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OLR Bill Analysis
sSB 882
AN ACT CONCERNING CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION AND
HOME ENERGY AFFORDABILITY.
SUMMARY
This bill requires the state to eliminate greenhouse gas emissions
from electricity supplied to electric customers in the state by January 1,
2040. The bill establishes this requirement within the emission
reduction goals under the state’s Global Warming Solutions Act.
The bill also requires landlords to provide a Home Energy Label for
any dwelling unit listed publicly for rent, unless the rent includes all
charges for electricity, natural gas, or heating fuel. Under the bill, a
Home Energy Label is (1) a U. S. Department of Energy Home Energy
Score, (2) a Home Energy Rating System Index Score, (3) an ENERGY
STAR score, or (4) any additional standards established in regulations
by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection (DEEP).
Under the bill, landlords may comply by providing specified energy
consumption data, which the electric and gas utilities and other energy
providers must make available to landlords free of charge.
If a landlord fails to comply with this requirement, the bill allows
the tenant to deduct one month’s rent from amounts owed to the
landlord. The bill also allows municipalities to establish civil penalties
of up to $500 for the first violation and $1,000 for any subsequent
violation. Landlords may appeal civil penalties to the Superior Court.
The bill also allows homeowners to provide a Home Energy Label
for residential properties listed for sale. Like landlords, homeowners
may instead provide certain other information that the bill requires
electric and gas utilities and other energy providers to make available
to property owners free of charge.
EFFECTIVE DATE: October 1, 2021, except the electric sector 2021SB-00882-R000283-BA.DOCX
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greenhouse gas emissions provision is effective July 1, 2021.
GREENHOUSE GAS EMISS IONS REDUCTION REQUI REMENTS
Existing law requires the state to reduce greenhouse gas emissions
to a level at least (1) 10% below the level emitted in 1990 by January 1,
2020; (2) 45% below the level emitted in 2001 by January 1, 2030; and
(3) 80% below the level emitted in 2001 by January 1, 2050. The bill
adds a requirement to reduce to zero percent the greenhouse gas
emissions from electricity supplied to electric customers in the state by
January 1, 2040.
By law, state agencies on the governor’s Steering Committee on
Climate Change must report biannually to the Office of Policy and
Management (OPM) secretary and the DEEP commissioner on, among
other things, policies and regulations that the agencies can adopt in the
near future to reduce greenhouse gas emissions in accordance with the
required reductions described above.
By law, every three years, the DEEP commissioner, in consultation
with OPM and the governor’s Steering Committee on Climate Change,
must report to the Energy and Technology, Environment, and
Transportation committees on quantifiable emissions reductions
achieved under these provisions. Among other things, the report must
include a schedule of proposed regulations, policies, and strategies
designed to achieve the greenhouse gas reduction requirements.
HOME ENERGY LABELS
Landlords and Renters
The bill requires landlords to provide a Home Energy Label for any
dwelling unit publicly listed for rent, unless the rent includes charges
for electricity, natural gas, or heating fuel.
Instead of providing this label, landlords may also comply with the
bill’s requirements by providing the total and average monthly costs
and amounts for electricity, natural gas, or heating fuel for the unit
during the most recent 12 months of occupancy.
Under the bill, if the landlord fails to comply, the tenant may deduct 2021SB-00882-R000283-BA.DOCX
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an amount equal to one month’s rent from any rent or payment for use
and occupancy owed to the landlord.
The bill also allows municipalities to establish, by ordinance, civil
penalties for noncompliance, payable to the municipality. The bill
limits penalties to $500 for the first violation and $1,000 for any
subsequent violation.
Anyone assessed a civil penalty for noncompliance under the bill
may appeal the penalty to the Superior Court within 30 days after the
assessment was mailed. Landlords may appeal by filing a petition to
reopen the assessment, including a small claims entry fee (currently,
$95), in the superior court facility designated by the chief court
administrator. Under the bill, submitting a petition and fee entitles the
landlord to a hearing.
Under the bill, these remedies are in addition to any other remedies
available at law, or in equity to any person. The bill explicitly does not
limit or restrict the authority of state or local housing or health code
enforcement agencies.
Homeowners
The bill allows, but does not require, homeowners to provide Home
Energy Labels for any residential property publicly listed for sale. Like
landlords, homeowners may instead provide the total and average
monthly costs and amounts for electricity, natural gas, or heating fuel
for the unit during the most recent 12 months of occupancy.
Utility and Provider Records and Cost Recovery
The bill requires electric distribution companies, gas utilities,
heating fuel dealers, and other electricity, natural gas, and heating fuel
providers to maintain records on energy consumption data for (1)
dwelling units a landlord owns, leases, or subleases, and (2) residential
properties owned by a residential property owner. The energy
providers must make energy consumption data available to the
landlord or property owner for the preceding 12 months of occupancy
free of charge. If the dwelling unit or property was not occupied 2021SB-00882-R000283-BA.DOCX
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during part or all of the preceding 12 months, the bill requires the
energy providers to provide records containing energy consumption
data for the most recent twelve months of occupancy.
The bill allows the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority to
authorize electric distribution companies and gas utilities to recover
their prudently incurred information technology costs associated with
collecting and distributing the energy consumption data.
The bill prohibits energy providers from disclosing personally
identifiable information in energy consumption data records when the
associated account owner is not the landlord or property owner.
COMMITTEE ACTION
Energy and Technology Committee
Joint Favorable Substitute
Yea 18 Nay 8