| 76 | | - | |
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| 77 | | - | LCO 3 of 8 |
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| 78 | | - | |
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| 79 | | - | commissioner for approval. The Energy Conservation Management 54 |
|---|
| 80 | | - | Board shall, as part of its review, examine opportunities to offer joint 55 |
|---|
| 81 | | - | programs providing similar efficiency measures that save more than 56 |
|---|
| 82 | | - | one fuel resource or otherwise to coordinate programs targeted at 57 |
|---|
| 83 | | - | saving more than one fuel resource. Any costs for joint programs shall 58 |
|---|
| 84 | | - | be allocated equitably among the conservation programs. The Energy 59 |
|---|
| 85 | | - | Conservation Management Board shall give preference to projects that 60 |
|---|
| 86 | | - | maximize the reduction of federally mandated congestion charges. 61 |
|---|
| 87 | | - | (2) There shall be a joint committee of the Energy Conservation 62 |
|---|
| 88 | | - | Management Board and the board of directors of the Connecticut Green 63 |
|---|
| 89 | | - | Bank. The boards shall each appoint members to such joint committee. 64 |
|---|
| 90 | | - | The joint committee shall examine opportunities to coordinate the 65 |
|---|
| 91 | | - | programs and activities funded by the Clean Energy Fund pursuant to 66 |
|---|
| 92 | | - | section 16-245n with the programs and activities contained in the plan 67 |
|---|
| 93 | | - | developed under this subsection and to provide financing to increase 68 |
|---|
| 94 | | - | the benefits of programs funded by the plan so as to reduce the long-69 |
|---|
| 95 | | - | term cost, environmental impacts and security risks of energy in the 70 |
|---|
| 96 | | - | state. Such joint committee shall hold its first meeting on or before 71 |
|---|
| 97 | | - | August 1, 2005. 72 |
|---|
| 98 | | - | (3) Programs included in the plan developed under subdivision (1) of 73 |
|---|
| 99 | | - | this subsection shall be screened through cost-effectiveness testing that 74 |
|---|
| 100 | | - | compares the value and payback period of program benefits for all 75 |
|---|
| 101 | | - | energy savings to program costs to ensure that programs are designed 76 |
|---|
| 102 | | - | to obtain energy savings and system benefits, including mitigation of 77 |
|---|
| 103 | | - | federally mandated congestion charges, whose value is greater than the 78 |
|---|
| 104 | | - | costs of the programs. Program cost-effectiveness shall be [reviewed by 79 |
|---|
| 105 | | - | the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection] audited by 80 |
|---|
| 106 | | - | the Auditors of Public Accounts annually, or otherwise as is practicable, 81 |
|---|
| 107 | | - | and shall incorporate the results of the evaluation process set forth in 82 |
|---|
| 108 | | - | subdivision (4) of this subsection. If a program is determined by the 83 |
|---|
| 109 | | - | auditors to fail the cost-effectiveness test as part of the review process, 84 |
|---|
| 110 | | - | it shall either be modified to meet the test or shall be terminated, unless 85 |
|---|
| 111 | | - | it is integral to other programs that in combination are cost-effective. On 86 |
|---|
| 112 | | - | or before March 1, 2005, and on or before March first annually thereafter, 87 Substitute Bill No. 7091 |
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| 113 | | - | |
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| 114 | | - | |
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| 115 | | - | LCO 4 of 8 |
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| 116 | | - | |
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| 117 | | - | the board shall provide a report, in accordance with the provisions of 88 |
|---|
| 118 | | - | section 11-4a, to the joint standing committees of the General Assembly 89 |
|---|
| 119 | | - | having cognizance of matters relating to energy and the environment 90 |
|---|
| 120 | | - | that documents (A) expenditures and fund balances and evaluates the 91 |
|---|
| 121 | | - | cost-effectiveness of such programs conducted in the preceding year, 92 |
|---|
| 122 | | - | and (B) the extent to and manner in which the programs of [such] said 93 |
|---|
| 123 | | - | board collaborated and cooperated with programs, established under 94 |
|---|
| 124 | | - | section 7-233y, of municipal electric energy cooperatives. To maximize 95 |
|---|
| 125 | | - | the reduction of federally mandated congestion charges, programs in 96 |
|---|
| 126 | | - | the plan may allow for disproportionate allocations between the amount 97 |
|---|
| 127 | | - | of contributions pursuant to this section by a certain rate class and the 98 |
|---|
| 128 | | - | programs that benefit such a rate class. Before conducting such 99 |
|---|
| 129 | | - | evaluation, the board shall consult with the board of directors of the 100 |
|---|
| 130 | | - | Connecticut Green Bank. The report shall include a description of the 101 |
|---|
| 131 | | - | activities undertaken during the reporting period. 102 |
|---|
| 132 | | - | (4) The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection shall 103 |
|---|
| 133 | | - | adopt an independent, comprehensive program evaluation, 104 |
|---|
| 134 | | - | measurement and verification process for the audit conducted by the 105 |
|---|
| 135 | | - | Auditors of Public Accounts to ensure the Energy Conservation 106 |
|---|
| 136 | | - | Management Board's programs are administered appropriately and 107 |
|---|
| 137 | | - | efficiently, comply with statutory requirements, programs and 108 |
|---|
| 138 | | - | measures are cost effective, evaluation reports are accurate and issued 109 |
|---|
| 139 | | - | in a timely manner, evaluation results are appropriately and accurately 110 |
|---|
| 140 | | - | taken into account in program development and implementation, and 111 |
|---|
| 141 | | - | information necessary to meet any third-party evaluation requirements 112 |
|---|
| 142 | | - | is provided. An annual schedule and budget for evaluations as 113 |
|---|
| 143 | | - | determined by the board shall be included in the plan filed with the 114 |
|---|
| 144 | | - | commissioner pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection. The electric 115 |
|---|
| 145 | | - | distribution and gas company representatives and the representative of 116 |
|---|
| 146 | | - | a municipal electric energy cooperative may not vote on board plans, 117 |
|---|
| 147 | | - | budgets, recommendations, actions or decisions regarding such process 118 |
|---|
| 148 | | - | or its program evaluations and their implementation. Program and 119 |
|---|
| 149 | | - | measure evaluation, measurement and verification shall be conducted 120 |
|---|
| 150 | | - | on an ongoing basis, with emphasis on impact and process evaluations, 121 Substitute Bill No. 7091 |
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| 151 | | - | |
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| 152 | | - | |
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| 153 | | - | LCO 5 of 8 |
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| 154 | | - | |
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| 155 | | - | programs or measures that have not been studied, and those that 122 |
|---|
| 156 | | - | account for a relatively high percentage of program spending. 123 |
|---|
| 157 | | - | Evaluations shall use statistically valid monitoring and data collection 124 |
|---|
| 158 | | - | techniques appropriate for the programs or measures being evaluated. 125 |
|---|
| 159 | | - | All evaluations shall contain a description of any problems encountered 126 |
|---|
| 160 | | - | in the process of the evaluation, including, but not limited to, data 127 |
|---|
| 161 | | - | collection issues, and recommendations regarding addressing those 128 |
|---|
| 162 | | - | problems in future evaluations. The board shall contract with one or 129 |
|---|
| 163 | | - | more consultants not affiliated with the board members to act as an 130 |
|---|
| 164 | | - | evaluation administrator, advising the board regarding development of 131 |
|---|
| 165 | | - | a schedule and plans for evaluations and overseeing the program 132 |
|---|
| 166 | | - | evaluation, measurement and verification process on behalf of the 133 |
|---|
| 167 | | - | board. Consistent with board processes and approvals and the 134 |
|---|
| 168 | | - | [Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection's] auditors' 135 |
|---|
| 169 | | - | decisions regarding evaluation, such evaluation administrator shall 136 |
|---|
| 170 | | - | implement the evaluation process by preparing requests for proposals 137 |
|---|
| 171 | | - | and selecting evaluation contractors to perform program and measure 138 |
|---|
| 172 | | - | evaluations and by facilitating communications between evaluation 139 |
|---|
| 173 | | - | contractors and program administrators to ensure accurate and 140 |
|---|
| 174 | | - | independent evaluations. In the evaluation administrator's discretion 141 |
|---|
| 175 | | - | and at his or her request, the electric distribution and gas companies 142 |
|---|
| 176 | | - | shall communicate with the evaluation administrator for purposes of 143 |
|---|
| 177 | | - | data collection, vendor contract administration, and providing 144 |
|---|
| 178 | | - | necessary factual information during the course of evaluations. The 145 |
|---|
| 179 | | - | evaluation administrator shall bring unresolved administrative issues 146 |
|---|
| 180 | | - | or problems that arise during the course of an evaluation to the board 147 |
|---|
| 181 | | - | for resolution, but shall have sole authority regarding substantive and 148 |
|---|
| 182 | | - | implementation decisions regarding any evaluation. Board members, 149 |
|---|
| 183 | | - | including electric distribution and gas company representatives, may 150 |
|---|
| 184 | | - | not communicate with an evaluation contractor about an ongoing 151 |
|---|
| 185 | | - | evaluation except with the express permission of the evaluation 152 |
|---|
| 186 | | - | administrator, which may only be granted if the administrator believes 153 |
|---|
| 187 | | - | the communication will not compromise the independence of the 154 |
|---|
| 188 | | - | evaluation. The evaluation administrator shall file evaluation reports 155 |
|---|
| 189 | | - | with the board, [and with] the Commissioner of Energy and 156 Substitute Bill No. 7091 |
|---|
| 190 | | - | |
|---|
| 191 | | - | |
|---|
| 192 | | - | LCO 6 of 8 |
|---|
| 193 | | - | |
|---|
| 194 | | - | Environmental Protection in its most recent uncontested proceeding 157 |
|---|
| 195 | | - | pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection and the Auditors of Public 158 |
|---|
| 196 | | - | Accounts and the board shall post a copy of each report on its Internet 159 |
|---|
| 197 | | - | web site. The board and its members, including electric distribution and 160 |
|---|
| 198 | | - | gas company representatives, may file written comments regarding any 161 |
|---|
| 199 | | - | evaluation with the [commissioner] auditors or for posting on the 162 |
|---|
| 200 | | - | board's Internet web site. Within fourteen days of the filing of any 163 |
|---|
| 201 | | - | evaluation report, the commissioner, auditors, members of the board or 164 |
|---|
| 202 | | - | other interested persons may request in writing, and the commissioner, 165 |
|---|
| 203 | | - | in conjunction with the auditors, shall conduct, a transcribed technical 166 |
|---|
| 204 | | - | meeting to review the methodology, results and recommendations of 167 |
|---|
| 205 | | - | any evaluation. Participants in any such transcribed technical meeting 168 |
|---|
| 206 | | - | shall include the evaluation administrator, the evaluation contractor 169 |
|---|
| 207 | | - | and the Office of Consumer Counsel at its discretion. On or before 170 |
|---|
| 208 | | - | November 1, 2011, and annually thereafter, the board shall report to the 171 |
|---|
| 209 | | - | joint standing committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of 172 |
|---|
| 210 | | - | matters relating to energy, with the results and recommendations of 173 |
|---|
| 211 | | - | completed program evaluations. 174 |
|---|
| 212 | | - | (5) Programs included in the plan developed under subdivision (1) of 175 |
|---|
| 213 | | - | this subsection may include, but need not be limited to: (A) 176 |
|---|
| 214 | | - | Conservation and load management programs, including programs 177 |
|---|
| 215 | | - | that benefit low-income individuals; (B) research, development and 178 |
|---|
| 216 | | - | commercialization of products or processes which are more energy-179 |
|---|
| 217 | | - | efficient than those generally available; (C) development of markets for 180 |
|---|
| 218 | | - | such products and processes; (D) support for energy use assessment, 181 |
|---|
| 219 | | - | real-time monitoring systems, engineering studies and services related 182 |
|---|
| 220 | | - | to new construction or major building renovation; (E) the design, 183 |
|---|
| 221 | | - | manufacture, commercialization and purchase of energy-efficient 184 |
|---|
| 222 | | - | appliances and heating, air conditioning and lighting devices; (F) 185 |
|---|
| 223 | | - | program planning and evaluation; (G) indoor air quality programs 186 |
|---|
| 224 | | - | relating to energy conservation; (H) joint fuel conservation initiatives 187 |
|---|
| 225 | | - | programs targeted at reducing consumption of more than one fuel 188 |
|---|
| 226 | | - | resource; (I) conservation of water resources; (J) public education 189 |
|---|
| 227 | | - | regarding conservation; and (K) demand-side technology programs 190 Substitute Bill No. 7091 |
|---|
| 228 | | - | |
|---|
| 229 | | - | |
|---|
| 230 | | - | LCO 7 of 8 |
|---|
| 231 | | - | |
|---|
| 232 | | - | recommended by the Conservation and Load Management Plan. 191 |
|---|
| 233 | | - | Support for such programs may be by direct funding, manufacturers' 192 |
|---|
| 234 | | - | rebates, sale price and loan subsidies, leases and promotional and 193 |
|---|
| 235 | | - | educational activities. The Energy Conservation Management Board 194 |
|---|
| 236 | | - | shall periodically review contractors to determine whether they are 195 |
|---|
| 237 | | - | qualified to conduct work related to such programs and to ensure that 196 |
|---|
| 238 | | - | in making the selection of contractors to deliver programs, a fair and 197 |
|---|
| 239 | | - | equitable process is followed. There shall be a rebuttable presumption 198 |
|---|
| 240 | | - | that such contractors are deemed technically qualified if certified by the 199 |
|---|
| 241 | | - | Building Performance Institute, Inc. or by an organization selected by 200 |
|---|
| 242 | | - | the commissioner. The plan shall also provide for expenditures by the 201 |
|---|
| 243 | | - | board for the retention of expert consultants and reasonable 202 |
|---|
| 244 | | - | administrative costs provided such consultants shall not be employed 203 |
|---|
| 245 | | - | by, or have any contractual relationship with, an electric distribution 204 |
|---|
| 246 | | - | company or a gas company. Such costs shall not exceed five per cent of 205 |
|---|
| 247 | | - | the total cost of the plan. 206 |
|---|
| 248 | | - | Sec. 2. (NEW) (Effective October 1, 2025) (a) The Auditors of Public 207 |
|---|
| 249 | | - | Accounts shall audit the Energy Conservation Management Board's 208 |
|---|
| 250 | | - | programs, pursuant to subsection (d) of section 16-245m of the general 209 |
|---|
| 251 | | - | statutes, as amended by this act, based upon the activities of such 210 |
|---|
| 252 | | - | programs during the preceding year. Such audit shall include, but need 211 |
|---|
| 253 | | - | not be limited to: 212 |
|---|
| 254 | | - | (1) A calculation of any savings attributable to residential behavior 213 |
|---|
| 255 | | - | programs; 214 |
|---|
| 256 | | - | (2) An examination of the cost-effectiveness of current programs in 215 |
|---|
| 257 | | - | terms of whether retrofits or renovations to existing buildings would 216 |
|---|
| 258 | | - | provide a greater return on investment than investments in new 217 |
|---|
| 259 | | - | construction, which is subject to requirements for energy efficiency 218 |
|---|
| 260 | | - | under the State Building Code; 219 |
|---|
| 261 | | - | (3) An assessment of whether the existing focus of demand response 220 |
|---|
| 262 | | - | funds on residences would have greater impact if allocated to 221 |
|---|
| 263 | | - | commercial and industrial sectors where greater reductions in peak 222 Substitute Bill No. 7091 |
|---|
| 264 | | - | |
|---|
| 265 | | - | |
|---|
| 266 | | - | LCO 8 of 8 |
|---|
| 267 | | - | |
|---|
| 268 | | - | demands of energy are possible; 223 |
|---|
| 269 | | - | (4) An assessment of the efficiency of the Home Energy Solutions 224 |
|---|
| 270 | | - | Audit conducted for low-income individuals; and 225 |
|---|
| 271 | | - | (5) An assessment of the effectiveness of community outreach 226 |
|---|
| 272 | | - | programs in increasing participation and a recommendation concerning 227 |
|---|
| 273 | | - | whether funds may be better spent on incentives for efficiency 228 |
|---|
| 274 | | - | upgrades. 229 |
|---|
| 275 | | - | (b) The Energy Conservation Management Board, the Commissioner 230 |
|---|
| 276 | | - | of Energy and Environmental Protection, electric distribution 231 |
|---|
| 277 | | - | companies, gas companies and any consultant hired by the board 232 |
|---|
| 278 | | - | pursuant to subdivision (4) of subsection (d) of section 16-245m of the 233 |
|---|
| 279 | | - | general statutes, as amended by this act, shall provide any information 234 |
|---|
| 280 | | - | that the auditors deem necessary to conduct such audit. 235 |
|---|
| 45 | + | generally accepted auditing standards by independent certified public 16 |
|---|
| 46 | + | accountants certified by the State Board of Accountancy. Such 17 |
|---|
| 47 | + | accountants may be the accountants for the Connecticut Green Bank. 18 |
|---|
| 48 | + | (3) Any entity that receives financing for a clean energy or 19 |
|---|
| 49 | + | environmental infrastructure project from the Clean Energy Fund or the 20 |
|---|
| 50 | + | Environmental Infrastructure Fund shall provide the board an annual 21 |
|---|
| 51 | + | statement, certified as correct by the chief financial officer of the 22 |
|---|
| 52 | + | recipient of such financing, setting forth all sources and uses of funds in 23 |
|---|
| 53 | + | such detail as may be required by the bank for such project. The 24 |
|---|
| 54 | + | Connecticut Green Bank shall maintain any such audits for not less than 25 |
|---|
| 55 | + | five years. Residential projects for buildings with one to four dwelling 26 |
|---|
| 56 | + | units are exempt from this and any other annual auditing requirements, 27 |
|---|
| 57 | + | except that (A) residential projects may be required to grant their utility 28 |
|---|
| 58 | + | companies' permission to release their usage data to the Connecticut 29 |
|---|
| 59 | + | Green Bank, and (B) in the case of any entity that receives funding from 30 |
|---|
| 60 | + | the Clean Energy Fund for the conducting of energy assessments for 31 |
|---|
| 61 | + | residential homeowners, the accounts of such entity shall be subject to 32 |
|---|
| 62 | + | biennial audit by the Auditors of Public Accounts and such entity shall 33 |
|---|
| 63 | + | provide any information said auditors deem necessary to conduct such 34 |
|---|
| 64 | + | audit. 35 |
|---|