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General Assembly Committee Bill No. 647
January Session, 2025
LCO No. 5141
Referred to Committee on ENERGY AND TECHNOLOGY
Introduced by:
(ET)
AN ACT CONCERNING PROTECTIONS FOR CONSUMER ACCESS
TO AFFORDABLE ELECTRICITY.
Be it enacted by the Senate and House of Representatives in General
Assembly convened:
Section 1. Section 16-245l of the general statutes is repealed and the 1
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 2
(a) The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority shall establish [and each 3
electric distribution company shall collect] a systems benefits charge, 4
which shall be paid on an annual basis by the Treasurer from the 5
General Fund. [to be imposed against all end use customers of each 6
electric distribution company beginning January 1, 2000.] The authority 7
shall hold a hearing that shall be conducted as a contested case in 8
accordance with chapter 54 to establish the amount of the systems 9
benefits charge. The authority may revise the systems benefits charge or 10
any element of said charge as the need arises. 11
(b) Commencing on July 1, 2015, and annually thereafter, the sum of 12
two million one hundred thousand dollars shall be transferred from the 13
systems benefits charge to Operation Fuel, Incorporated, for energy 14
assistance, provided two hundred thousand dollars of such sum may be 15
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used for administrative purposes. The systems benefits charge shall also 16
be used to fund (1) the expenses of the public education outreach 17
program developed under section 16-244d other than expenses for 18
authority staff, (2) the cost of hardship protection measures under 19
sections 16-262c and 16-262d and other hardship protections, including, 20
but not limited to, electric service bill payment programs, funding and 21
technical support for energy assistance, fuel bank and weatherization 22
programs and weatherization services, (3) the payment program to 23
offset tax losses described in section 12-94d, (4) any sums paid to a 24
resource recovery authority pursuant to subsection (b) of section 16-25
243e, (5) low income conservation programs approved by the Public 26
Utilities Regulatory Authority, (6) displaced worker protection costs, (7) 27
unfunded storage and disposal costs for spent nuclear fuel generated 28
before January 1, 2000, approved by the appropriate regulatory 29
agencies, (8) postretirement safe shutdown and site protection costs that 30
are incurred in preparation for decommissioning, (9) decommissioning 31
fund contributions, (10) costs associated with the Connecticut electric 32
efficiency partner program established pursuant to section 16-243v, as 33
amended by this act, (11) reinvestments and investments in energy 34
efficiency programs and technologies pursuant to section 16a-38l, costs 35
associated with the electricity conservation incentive program 36
established pursuant to section 119 of public act 07-242, (12) legal, 37
appraisal and purchase costs of a conservation or land use restriction 38
and other related costs as the authority in its discretion deems 39
appropriate, incurred by a municipality on or before January 1, 2000, to 40
ensure the environmental, recreational and scenic preservation of any 41
reservoir located within this state created by a pump storage 42
hydroelectric generating facility, and (13) the residential furnace and 43
boiler replacement program pursuant to subsection (k) of section 16-44
243v, as amended by this act. 45
(c) As used in this subsection, "displaced worker protection costs" 46
means the reasonable costs incurred, prior to January 1, 2008, [(A)] (1) 47
by an electric supplier, exempt wholesale generator, electric company, 48
an operator of a nuclear power generating facility in this state or a 49
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generation entity or affiliate arising from the dislocation of any 50
employee other than an officer, provided such dislocation is a result of 51
[(i)] (A) restructuring of the electric generation market and such 52
dislocation occurs on or after July 1, 1998, or [(ii)] (B) the closing of a 53
Title IV source or an exempt wholesale generator, as defined in 15 USC 54
79z-5a, on or after January 1, 2004, as a result of such source's failure to 55
meet requirements imposed as a result of sections 22a-197 and 22a-198 56
and this section or those Regulations of Connecticut State Agencies 57
adopted by the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, as 58
amended from time to time, in accordance with Executive Order 59
Number 19, issued on May 17, 2000, and provided further such costs 60
result from either the execution of agreements reached through 61
collective bargaining for union employees or from the company's or 62
entity's or affiliate's programs and policies for nonunion employees, and 63
[(B)] (2) by an electric distribution company or an exempt wholesale 64
generator arising from the retraining of a former employee of an 65
unaffiliated exempt wholesale generator, which employee was 66
involuntarily dislocated on or after January 1, 2004, from such wholesale 67
generator, except for cause. "Displaced worker protection costs" 68
includes costs incurred or projected for severance, retraining, early 69
retirement, outplacement, coverage for surviving spouse insurance 70
benefits and related expenses. 71
[(b) The amount of the systems benefits charge shall be determined 72
by the authority in a general and equitable manner and shall be imposed 73
on all end use customers of each electric distribution company at a rate 74
that is applied equally to all customers of the same class in accordance 75
with methods of allocation in effect on July 1, 1998, provided the system 76
benefits charge shall not be imposed on customers receiving services 77
under a special contract which is in effect on July 1, 1998, until such 78
special contracts expire. The system benefits charge shall be imposed 79
beginning on January 1, 2000, on all customers receiving services under 80
a special contract which are entered into or renewed after July 1, 1998. 81
The systems benefits charge shall have a generally applicable manner of 82
determination that may be measured on the basis of percentages of total 83
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costs of retail sales of generation services. The systems benefits charge 84
shall be payable on an equal basis on the same payment terms and shall 85
be eligible or subject to prepayment on an equal basis. Any exemption 86
of the systems benefits charge by customers under a special contract 87
shall not result in an increase in rates to any customer.] 88
Sec. 2. Subdivision (3) of subsection (e) of section 16a-3m of the 89
general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 90
thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 91
(3) Any agreement entered into pursuant to subdivision (2) of this 92
subsection shall be subject to review and approval by the Public Utilities 93
Regulatory Authority. The electric distribution company shall file an 94
application for the approval of any such agreement with the authority. 95
The authority's review shall commence upon the filing of the signed 96
power purchase agreement with the authority. The authority shall 97
approve agreements that it determines (A) provide for the delivery of 98
adequate and reliable products and services, for which there is a clear 99
public need, at a just and reasonable price, (B) are prudent and cost 100
effective, and (C) that the respondent to the solicitation has the technical, 101
financial and managerial capabilities to perform pursuant to such 102
agreement. For any eligible nuclear power generating facility selected in 103
any solicitation described in subsection (g) of this section, the authority 104
shall require any such agreement to be conditioned upon the approval 105
of such a power purchase agreement or other agreement for energy, 106
capacity and any environmental attributes, or any combination thereof, 107
with such eligible nuclear power generating facility, in at least two other 108
states, by the applicable officials of such states or by electric utilities or 109
other entities designated by the applicable officials of such states. The 110
authority shall issue a decision not later than one hundred eighty days 111
after such filing. If the authority does not issue a decision within one 112
hundred eighty days after such filing, the agreement shall be deemed 113
approved. The net costs of any such agreement, including costs incurred 114
by the electric distribution company under the agreement and 115
reasonable costs incurred by the electric distribution company in 116
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connection with the agreement, shall be [recovered on a timely basis 117
through a nonbypassable fully reconciling component of electric rates 118
for all customers of the electric distribution company] paid by the 119
Treasurer on an annual basis from the General Fund. Any net revenues 120
from the sale of products purchased in accordance with long-term 121
contracts entered into pursuant to this subsection shall be [credited to 122
customers through the same nonbypassable fully reconciling rate 123
component for all customers of the contracting electric distribution 124
company] paid to the Treasurer for deposit in the General Fund. 125
Sec. 3. Subdivision (1) of subsection (d) of section 16-245m of the 126
general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 127
thereof (Effective July 1, 2025): 128
(d) (1) Not later than November 1, 2012, and every three years 129
thereafter, electric distribution companies, as defined in section 16-1, as 130
amended by this act, in coordination with the gas companies, as defined 131
in section 16-1, as amended by this act, shall submit to the Energy 132
Conservation Management Board a combined electric and gas 133
Conservation and Load Management Plan, in accordance with the 134
provisions of this section, to implement cost-effective energy 135
conservation programs, demand management and market 136
transformation initiatives. All supply and conservation and load 137
management options shall be evaluated and selected within an 138
integrated supply and demand planning framework. Services provided 139
under the plan shall be available to all customers of electric distribution 140
companies and gas companies, provided a customer of an electric 141
distribution company may not be denied such services based on the fuel 142
such customer uses to heat such customer's home. The Energy 143
Conservation Management Board shall advise and assist the electric 144
distribution companies and gas companies in the development of such 145
plan. The Energy Conservation Management Board shall approve the 146
plan before transmitting it to the Commissioner of Energy and 147
Environmental Protection for approval. The commissioner shall, in an 148
uncontested proceeding during which the commissioner may hold a 149
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public meeting, approve, modify or reject said plan prepared pursuant 150
to this subsection. Following approval by the commissioner, the board 151
shall assist the companies in implementing the plan and collaborate 152
with the Connecticut Green Bank to further the goals of the plan. Said 153
plan shall include a detailed budget sufficient to fund all energy 154
efficiency that is cost-effective or lower cost than acquisition of 155
equivalent supply, and shall be reviewed and approved by the 156
commissioner. [The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority shall, not later 157
than sixty days after the plan is approved by the commissioner, ensure 158
that the balance of revenues required to fund such plan is provided 159
through fully reconciling conservation adjustment mechanisms. Electric 160
distribution companies shall collect a conservation adjustment 161
mechanism that ensures the plan is fully funded by collecting an 162
amount that is not more than the sum of six mills per kilowatt hour of 163
electricity sold to each end use customer of an electric distribution 164
company during the three years of any Conservation and Load 165
Management Plan. The authority shall ensure that the revenues 166
required to fund such plan with regard to gas companies are provided 167
through a fully reconciling conservation adjustment mechanism for 168
each gas company of not more than the equivalent of four and six-tenth 169
cents per hundred cubic feet during the three years of any Conservation 170
and Load Management Plan.] Said plan shall include steps that would 171
be needed to achieve the goal of weatherization of eighty per cent of the 172
state's residential units by 2030 and to reduce energy consumption by 173
1.6 million MMBtu, or the equivalent megawatts of electricity, as 174
defined in subdivision (4) of section 22a-197, annually each year for 175
calendar years commencing on and after January 1, 2020, up to and 176
including calendar year 2025. Each program contained in the plan shall 177
be reviewed by such companies and accepted, modified or rejected by 178
the Energy Conservation Management Board prior to submission to the 179
commissioner for approval. The Energy Conservation Management 180
Board shall, as part of its review, examine opportunities to offer joint 181
programs providing similar efficiency measures that save more than 182
one fuel resource or otherwise to coordinate programs targeted at 183
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saving more than one fuel resource. Any costs for joint programs shall 184
be allocated equitably among the conservation programs. The Energy 185
Conservation Management Board shall give preference to projects that 186
maximize the reduction of federally mandated congestion charges. 187
Sec. 4. Subsection (b) of section 16-245n of the general statutes is 188
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective July 1, 189
2025): 190
(b) On and after July 1, 2004, the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority 191
shall assess or cause to be assessed a charge of not less than one mill per 192
kilowatt hour charged to each end use customer of electric services in 193
this state which shall be deposited into the Clean Energy Fund 194
established under subsection (c) of this section, provided no such charge 195
may be assessed on and after July 1, 2025. 196
Sec. 5. Subdivision (1) of subsection (e) of section 16a-3m of the 197
general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 198
thereof (Effective October 1, 2025): 199
(e) (1) Any solicitation issued pursuant to subsection (d) of this 200
section for zero-carbon electricity generating resources, including, but 201
not limited to, eligible nuclear power generating facilities, hydropower, 202
Class I renewable energy sources, as defined in section 16-1, as amended 203
by this act, and energy storage systems, shall be for resources delivered 204
into the control area of the regional independent system operator, as 205
defined in section 16-1, as amended by this act, and any agreement 206
entered into pursuant to subdivision (2) of this subsection shall be in the 207
best interest of ratepayers. If the commissioner finds proposals received 208
pursuant to such solicitations to be in the best interest of ratepayers, the 209
commissioner may select any such proposal or proposals, provided (A) 210
the total annual energy output of any proposals selected, in the 211
aggregate, shall be not more than twelve million megawatt hours of 212
electricity, (B) any agreement entered into pursuant to this subdivision 213
with an eligible nuclear power generating facility or hydropower shall 214
be for a period of not less than three years and not more than ten years, 215
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[and] (C) any agreement entered into pursuant to this subdivision with 216
Class I renewable energy sources, as defined in section 16-1, as amended 217
by this act, and energy storage systems shall be for a period of not more 218
than twenty years, and (D) no agreement may be entered into pursuant 219
to this subdivision if such agreement would require the purchase of 220
electricity at a rate exceeding one hundred fifty per cent above the 221
wholesale price of electricity at the time of such agreement. 222
Sec. 6. Subdivision (20) of section 16-1 of the general statutes is 223
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 224
1, 2025): 225
(20) "Class I renewable energy source" means (A) electricity derived 226
from (i) solar power, (ii) wind power, (iii) a fuel cell, (iv) geothermal, (v) 227
landfill methane gas, anaerobic digestion or other biogas derived from 228
biological sources, (vi) thermal electric direct energy conversion from a 229
certified Class I renewable energy source, (vii) ocean thermal power, 230
(viii) wave or tidal power, (ix) low emission advanced renewable energy 231
conversion technologies, including, but not limited to, zero emission 232
low grade heat power generation systems based on organic oil free 233
rankine, kalina or other similar nonsteam cycles that use waste heat 234
from an industrial or commercial process that does not generate 235
electricity, (x) [(I)] a [run-of-the-river] hydropower facility, [that began 236
operation after July 1, 2003, has a generating capacity of not more than 237
sixty megawatts, is not based on a new dam or a dam identified by the 238
Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection as a candidate 239
for removal, and meets applicable state and federal requirements, 240
including state dam safety requirements and applicable site-specific 241
standards for water quality and fish passage, or (II) a run-of-the-river 242
hydropower facility that received a new license after January 1, 2018, 243
under the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission rules pursuant to 18 244
CFR 16, as amended from time to time, is not based on a new dam or a 245
dam identified by the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental 246
Protection as a candidate for removal, and meets applicable state and 247
federal requirements, including state dam safety requirements and 248
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applicable site-specific standards for water quality and fish passage,] 249
(xi) a biomass facility that uses sustainable biomass fuel and has an 250
average emission rate of equal to or less than .075 pounds of nitrogen 251
oxides per million BTU of heat input for the previous calendar quarter, 252
except that energy derived from a biomass facility with a capacity of less 253
than five hundred kilowatts that began construction before July 1, 2003, 254
may be considered a Class I renewable energy source, or (xii) a nuclear 255
power generating facility, [constructed on or after October 1, 2023,] or 256
(B) any electrical generation, including distributed generation, 257
generated from a Class I renewable energy source, provided, on and 258
after January 1, 2014, any megawatt hours of electricity from a 259
renewable energy source described under this subparagraph that are 260
claimed or counted by a load-serving entity, province or state toward 261
compliance with renewable portfolio standards or renewable energy 262
policy goals in another province or state, other than the state of 263
Connecticut, shall not be eligible for compliance with the renewable 264
portfolio standards established pursuant to section 16-245a; 265
Sec. 7. Subparagraph (D) of subdivision (57) of section 12-81 of the 266
general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 267
thereof (Effective October 1, 2025): 268
(D) For assessment years commencing on and after October 1, 2014, 269
any (i) Class I renewable energy source, as defined in section 16-1, as 270
amended by this act, other than a nuclear power generating facility, [(ii) 271
hydropower facility described in subdivision (21) of subsection (a) of 272
section 16-1, or (iii)] or (ii) solar thermal or geothermal renewable energy 273
source, installed for generation or displacement of energy, provided (I) 274
such installation occurs on or after January 1, 2014, (II) is for commercial 275
or industrial purposes, (III) the nameplate capacity of such source or 276
facility does not exceed the load for the location where such generation 277
or displacement is located or the aggregated load of the beneficial 278
accounts for any Class I renewable energy source participating in virtual 279
net metering pursuant to section 16-244u, and (IV) in the case of clause 280
[(iii)] (ii) of this subparagraph, such exemption shall apply only to the 281
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amount by which the assessed valuation of the real property equipped 282
with such source exceeds the assessed valuation of such real property 283
equipped with the conventional portion of the source; 284
Sec. 8. Section 16-2 of the general statutes is repealed and the 285
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2025): 286
(a) There shall continue to be a Public Utilities Regulatory Authority. 287
[within the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, 288
which] The authority shall have the following functions, duties and 289
powers: 290
(1) The authority shall be responsible for all matters of rate regulation 291
for public utilities and regulated entities under title 16 and shall 292
promote policies that will lead to just and reasonable utility rates. 293
(2) The authority shall employ and assign such personnel as the 294
chairperson of the authority deems necessary for the performance of the 295
authority's functions and duties. 296
(3) The authority shall perform such management functions as the 297
chairperson of the authority deems necessary, including, but not limited 298
to, purchasing, accounting and payroll functions. 299
(b) The authority shall be under the direction of the utility 300
commissioners, who shall consist of five electors of this state, appointed 301
by the Governor with the advice and consent of both houses of the 302
General Assembly. Not more than three [members of said authority] 303
utility commissioners in office at any one time shall be members of any 304
one political party. The Governor shall appoint five members to the 305
authority. The procedure prescribed in section 4-7 shall apply to such 306
appointments, except that the Governor shall submit each nomination 307
on or before May first, and both houses shall confirm or reject it before 308
adjournment sine die. Any utility commissioner appointed by the 309
Governor and confirmed by both chambers of the General Assembly 310
between February 1, 2019, and June 1, 2019, shall serve a term expiring 311
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on March 1, 2024. Any utility commissioner appointed by the Governor 312
and confirmed by both houses of the General Assembly between 313
February 1, 2018, and June 1, 2018, shall serve a term expiring on March 314
1, 2022. Between July 1, 2019, and May 1, 2020, the Governor shall 315
appoint three utility commissioners, provided one such commissioner 316
shall serve a term expiring on March 1, 2021, and two such 317
commissioners shall serve terms expiring on March 1, 2023. Any utility 318
commissioner appointed on or after May 1, 2020, shall serve a term of 319
four years. The utility commissioners shall be sworn to the faithful 320
performance of their duties. 321
[(b)] (c) Not later than June 30, 2023, and between June first and June 322
thirtieth in each odd-numbered year thereafter, the Governor shall 323
select the chairperson of the authority from among the utility 324
commissioners. The chairperson shall serve a two-year term starting on 325
July first of the same year. Each June, the utility commissioners shall 326
choose, from among said commissioners, a vice-chairperson, who shall 327
serve for a one-year term starting on July first of the same year. The vice-328
chairperson shall perform the duties of the chairperson in his or her 329
absence. 330
[(c)] (d) Any matter coming before the authority may be assigned by 331
the chairperson to a panel of three or more utility commissioners. Except 332
as otherwise provided by statute or regulation, the panel shall 333
determine whether a public hearing shall be held on the matter, and 334
may designate one or more of [its members] the utility commissioners 335
to conduct such hearing or may assign a hearing officer to ascertain the 336
facts and report thereon to the panel. The decision of the panel, if 337
unanimous, shall be the decision of the authority. If the decision of the 338
panel is not unanimous, the matter shall be approved by a majority vote 339
of the utility commissioners. 340
[(d)] (e) The utility commissioners of the Public Utilities Regulatory 341
Authority shall serve full time and shall file a statement of financial 342
interests with the Office of State Ethics in accordance with section 1-83. 343
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Each utility commissioner shall receive annually a salary equal to that 344
established for management pay plan salary group seventy-five by the 345
Commissioner of Administrative Services, except that the chairperson 346
shall receive annually a salary equal to that established for management 347
pay plan salary group seventy-seven. 348
[(e)] (f) To insure the highest standard of public utility regulation, on 349
and after October 1, 2007, any newly appointed utility commissioner of 350
the authority shall have education or training and three or more years 351
of experience in one or more of the following fields: Economics, 352
engineering, law, accounting, finance, utility regulation, public or 353
government administration, consumer advocacy, business 354
management, and environmental management. On and after July 1, 355
1997, at least three of these fields shall be represented on the authority 356
by individual utility commissioners at all times. Any time a utility 357
commissioner is newly appointed, at least one of the utility 358
commissioners shall have experience in utility customer advocacy. 359
[(f)] (g) (1) The chairperson of the authority [, with the approval of 360
the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection,] shall 361
prescribe the duties of the staff [assigned to] of the authority [in order 362
to (A) conduct comprehensive planning with respect to the functions of 363
the authority; (B) cause the administrative organization of the authority 364
to be examined with a view to promoting economy and efficiency; and 365
(C)] and organize the authority into such divisions, bureaus or other 366
units as necessary for the efficient conduct of the business of the 367
authority. [and may from time to time make recommendations to the 368
Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection regarding staff 369
and resources.] 370
(2) The chairperson of the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority [, in 371
order to implement the comprehensive planning and organizational 372
structure established pursuant to subdivision (1) of this subsection,] 373
shall: (A) [coordinate] Coordinate the activities of the authority; [and 374
prescribe the duties of the staff assigned to the authority;] (B) for any 375
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proceeding on a proposed rate amendment in which staff of the 376
authority are to be made a party pursuant to section 16-19j, determine 377
which staff shall appear and participate in the proceedings and which 378
shall serve the [members of the authority] utility commissioners; (C) 379
enter into such contractual agreements, in accordance with established 380
procedures, as may be necessary for the discharge of the authority's 381
duties; (D) subject to the provisions of section 4-32, and unless otherwise 382
provided by law, receive any money, revenue or services from the 383
federal government, corporations, associations or individuals, 384
including payments from the sale of printed matter or any other 385
material or services; (E) prepare the budget of the authority; and [(E)] 386
(F) require the staff of the authority to have expertise in public utility 387
engineering and accounting, finance, economics, computers and rate 388
design. 389
(3) The chairperson of the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority shall 390
have all powers necessary and convenient to faithfully discharge the 391
authority's responsibilities specified in subdivision (1) of subsection (a) 392
of this section. 393
[(g)] (h) No utility commissioner [of the Public Utilities Regulatory 394
Authority] or employee of the [Department of Energy and 395
Environmental Protection assigned to work with the] authority shall 396
have any interest, financial or otherwise, direct or indirect, or engage in 397
any business, employment, transaction or professional activity, or incur 398
any obligation of any nature, which is in substantial conflict with the 399
proper discharge of his or her duties or employment in the public 400
interest and of his or her responsibilities as prescribed in the laws of this 401
state, as defined in section 1-85, concerning any matter within the 402
jurisdiction of the authority; provided, no such substantial conflict shall 403
be deemed to exist solely by virtue of the fact that a utility commissioner 404
of the authority or employee of the department assigned to work with 405
the authority, or any business in which such a person has an interest, 406
receives utility service from one or more Connecticut utilities under the 407
normal rates and conditions of service. 408
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[(h)] (i) No utility commissioner [of the Public Utilities Regulatory 409
Authority] or employee of the [Department of Energy and 410
Environmental Protection assigned to work with the authority, during 411
such assignment,] authority shall accept other employment which will 412
either impair his or her independence of judgment as to his or her 413
official duties or employment or require him or her, or induce him or 414
her, to disclose confidential information acquired by him or her in the 415
course of and by reason of his or her official duties. 416
[(i)] (j) No utility commissioner [of the Public Utilities Regulatory 417
Authority] or employee of the [Department of Energy and 418
Environmental Protection assigned to work with the authority, during 419
such assignment,] authority shall wilfully and knowingly disclose, for 420
pecuniary gain, to any other person, confidential information acquired 421
by him or her in the course of and by reason of his or her official duties 422
or employment or use any such information for the purpose of 423
pecuniary gain. 424
[(j)] (k) No utility commissioner [of the Public Utilities Regulatory 425
Authority] or employee of the [Department of Energy and 426
Environmental Protection assigned to work with the authority, during 427
such assignment,] authority shall agree to accept, or be in partnership 428
or association with any person, or a member of a professional 429
corporation or in membership with any union or professional 430
association which partnership, association, professional corporation, 431
union or professional association agrees to accept any employment, fee 432
or other thing of value, or portion thereof, in consideration of his or her 433
appearing, agreeing to appear, or taking any other action on behalf of 434
another person before the authority, the Connecticut Siting Council, the 435
Office of Policy and Management or the Commissioner of Energy and 436
Environmental Protection. 437
[(k)] (l) No utility commissioner [of the Public Utilities Regulatory 438
Authority] shall, for a period of one year following the termination of 439
his or her service as a utility commissioner, accept employment: (1) By 440
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a public service company or by any person, firm or corporation engaged 441
in lobbying activities with regard to governmental regulation of public 442
service companies; (2) by a certified telecommunications provider or by 443
any person, firm or corporation engaged in lobbying activities with 444
regard to governmental regulation of persons, firms or corporations so 445
certified; or (3) by an electric supplier or by any person, firm or 446
corporation engaged in lobbying activities with regard to governmental 447
regulation of electric suppliers. No such utility commissioner who is 448
also an attorney shall in any capacity, appear or participate in any 449
matter, or accept any compensation regarding a matter, before the 450
authority, for a period of one year following the termination of his or 451
her service as a utility commissioner. 452
[(l)] (m) The chairperson of the authority shall assign authority staff 453
to fulfill the duties of procurement manager where required pursuant 454
to this title and title 16a. 455
[(m)] (n) Notwithstanding any provision of the general statutes, the 456
decisions of the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority, including, but not 457
limited to, decisions relating to rate amendments arising from the 458
Comprehensive Energy Strategy, the Integrated Resources Plan, the 459
Conservation and Load Management Plan and policies established by 460
the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, shall be 461
guided by said strategy and plans and such policies. 462
[(n)] (o) Two or more utility commissioners serving on a panel 463
established pursuant to subsection [(c)] (d) of this section may confer or 464
communicate regarding the matter before such panel. Any such 465
conference or communication that does not occur before the public at a 466
hearing or proceeding shall not constitute a meeting as defined in 467
section 1-200. 468
Sec. 9. Section 4-5 of the general statutes is repealed and the following 469
is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2025): 470
As used in sections 4-6, 4-7 and 4-8, the term "department head" 471
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means the Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management, 472
Commissioner of Administrative Services, Commissioner of Revenue 473
Services, Banking Commissioner, Commissioner of Children and 474
Families, Commissioner of Consumer Protection, Commissioner of 475
Correction, Commissioner of Economic and Community Development, 476
State Board of Education, Commissioner of Emergency Services and 477
Public Protection, Commissioner of Energy and Environmental 478
Protection, Commissioner of Agriculture, Commissioner of Public 479
Health, Insurance Commissioner, Labor Commissioner, Commissioner 480
of Mental Health and Addiction Services, Commissioner of Social 481
Services, Commissioner of Developmental Services, Commissioner of 482
Motor Vehicles, Commissioner of Transportation, Commissioner of 483
Veterans Affairs, Commissioner of Housing, Commissioner of Aging 484
and Disability Services, Commissioner of Early Childhood, 485
Commissioner of Health Strategy, executive director of the Office of 486
Military Affairs, executive director of the Technical Education and 487
Career System, Chief Workforce Officer, [and] Commissioner of Higher 488
Education and Chairperson of the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority. 489
As used in sections 4-6 and 4-7, "department head" also means the 490
Commissioner of Education. 491
Sec. 10. Section 4-67e of the general statutes is repealed and the 492
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2025): 493
The Secretary of the Office of Policy and Management shall 494
coordinate the activity of the Commissioner of Public Health, [and] the 495
Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection and the 496
chairperson of the Public Utilities Regulatory Authority in the 497
following: (1) The review of the authority of each agency for consistency 498
with the policies established by section 22a-380, (2) the preparation of a 499
memorandum of understanding, not more than six months after 500
October 1, 1991, intended to avoid inconsistency, overlap and 501
redundancy in requirements and authority of each agency in water 502
conservation issues, emergency contingency plans and regulatory 503
authority under chapters 283, 446i, 446j and 474, (3) the review of 504
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exercise of regulatory authority over water companies, as defined in 505
section 25-32a, to determine whether inconsistency, overlap or 506
redundancy exist in the statutory requirements or regulatory authority 507
of such agencies under chapters 283, 446i, 446j, and 474, (4) the 508
assessment of the necessity of a memorandum of understanding to 509
avoid such inconsistency, overlap or redundancy, and, if determined to 510
be necessary, the preparation of such a memorandum by July 1, 1995, 511
and (5) the development of recommendations for legislation and 512
amendments to regulations to implement the provisions of a 513
memorandum of understanding prepared pursuant to this section, or 514
for consistency with the policies established by section 22a-380. There 515
shall be a period of public review and comment on a memorandum of 516
understanding prior to final agreement. On or before January 1, 1995, 517
the secretary shall submit to the joint standing committees of the 518
General Assembly having cognizance of matters relating to public 519
health, energy and public utilities and the environment, written 520
findings, and any recommendations, concerning the review and 521
assessment conducted pursuant to subdivisions (3) and (4) of this 522
section. 523
Sec. 11. Section 16-6b of the general statutes is repealed and the 524
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2025): 525
The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority may, in accordance with 526
chapter 54, adopt such regulations with respect to: (1) Rates and charges, 527
services, accounting practices, safety and the conduct of operations 528
generally of public service companies subject to its jurisdiction as it 529
deems reasonable and necessary; (2) services, accounting practices, 530
safety and the conduct of operations generally of electric suppliers 531
subject to its jurisdiction as it deems reasonable and necessary; and (3) 532
standards for systems utilizing cogeneration technology and renewable 533
fuel resources. [, in accordance with the Department of Energy and 534
Environmental Protection's policies.] 535
Sec. 12. Subsection (a) of section 22a-2d of the general statutes is 536
Committee Bill No. 647
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repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 537
1, 2025): 538
(a) There is established a Department of Energy and Environmental 539
Protection, which shall have jurisdiction relating to the preservation and 540
protection of the air, water and other natural resources of the state, 541
energy and policy planning and regulation and advancement of 542
telecommunications and related technology. For the purposes of energy 543
policy and regulation, the department shall have the following goals: (1) 544
Reducing rates and decreasing costs for Connecticut's ratepayers, (2) 545
ensuring the reliability and safety of our state's energy supply, (3) 546
increasing the use of clean energy and technologies that support clean 547
energy, and (4) developing the state's energy-related economy. For the 548
purpose of environmental protection and regulation, the department 549
shall have the following goals: (A) Conserving, improving and 550
protecting the natural resources and environment of the state, and (B) 551
preserving the natural environment while fostering sustainable 552
development. [The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority within the 553
department shall be responsible for all matters of rate regulation for 554
public utilities and regulated entities under title 16 and shall promote 555
policies that will lead to just and reasonable utility rates.] The 556
department head shall be the Commissioner of Energy and 557
Environmental Protection who shall be appointed by the Governor in 558
accordance with the provisions of sections 4-5 to 4-8, inclusive, as 559
amended by this act, with the powers and duties therein prescribed. The 560
Department of Energy and Environmental Protection shall establish 561
bureaus, one of which shall be designated an energy bureau. 562
Sec. 13. (Effective from passage) The Commissioner of Energy and 563
Environmental Protection shall study natural gas capacity in the state. 564
Such study shall include, but need not be limited to: (1) An evaluation 565
of natural gas capacity in the state; and (2) an examination of ways to 566
expand natural gas capacity, including importing natural gas into the 567
state and any necessary regulatory or legislative changes. Not later than 568
January 1, 2026, the commissioner shall submit a report, in accordance 569
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with the provisions of section 11-4a of the general statutes, on the 570
commissioner's findings and recommendations to the joint standing 571
committee of the General Assembly having cognizance of matters 572
relating to energy and technology. 573
Sec. 14. Section 16-11 of the general statutes is repealed and the 574
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2025): 575
(a) The Public Utilities Regulatory Authority shall, so far as is 576
practicable, keep fully informed as to the condition of the plant, 577
equipment and manner of operation of all public service companies and 578
persons involved in the transportation of gas, as such terms are defined 579
in section 16-280a, in respect to their adequacy and suitability to 580
accomplish the duties imposed upon such companies by law and in 581
respect to their relation to the safety of the public and of the employees 582
of such companies or persons. The authority may order such reasonable 583
improvements, repairs or alterations in such plant or equipment, or such 584
changes in the manner of operation, as may be reasonably necessary in 585
the public interest. 586
(b) The general purposes of this section and sections 16-19, 16-25, 16-587
43 and 16-47 are to assure to the state of Connecticut its full powers to 588
regulate its public service companies, to increase the powers of the 589
Public Utilities Regulatory Authority and to promote local control of the 590
public service companies of this state, and said sections shall be so 591
construed as to effectuate these purposes. 592
(c) Notwithstanding the provisions of this section or section 16-244i, 593
the authority shall not establish any program that requires, or provides 594
incentives for, the installation of any electric vehicle charging station. 595
Sec. 15. Subsection (b) of section 10-291 of the general statutes is 596
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 597
1, 2025): 598
(b) The Department of Administrative Services shall not approve a 599
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school building project plan or site, as applicable, if: 600
(1) The site is in an area of moderate or high radon potential, as 601
indicated in the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection's 602
Radon Potential Map, or similar subsequent publications, except where 603
the school building project plan incorporates construction techniques to 604
mitigate radon levels in the air of the facility; 605
(2) The plans incorporate new roof construction or total replacement 606
of an existing roof and do not provide for the following: (A) A minimum 607
roof pitch that conforms with the requirements of the State Building 608
Code, (B) a minimum twenty-year unlimited manufacturer's guarantee 609
for water tightness covering material and workmanship on the entire 610
roofing system, (C) the inclusion of vapor retarders, insulation, bitumen, 611
felts, membranes, flashings, metals, decks and any other feature 612
required by the roof design, and (D) that all manufacturer's materials to 613
be used in the roofing system are specified to meet the latest standards 614
for individual components of the roofing systems of the American 615
Society for Testing and Materials; 616
(3) In the case of a major alteration, renovation or extension of a 617
building to be used for public school purposes, the plans do not 618
incorporate the guidelines set forth in the Sheet Metal and Air 619
Conditioning Contractors National Association's publication entitled 620
"Indoor Air Quality Guidelines for Occupied Buildings Under 621
Construction" or similar subsequent publications; 622
(4) In the case of a new construction, extension, renovation or 623
replacement, the plans do not provide that the building maintenance 624
staff responsible for such facility are trained in or are receiving training 625
in, or that the applicant plans to provide training in, the appropriate 626
areas of plant operations including, but not limited to, heating, 627
ventilation and air conditioning systems pursuant to section 10-231e, 628
with specific training relative to indoor air quality; 629
(5) In the case of a project for new construction, extension, major 630
Committee Bill No. 647
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alteration, renovation or replacement involving a school entrance for 631
inclusion on any listing submitted to the General Assembly in 632
accordance with section 10-283 on or after July 1, 2008, the plans do not 633
provide for a security infrastructure for such entrance; 634
(6) In the case of a project for new construction, extension, major 635
alteration, renovation or replacement on any listing submitted to the 636
General Assembly in accordance with section 10-283 on or after July 1, 637
2022, the plans do not provide for the installation of at least one water 638
bottle filling station (A) per one hundred students of the projected 639
enrollment for the school building, (B) on each new floor or wing of the 640
school building, and (C) in any food service area of the school building; 641
or 642
[(7) In the case of a project for new construction of a school building 643
on any listing submitted to the General Assembly in accordance with 644
section 10-283 on or after July 1, 2023, the plans do not provide for the 645
installation of level two electric vehicle charging stations, as defined in 646
section 4b-77, in at least twenty per cent of the designated parking 647
spaces for cars or light duty trucks at the school building; or] 648
[(8)] (7) In the case of a project for new construction of a school 649
building on any listing submitted to the General Assembly in 650
accordance with section 10-283, on or after July 1, 2025, the plans do not 651
provide for single-user toilet and bathing rooms that are identified as 652
being available for use by all students and school personnel. 653
Sec. 16. Subdivision (80) of section 12-81 of the general statutes is 654
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 655
1, 2025, and applicable to assessment years commencing on and after October 656
1, 2025): 657
(80) [Level two electric vehicle charging stations, as defined in section 658
4b-77, that are located on commercial or industrial properties, electric 659
vehicle charging stations, as defined in section 16-19f, that are located 660
on residential properties, and any refueling] Refueling equipment for 661
Committee Bill No. 647
LCO No. 5141 22 of 30
fuel cell electric vehicles, as defined in section 16-19eee; 662
Sec. 17. Subdivision (3) of subsection (k) of section 16-243v of the 663
general statutes is repealed and the following is substituted in lieu 664
thereof (Effective October 1, 2025): 665
(3) The third-party administrator shall be responsible for extending 666
loans and administering the residential furnace or boiler replacement 667
and propane fuel tank purchase program to assist residential retail end 668
use customers in funding heating furnace or boiler equipment 669
replacements and propane fuel tank purchases that meet all of the 670
program requirements. (A) For heating furnace or boiler equipment 671
replacements, the program requirements shall include, but not be 672
limited to, (i) the total projected direct cost savings to the eligible 673
residential retail end use customer resulting from the heating furnace or 674
boiler replacement, calculated on an annual basis commencing from the 675
month that the replacement furnace or boiler is projected to be in 676
service, shall be greater than the total cost of the replacement funds over 677
the term of the program in order to qualify for the program, (ii) the 678
eligible customer shall pay a contribution of not less than ten per cent of 679
the total cost of the replacement or conversion of the heating furnace or 680
boiler and any additional amounts that are required in order to meet the 681
program requirements, (iii) eligible customers shall have six consecutive 682
months of timely utility payments and shall not have any past due 683
balance owed to any electric distribution company or gas company, (iv) 684
the term of the repayment of the replacement funds shall be the lesser 685
of (I) the simple payback period of the replacement funds plus two 686
years, or (II) ten years, and (v) the replacement furnace or boiler shall 687
meet or exceed federal Energy Star standards, provided such 688
replacement is not a heat pump. (B) For propane fuel tank purchases, 689
the program requirements shall include, but not be limited to, (i) eligible 690
customers shall have six consecutive months of timely utility payments 691
and shall not have any past due balance owed to any electric 692
distribution company, propane seller or gas company, (ii) the term of 693
the repayment of the replacement funds shall be not longer than ten 694
Committee Bill No. 647
LCO No. 5141 23 of 30
years, and (iii) the loan recipient shall have such propane tank inspected 695
on an annual basis and forward a certificate of inspection to the third-696
party administrator. In the event that such propane tank is found to 697
need repair as a result of such inspection, any person performing such 698
inspection shall inform the homeowner and the applicable local fire 699
marshal. If the requisite repair is not made in a timely fashion or as 700
otherwise recommended or ordered by the local fire marshal, said fire 701
marshal shall render such propane tank inoperable. Eligible residential 702
retail end use customers may apply to the third-party administrator for 703
participation in the program. The third-party administrator shall screen 704
each applicant to ensure that the applicant meets the eligibility 705
requirements and such program requirements prior to accepting the 706
customer into the program. The third-party administrator shall create 707
awareness of the propane fuel tank purchase provisions of the program 708
by the general public and, in particular, by residential propane 709
purchasers. 710
Sec. 18. Section 16-244dd of the general statutes is repealed and the 711
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2025): 712
Notwithstanding the provisions of this title and title 16a, the Public 713
Utilities Regulatory Authority may select the Connecticut Green Bank, 714
the Department of Energy and Environmental Protection, the electric 715
distribution companies, as defined in section 16-1, as amended by this 716
act, a third party that the authority deems appropriate or any 717
combination thereof to implement the non-residential renewable energy 718
program established pursuant to section 16-244z, the residential 719
renewable energy program established pursuant to said section [,] or the 720
shared clean energy facility program established pursuant to said 721
section. [, the light-duty electric vehicle charging program established 722
by the authority in a proceeding or a medium-duty to heavy-duty 723
electric vehicle charging program established by the authority in a 724
proceeding.] 725
Sec. 19. Subsection (a) of section 16a-46m of the general statutes is 726
Committee Bill No. 647
LCO No. 5141 24 of 30
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 727
1, 2025): 728
(a) Not later than September 1, 2021, the Department of Energy and 729
Environmental Protection shall, using available federal or other funds, 730
establish an energy efficiency retrofit grant program. The Commissioner 731
of Energy and Environmental Protection may receive funds from the 732
federal government, corporations, associations or individuals to fund 733
the grant program. Such program shall award grants to fund the 734
installation of energy efficient upgrades to (1) affordable housing, as 735
defined in section 8-39a, including, but not limited to, property of a 736
housing authority, as defined in section 8-39, or (2) other dwelling units 737
owned by a landlord, as defined in section 47a-1, at the discretion of the 738
commissioner. Such upgrades shall include energy efficiency and 739
weatherization measures and may include, but need not be limited to, 740
the installation of rooftop solar photovoltaic panels, energy storage 741
systems located on the customer's premises [, electric vehicle charging 742
infrastructure, heat pumps] and balanced ventilation, and the 743
mitigation of health and safety hazards including, but not limited to, gas 744
leaks, mold, vermiculite and asbestos, lead and radon, to the extent such 745
hazards impede the installation of energy efficiency upgrades and 746
weatherization measures. 747
Sec. 20. Subsection (c) of section 22a-20a of the general statutes is 748
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 749
1, 2025): 750
(c) Any municipality, owner or developer may enter into a 751
community environmental benefit agreement in connection with an 752
affecting facility. For any application filed on or after November 1, 2020, 753
for such an affecting facility that: (1) Requires a certificate under chapter 754
277a, or (2) constitutes a new or expanded permit, except for a minor 755
modification or improvement of an existing permit for such facility, or 756
siting approval from the Department of Energy and Environmental 757
Protection or the Connecticut Siting Council involving an affecting 758
Committee Bill No. 647
LCO No. 5141 25 of 30
facility, and that is proposed to be located in an environmental justice 759
community or the proposed expansion of an affecting facility to be 760
located in such a community, the applicant shall enter into such an 761
agreement with the municipality if there are five or more affecting 762
facilities in such municipality at the time such application is filed. The 763
Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection shall not issue 764
a notice of tentative determination regarding a new or modified permit 765
unless the applicant has submitted a copy of the executed agreement 766
with the municipality. Mitigation may include both on-site and off-site 767
improvements, activities and programs, including, but not limited to: 768
Funding for activities such as environmental education, diesel pollution 769
reduction, [electric vehicle charging infrastructure construction,] 770
establishment of a wellness clinic, ongoing asthma screening, provision 771
of air monitoring performed by a credentialed environmental 772
professional, performance of an ongoing traffic study, watercourse 773
monitoring, construction of biking facilities and multi-use trails, staffing 774
for parks, urban forestry, support for community gardens or any other 775
negotiated benefit to the environment in the environmental justice 776
community. Prior to negotiating the terms of a community 777
environmental benefit agreement, the municipality shall provide a 778
reasonable and public opportunity for residents of the potentially 779
affected environmental justice community to be heard concerning the 780
requirements of or need for, and terms of, such agreement. Any 781
mitigation contained in such an agreement shall have a nexus to the 782
impacts caused by the proposed facility and shall be proportional to 783
such impacts. 784
Sec. 21. Subsection (d) of section 22a-201d of the general statutes is 785
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 786
1, 2025): 787
(d) The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection shall 788
establish and administer a grant program for the purpose of providing 789
matching funds necessary for municipalities, school districts and school 790
bus operators to submit federal grant applications in order to maximize 791
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LCO No. 5141 26 of 30
federal funding for the purchase or lease of zero-emission school buses. 792
[and electric vehicle charging or fueling infrastructure.] Applications for 793
such grants shall be filed with the commissioner at such time and in such 794
manner as the commissioner prescribes. The commissioner shall give 795
preference to applications concerning the purchase or lease of a zero-796
emission school bus that will be operated primarily in an environmental 797
justice community. The commissioner shall determine the amount a 798
municipality, school district or school bus operator shall be required to 799
provide to match such grant. 800
Sec. 22. Subsection (c) of section 8-240a of the general statutes is 801
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 802
1, 2025): 803
(c) The Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection, in 804
collaboration with the Commissioner of Housing, shall establish a pilot 805
program or programs to provide financing or grants from the fund 806
established in subsection (b) of this section for retrofitting projects for 807
multifamily residences located in environmental justice communities or 808
alliance districts that (1) improve the energy efficiency of such 809
residences, which may include, but need not be limited to, the 810
installation of [heat pumps,] solar power generating systems, improved 811
roofing, exterior doors and windows, improved insulation, air sealing, 812
improved ventilation, appliance upgrades and any electric system or 813
wiring upgrades necessary for such retrofit, (2) remediate health and 814
safety concerns that are barriers to any such retrofit, including, but not 815
limited to, mold, vermiculite, asbestos, lead and radon, or (3) provide 816
services to assist residents and building owners to access and implement 817
the programs established pursuant to this section or other available state 818
or federal programs that enable the implementation of energy efficiency 819
retrofitting. 820
Sec. 23. Subsection (a) of section 16a-40l of the general statutes is 821
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 822
1, 2025): 823
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LCO No. 5141 27 of 30
(a) On or before October 1, 2011, the Department of Energy and 824
Environmental Protection shall establish a residential heating 825
equipment financing program. Such program shall allow residential 826
customers to finance, through on-bill financing or other mechanism, the 827
installation of energy efficient natural gas or heating oil burners, boilers 828
and furnaces [or ductless heat pumps] to replace (1) burners, boilers and 829
furnaces that are not less than seven years old with an efficiency rating 830
of not more than seventy-five per cent, or (2) electric heating systems. 831
Eligible fuel oil furnaces shall have an efficiency rating of not less than 832
eighty-six per cent. An eligible fuel oil burner shall have an efficiency 833
rating of not less than eighty-six per cent with temperature reset 834
controls. An eligible natural gas boiler shall have an annual fuel 835
utilization efficiency rating of not less than ninety per cent and an 836
eligible natural gas furnace shall have an annual fuel utilization 837
efficiency rating of not less than ninety-five per cent. To participate in 838
the program established pursuant to this subsection, a customer shall 839
first have a home energy audit, the cost of which may be financed 840
pursuant to subsection (b) of this section. 841
Sec. 24. Subsection (e) of section 22a-200c of the general statutes is 842
repealed and the following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 843
1, 2025): 844
(e) Beginning with the first auction occurring on or after January 1, 845
2023, and notwithstanding the provisions of subsection (a) of this 846
section and subdivision (6) of subsection (f) of section 22a-174-31 of the 847
regulations of Connecticut state agencies, auction proceeds annually 848
calculated and allocated in accordance with subdivision (6) of 849
subsection (f) of section 22a-174-31 of the regulations of Connecticut 850
state agencies to the Connecticut Green Bank may be utilized by the 851
Connecticut Green Bank, in consultation with the Department of Energy 852
and Environmental Protection, for clean energy resources that do not 853
emit greenhouse gas emissions, provided that any proceeds calculated 854
and allocated to the Connecticut Green Bank in excess of five million 855
two hundred thousand dollars in any fiscal year shall be diverted for the 856
Committee Bill No. 647
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fiscal year ending June 30, 2024, and each fiscal year thereafter, to the 857
department to provide funding for [the Connecticut Hydrogen and 858
Electric Automobile Purchase Rebate program established pursuant to 859
section 22a-202 and other] programs established to support the 860
department's engagement with environmental justice communities. For 861
the purposes of this subsection, "clean energy" has the same meaning as 862
provided in section 16-245n, as amended by this act, and "environmental 863
justice community" has the same meaning as provided in section 22a-864
20a, as amended by this act. 865
Sec. 25. Section 22a-201e of the general statutes is repealed and the 866
following is substituted in lieu thereof (Effective October 1, 2025): 867
On and after January 1, 2024, the Commissioner of Energy and 868
Environmental Protection, in consultation with the Commissioners of 869
Motor Vehicles, Transportation and Education, may establish, within 870
available funding, a voucher program to support the [(1)] deployment 871
of any vehicle that is equipped with zero-emission technology, 872
including, but not limited to, battery electric and fuel cell systems, and 873
classified as a Class 2b vehicle or Class 3 through Class 8 vehicles, as 874
such terms are defined in 49 CFR 523.2, as amended from time to time, 875
or a medium duty passenger vehicle, as defined in 49 CFR 523.2, as 876
amended from time to time, when sold for use by a commercial or 877
institutional fleet. [, and (2) installation of electric vehicle charging 878
infrastructure.] Applications for the voucher program shall be filed with 879
the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental Protection at such time 880
and in such manner as the commissioner prescribes. In awarding any 881
such voucher, the Commissioner of Energy and Environmental 882
Protection shall consider the amount of funding available and set aside 883
forty per cent of such funding to be used toward maximizing air 884
pollution reductions in environmental justice communities, as defined 885
in subsection (a) of section 22a-20a. Such vouchers shall not be awarded 886
for vehicle classes where there is no commercially available zero-887
emission technology. [or for vehicles that are eligible for a rebate or 888
voucher under the Connecticut Hydrogen and Electric Automobile 889
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LCO No. 5141 29 of 30
Purchase Rebate program established pursuant to section 22a-202.] 890
Sec. 26. Sections 4b-77 and 22a-201c of the general statutes are 891
repealed. (Effective October 1, 2025) 892
This act shall take effect as follows and shall amend the following
sections:
Section 1 July 1, 2025 16-245l
Sec. 2 July 1, 2025 16a-3m(e)(3)
Sec. 3 July 1, 2025 16-245m(d)(1)
Sec. 4 July 1, 2025 16-245n(b)
Sec. 5 October 1, 2025 16a-3m(e)(1)
Sec. 6 October 1, 2025 16-1(20)
Sec. 7 October 1, 2025 12-81(57)(D)
Sec. 8 October 1, 2025 16-2
Sec. 9 October 1, 2025 4-5
Sec. 10 October 1, 2025 4-67e
Sec. 11 October 1, 2025 16-6b
Sec. 12 October 1, 2025 22a-2d(a)
Sec. 13 from passage New section
Sec. 14 October 1, 2025 16-11
Sec. 15 October 1, 2025 10-291(b)
Sec. 16 October 1, 2025, and
applicable to assessment
years commencing on and
after October 1, 2025
12-81(80)
Sec. 17 October 1, 2025 16-243v(k)(3)
Sec. 18 October 1, 2025 16-244dd
Sec. 19 October 1, 2025 16a-46m(a)
Sec. 20 October 1, 2025 22a-20a(c)
Sec. 21 October 1, 2025 22a-201d(d)
Sec. 22 October 1, 2025 8-240a(c)
Sec. 23 October 1, 2025 16a-40l(a)
Sec. 24 October 1, 2025 22a-200c(e)
Sec. 25 October 1, 2025 22a-201e
Sec. 26 October 1, 2025 Repealer section
Statement of Purpose:
To reduce energy costs and increase energy supply.
Committee Bill No. 647
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[Proposed deletions are enclosed in brackets. Proposed additions are indicated by underline, except
that when the entire text of a bill or resolution or a section of a bill or resolution is new, it is not
underlined.]
Co-Sponsors: SEN. HARDING, 30th Dist.; SEN. MARTIN, 31st Dist.
SEN. SAMPSON, 16th Dist.; SEN. CICARELLA, 34th Dist.
SEN. SOMERS, 18th Dist.; SEN. HWANG, 28th Dist.
SEN. BERTHEL, 32nd Dist.; SEN. FAZIO, 36th Dist.
SEN. GORDON, 35th Dist.; SEN. KISSEL, 7th Dist.
REP. CANDELORA V., 86th Dist.; REP. O'DEA, 125th Dist.
REP. MARRA T., 141st Dist.; REP. CARNEY, 23rd Dist.
REP. DELNICKI, 14th Dist.; REP. ANDERSON, 62nd Dist.
REP. BOLINSKY, 106th Dist.; REP. RUTIGLIANO, 123rd Dist.
REP. NUCCIO, 53rd Dist.; REP. CARPINO, 32nd Dist.
S.B. 647