Code of Maine Rules
95 - INDEPENDENT AGENCIES
648 - EFFICIENCY MAINE TRUST
Chapter 3 - Electric Efficiency and Conservation Programs (formerly Ch. 380)
Section 648-3-3 - CONSERVATION PROGRAMS
Universal Citation: 95 ME Code Rules ยง 648-3-3
Current through 2024-13, March 27, 2024
A. Criteria for Conservation Programs
1. The Trust
shall consider, without limitation, conservation programs that:
(a) Increase consumer awareness of
cost-effective options for conserving energy;
(b) Create more favorable market conditions
for the increased use of energy efficient products and services; and
(c) Promote sustainable economic development
and reduced environmental damage.
(d) Reduce the price of electricity over time
for all consumers by achieving reductions in demand for electricity during peak
use periods; and
(e) Reduce total
energy costs for electricity consumers in the State by increasing the
efficiency with which electricity is consumed.
2. The Trust shall:
(a) Target at least 10% of available program
funds or $2.6 million, whichever is greater, to programs for low-income
residential consumers;
(b) Target
at least 10% of available program funds or $2.6 million, whichever is greater,
to programs for small business consumers;
(c) To the greatest extent practicable,
apportion remaining available funds among customer groups and geographic areas
in a manner that allows all other customers to have a reasonable opportunity to
participate in one or more conservation programs;
(d) Notwithstanding the foregoing provisions
of this sub-section, the Trust may target funds received in the electric
conservation program fund pursuant to §5(C)(4) of this chapter, including
any funds aimed at developing non-transmission or non-distribution
alternatives, to a particular geographical location, customer class, or
specific conservation opportunity so long as it is otherwise consistent with
this Chapter and with the terms of the applicable grants or agreements.
3. Programs shall be
cost effective. Cost effectiveness tests are established in Section 4.
B. Triennial Plan
1. The staff shall develop and
the Board shall vote to approve a detailed, triennial, energy efficiency,
alternative energy resources and conservation plan and shall file the plan with
the Commission in accordance with
35-A M.R.S.A. §10104
( 4). The Triennial Plan shall guide and authorize program activity for the
three-year period beginning on July 1, 2019 and a new plan shall be developed
and filed to authorize program activity for every subsequent three-year period.
2. The Trust may request
transmission and distribution utilities to furnish data to the Trust to develop
and implement the Triennial Plan or to conduct the evaluation of all
cost-effective potential for electrical conservation savings subject to such
confidential treatment as appropriate pursuant to
35-A M.R.S.A.
§10106 and to applicable protective
orders issued by the Commission.
3. The Triennial Plan shall include, but is
not limited to, budget allocations, objectives, targets, performance metrics,
program designs, program implementation strategies, timelines and other
information relevant to the electric conservation program. It must reasonably
explain how the program would achieve the objectives, implementation
requirements, and performance metrics of the program.
4. The electric conservation program
described in the Triennial Plan shall reflect the purposes, goals and
objectives established in
35-A M.R.S.A.
§§10103,
10104 and
10110.
The goals that the Triennial Plan is expected to advance are:
(a) Reducing energy costs;
(b) Weatherizing substantially all homes
whose owners or occupants are willing to participate in and share the costs of
cost-effective home weatherization to a minimum standard of weatherization, as
defined by the trust, by 2030;
(c)
Reducing peak-load demand for electricity through trust programs by 300
megawatts by 2020;
(d) By 2020,
achieving electricity and natural gas program savings of at least 20% and
heating fuel savings of at least 20%;
(e) Creating stable private sector jobs
providing alternative energy and energy efficiency products and services in the
State by 2020; and
(f) Reducing
greenhouse gas emissions from the heating and cooling of buildings in the State
by amounts consistent with the State's goals established in Title 38, section
576.
5. The Trust staff
shall develop the Triennial Plan with input from the Board, stakeholders, and
the Legislature pursuant to the provisions of
35-A M.R.S.A. §10104
( 4 ). All interested persons will be invited to file written comments and
suggestions pertaining to the Trust's proposed Triennial Plan. The Trust also
will hold a public hearing for the purpose of receiving comments and
suggestions. After reviewing the written and oral comments and suggestions, the
Trust will adopt a Triennial Plan for conservation programs that will be
submitted to the Commission for review and approval in an adjudicatory
proceeding.
C. Conservation Program Portfolio Requirements. The Trust shall develop and implement a portfolio of conservation programs that is consistent with the goals, objectives and strategies described in subsection 3(B), meets the cost effectiveness requirements established in section 4, and is deliverable within the funding level established pursuant to section 5. When developing its portfolio of conservation programs, the Trust shall develop budgets to assist the Commission in analyzing the likely impact of the programs on utilities' rates.
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