool designed to assess the practicality and cost impacts of switching from gas to electric equipment. 

Specifically, it will tell you:  

• The estimated energy consumption of the gas and electric replacement systems
• The estimated energy and carbon savings for switching to an electric system
• The estimated energy bills with the gas and electric replacement systems
• The estimated costs for installing a replacement gas and electric system

You can use the Electrification Feasibility Report to make an informed assessment about whether converting your building heating and cooling systems to electric is cost-effective compared to a like-for-like gas-fired replacement.

Filling Out the Electrification Feasibility Report

While some building owners may be able to complete the report on their own, most owners will need to work with a contractor, engineer, or energy consultant to complete the Electrification Feasibility Report. A contractor, engineer, energy consultant, or your own dedicated facility staff will put information into the Electrification Feasibility Report about: 

• The types and costs of both gas and electric replacement equipment
• Your utility rate structure
• Site-specific information on electrical, ductwork, or space constraints 

The City and County of Denver hosted in-person trainings for contractors, engineers and energy consultants on how to fill out an Electrification Feasibility Report. A recorded version of this training is now available to watch on-demand.

If you are looking for someone to complete an Electrification Feasibility Report for you, you can refer to our list of contractors who have completed the training. These contractors are not preferred, and their work has not been vetted. They have attended our training and passed our comprehension quiz.

There are incentives available to help offset the cost of working with a contractor to complete an Electrification Feasibility Report.

Submitting the Electrification Feasibility Report 

Submitting your Electrification Feasibility Report to Community Planning and Development is easy. After your contractor, engineer, energy consultant, or facilities staff completes the Electrification Feasibility Report in the online tool and it is reviewed and approved, they will receive a PDF copy of the report. The contractor, engineer, energy consultant, or facilities staff will simply attach this PDF report to thei online permit application.