Connecticut House Bill HB05522

Connecticut 2011 Regular Session

• Introduced: 1/20/11
• Refer: 1/20/11

Caption

An Act Concerning Energy Data For Municipal Buildings And Aggregate Customer Gas And Electric Usage Information.

Impact

The enactment of HB 05522 would enable municipalities to have access to crucial energy data, thereby fostering informed decision-making in their energy efficiency projects. By delving into the aggregate energy usage information, local governments can tailor their strategies to improve energy conservation measures, implement renewable energy solutions, and potentially lower overall energy costs. Consequently, this may promote energy savings across the board, benefiting both utility customers and the municipalities themselves.

Summary

House Bill 05522 aims to improve energy efficiency and renewable energy improvements in municipal buildings by mandating natural gas and electric utilities to provide energy data to municipal officials. Upon request and at no charge, these utilities, in conjunction with the Conservation and Load Management Board, are required to deliver this vital data electronically in a standardized format known as the EnergyStar Portfolio Manager. This initiative is structured to facilitate better tracking of energy usage and savings achieved by utility customers at the municipal level.

Contention

Despite the bill’s expected benefits, there could be contention surrounding privacy concerns regarding the data collected and the efficacy of the utilities in providing this information in a timely manner. Some stakeholders might express apprehensions about whether the bill could impose additional burdens on utilities, or if there are sufficient safeguards in place to ensure that the data is used appropriately and does not infringe on the privacy of individual customers. Furthermore, discussions on whether the implementation of this bill may lead to additional costs for municipalities or require new administrative arrangements could arise.